Inside one of the meeting rooms at King’s Corporation, Eva and Andrew ensured everything was in place, reviewing documents and checking the presentation materials one last time. The tension in the room was palpable, with both of them silently hoping the meeting with Lavish Couture would proceed smoothly.

Not long after, the door opened, and Elina Kent entered, followed closely by a tall figure wearing a sleek mask that obscured most of his face. Andrew greeted them, his sharp gaze fixed on the masked man.

“I thought the CEO was coming to represent Lavish Couture,” Andrew said curtly, his tone carrying a hint of displeasure.

Elina gave a polite smile, folding her hands. “Apologies, Mr. King. He had last-minute plans and couldn’t make it. I’ll be presenting in his place.”

Andrew’s jaw tightened slightly, clearly unhappy with the change. “Let’s get started, then.”

As Elina launched into her presentation, the masked man sat quietly, his gaze never leaving Eva. Something about her looked different—thinner, more fragile. His heart ached as memories of their childhood flooded his mind. I miss you, my Coco. You married this arrogant bastard, and you didn’t even tell me? Tristan thought bitterly as he continued to observe her.

Andrew caught the subtle way the masked man kept watching Eva and narrowed his eyes. His irritation grew, but he forced himself to focus on the presentation.

When Elina wrapped up the pitch, she smiled warmly. “So that’s our proposal, Mr. King. Any questions?”

Eva, always prepared, leaned forward slightly. “Are the fabrics water-resistant?” she asked, her tone professional.

Elina nodded. “Yes. They come in various materials, including sheer, for different needs.”

Andrew tapped his pen against the table, his calculating gaze drifting from Elina to Tristan. “Since you’re a startup company, I’m aware of how critical this deal must be to you.”

Elina gave a respectful nod. “It is, but we are confident in our abilities. Our team is skilled, and we’re ready to deliver.”

After a brief moment of contemplation, Andrew extended his hand toward Elina. “All right. Let’s proceed.”

They shook hands, sealing the deal with Lavish Couture. But the moment Andrew turned back toward the masked man, irritation flashed in his eyes. “Sir,” he said coldly, “stop staring at her.”

The man smiled beneath the mask, and without hesitation, he reached up and removed it. Tristan’s familiar features emerged, his lips curling into a teasing grin. “Well, Mr. King, thanks for the deal.”

Eva gasped, her heart leaping in her chest. “Tristan?” she whispered, emotions flooding her all at once. She shot out of her chair, running straight into her brother’s arms.

“Hi, Coco,” Tristan greeted her warmly, wrapping her in a tight hug. The years apart melted away as he held his sister close.

Andrew’s glare darkened as he watched the scene unfold, jealousy gnawing at him. Tristan hugged Eva as if Andrew wasn’t even in the room, and it was driving him mad. “Colleague,” Tristan said coolly, addressing Elina, “you’re excused.”

Elina shot a quick glance toward Andrew, who gave a stiff nod. With a polite smile, she collected her things and left the room, leaving only the three of them behind.

Eva pulled back slightly from Tristan’s embrace. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?” she asked softly.

Tristan smirked. “Why didn’t you tell me about your marriage?”

Eva opened her mouth to explain, but Tristan cut her off with a knowing look. “It doesn’t matter. I already know everything.”

Andrew’s patience snapped, and he shot to his feet, his fists clenching. “You bastard,” he growled, his voice sharp with fury. “Keep your distance from her.”

Tristan only grinned, clearly enjoying himself. “Why, Mr. King?” he teased. “Jealous?”

Andrew’s glare was murderous, but Tristan remained unfazed. “By the way, I’m Tristan Foster,” he added smugly. “CEO of Lavish Couture.”

Andrew’s eyes widened briefly in surprise but quickly returned to their usual coldness. So he’s her brother? Relief washed over him, but it didn’t change how uncomfortable he felt about their closeness.

Tristan turned back to Eva, his expression softening. “Out of all the men in the world, Coco, you ended up with this idiot?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Tristan,” Andrew snarled, his voice rising in anger.

But before Andrew could say anything more, Eva’s tears began to fall, and she buried her face in Tristan’s chest.

Tristan stiffened, his amusement replaced with concern. “Why are you crying? Is this bastard giving you trouble?” His voice was protective, almost dangerous.

Eva shook her head slowly. “No... I just missed you,” she whispered, her words muffled by her brother’s embrace.

Andrew’s patience wore thin as he stood there, watching the siblings reconnect. “If you’re done,” Andrew snapped, “let her go. I think you’ve held her long enough.”

Tristan raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Andrew’s growing impatience. “Why can’t I hug my sister, Mr. King?” His voice was a smooth challenge, and he clearly enjoyed making Andrew squirm.

Sensing the tension escalating, Eva stepped in quickly. “Tristan, I have work to do,” she said gently, giving him a small smile. “We’ll catch up tonight, okay?”

Tristan studied her for a moment, then nodded reluctantly. “Fine. But don’t think I’m done with you, Coco.”

They said their goodbyes, and as Tristan left, Andrew’s sharp gaze followed him until the door closed behind him.

“Eva,” Andrew said, his voice low and serious. “Come to my office.”

Eva sighed, knowing that whatever was coming next wouldn’t be pleasant. She followed him down the hall and into his office, where Andrew shut the door behind them with a soft click.

The room was quiet, filled with unspoken tension. Andrew leaned against his desk, his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes locked on hers.

“So, you didn’t tell your brother about us,” he said flatly.

Eva crossed her arms, matching his intensity. “I didn’t see the point. It’s not like this is a real marriage, is it?”

Andrew’s jaw tightened, his eyes darkening with frustration. “It’s real enough.”

Eva exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of the conversation bearing down on her. “Why do you even care if I hug my brother?”

Andrew’s lips curled into a small, humorless smile. “Because, Eva, you’re Mrs. King. And that means something.”

The room fell into silence again, the tension between them thick enough to cut. But somewhere beneath the frustration and the anger, something else simmered—something neither of them was quite ready to face.

Eva shook her head, frustrated with both him and herself. “If you think this marriage means anything, you have a funny way of showing it.”

Andrew’s gaze softened slightly, though his expression remained unreadable. “Go back to work, Eva,” he said quietly. “We’ll talk later.”

Eva hesitated, then nodded, turning toward the door. Just as she was about to leave, Andrew’s voice stopped her.

“Eva.”

She glanced back at him, her heart skipping a beat.

“Be ready tonight. We’re going to talk about us.”

Eva swallowed hard, her emotions swirling in ways she couldn’t quite understand. Without another word, she left his office, her mind racing with thoughts of Tristan, Andrew, and the tangled mess her life had become.

And for the first time, she wasn’t sure what she wanted—or who she wanted it with.