If it hadn't been for what transpired on that momentous night, Eva wouldn't have given birth to her son, Jason. The identity of the father, however, was unknown not only to Jason but also to his mother who didn't for sure who the father of her son was. Five years later, Eva returned to her hometown and landed a job as a designer at one of the biggest companies in the country, the Dolly Group. Her new fresh new job led her to meet Santosh, CEO of the Dolly Group, an iron-faced devil whose life was shrouded in mystery. On most occasions, he would find himself uninterested by women, but there was something different about Eva that caught his eye.
The airport was filled with people. Wearing a lacy white dress and holding her pink suitcase, Eva Xu walked towards the exit.
It had been five years since she left China, but it seemed that she was fated to return.
As she looked around, her lips formed a grim line.
Things had changed. It definitely wasn't the same as before when she left this place. "Mommy, where are we going?"
Dark lashes framed the little boy's large eyes as he stared up at her. He looked so adorable that anyone would swoon at the sight of him.
If it weren't for her actually holding his hand, Eva Xu wouldn't believe that she had been a mother at her young age.
Under Jason Xu's expectant eyes, Eva Xu smiled. "Jace, we'll arrive home shortly. Plus, it isn't necessary for you to speak English, okay? It's time for you to practice your Chinese," she instructed gently, ruffling his short hair.
"I know you want to see the ferris wheel. How about we'll go there after settling our luggage?"
'Jace' was a nickname she had given him ever since he was born. The only dream she had for him was that he would grow up to be happy and healthy.
Jason Xu nodded and warmly shook her hand. He then pointed at the huge ferris wheel overlooking the entire city and said excitedly, "Mommy, is that the place where you and Daddy first met?"
Eva Xu flushed at the question. When the little boy questioned her about his father, she had no choice but to make up a story. She had said that they met on the ferris wheel, when in all honesty, she didn't know who his father was. If it wasn't for that night five years ago, Jason Xu wouldn't even be born.
Of course, staring into her young boy, she didn't regret any of it.
As soon as they booked a room in a hotel, her phone rang. She answered only to hear a familiar voice from the other end of the line. He was Jake, her teacher while she was studying abroad. Although he was already getting old, his style had always followed the trends.
"Eva, you still haven't found a stable job, right?" he said in fluent Chinese.
Glancing at Jason Xu's sleeping figure, Eva Xu tucked him in and walked to the balcony silently. "No, why?"
"I happen to have a friend who needs another designer. The salary's really good, but the competition is fierce. However, since I'm the one who taught you, you're very qualified for the job."
Jake was the one who had taken care of her back then. That was why she was close to him. Eva Xu had no reason for her to doubt the company Jake had introduced, so she smiled and agreed. When she searched up the company that Jake had mentioned, she found that it was indeed a very famous company. Without another thought, Eva Xu quickly booked herself an interview on the second day.
However, Jake was right to say that the competition was fierce. It seemed that she was also going up against Julia Zhu, another excellent designer. Jake had warned her that Julia Zhu was very manipulative. However, at the sight of her innocent face, Eva Xu couldn't help but to strike a conversation with her.
"You must be outstanding for Jake to choose you as his student, Miss Xu. For sure, you're extra qualified for the position," Julia Zhu complimented.
Eva Xu smiled faintly. "I'm flattered. Thank you!"
"Please prepare your own design drawings."
A man with a beer belly walked into the room. Everyone stood up to show their respects.
Eva was so nervous that her palms were sweating. She had always been like this ever since she was a child. Her heart would beat so fast as if she had just ran a marathon. She didn't even know how she could take on the pressure in the designing field.
Finally, it was time for the interview. With an uneasy heart, she entered the door. There were around three or four people at the other side of the table. A young man was sitting in the middle. His eyes were sharp so she didn't dare look up.
"Are you Miss Xu? Are you sure you've sketched these by hand?"
His voice was loud and clear. "Yes, I guarantee that they're all designed by me," Eva quickly explained.
However, as soon as she opened her mouth, everyone except the young man burst into laughter.
Her heart sank.
"Miss Xu, please have a look."
She raised her head and found that the young man was very handsome. He had large eyes and extremely muscled arms, but that wasn't the point.
She stared at the sketches that he was holding, and her eyes widened in surprise.
"It seems that you have a special understanding with your design." Seeing her wide and innocent eyes, Santosh Qiu couldn't believe that such a beautiful lady would have such disgusting intentions in her mind.
"No– no..." Eva tried to explain. Her face flushed in embarrassment. The naked pictures weren't the ones that she had submitted for the company at all. In fact, they were far from it!
Before she could even explain, Santosh Qiu waved his hand. "That's it for the day, Miss Xu. You may go back and await our notice."
His words were said so firmly that everyone knew that he wasn't going to keep her.
However, Eva still felt a glimmer of hope as she walked out of the room. Although her face was extremely red, she plastered a smile on her face in hopes that she would still be chosen despite the mix-up.
After waiting for two days, no one had called her back. No matter how gullible she was, Eva knew for a fact that it meant that it was over for her. She was so sad that she stayed in her room and accompanied her son to watch Star Wars. "What happened in the interview, Mommy?" Jason asked innocently, knowing that it was the reason why she was so sad.
Jason was an incredibly gifted child. When he was in kindergarten, his teacher asked that he should be transferred to primary school. If it hadn't been for the age limit, he would've already been in Grade One
Once she explained to him, he stood up. He was wearing the suspenders that Eva had given him. Like an old man, he waved his fingers at her face. "You were framed!" he announced.
Puzzled, she stared at him. "What do you mean?"
"Mommy, your submission must've been changed. Did you leave before you went in for the interview?"
All of a sudden, something occurred to her. "I was so nervous that I went to the washroom. I gave my sketches to Julia Zhu and asked her to keep them for me."
"She's the one behind it! The bad woman doesn't want you to be hired!" he accused.
"Really? But she doesn't look like a bad person."
Jason kept silent for a while before sighing in frustration. "But you don't look like..."
Eva raised her eyebrows and ruffled his hair. "Of course, your Mommy is not a bad person!"
"I was about to say that you don't look like a fool."
In a twinkling of an eye, a week had already passed. With the pocket money left by her uncle, Eva rented a two bedroom apartment in the community for both of them. After all, the cost of living in the hotel was pretty high.
That day, Eva intended to cook a big meal for Jason, but when she went into his room to look for him, the young boy was nowhere to be seen.
She guessed that he must've gone downstairs to play. She smiled, put on her high heels, and walked downstairs to look for him.
What she didn't know was that Jason had gone to the Dolly Group alone. Seeing the dark circles under his mother's eyes, he couldn't bear it anymore. He searched the web and found that the company was actually very powerful in China.
He wanted to get justice for what had happened to his mother.
Unfortunately, because he was too young, the security guards didn't allow him to enter.
Jason went back to the community, sighing. When he heard that his mother was calling for him everywhere, he got out of the bushes and walked to her side.
"Where have you been? Let's go back for dinner, okay?"
Jason took her hand. "Mommy, the Dolly Group is a big brand in China. In fact, it monopolizes the clothing design industry."
Eva nodded. "That's the company that Jake recommended me, but they didn't want to hire me. I heard that Julia was the one that they've recruited, and her monthly salary is at least a hundred thousand dollars."
Eva was supposed to work for that company if it weren't for someone else's tricks.
Jason frowned. "If there's a chance for you to work for the Dolly Group, will you give it a try? I have a way to let people know what that woman has done."
A gleam flashed in his eyes. Seeing that his son was being particularly charming, Eva couldn't help but follow him to the Dolly Group's gates.
Jason knew for a fact that a large company such as this one would have hidden surveillance cameras around the vicinity. If Julia really switched Eva's drafts, then the company would have a video as proof. Then the Dolly Group would definitely fire Julia.
Today, Eva and Jason were going to act. After all, it wasn't easy to get a hold of those tapes.
With a fierce look, Eva stood in front of a security guard with Jason. Recognizing the young boy, he frowned. "Little boy, why are you here again?"
Eva straightened her back. "My son was robbed of an orange diamond! He saw that person walking into your company! How dare you stop him! Are you working for that man!"
The security guard didn't believe a word that she had said. It was apparent that the purpose of their arrival was to cause trouble. After all, it was impossible for a child to have a diamond in the first place.
The security guard winked at the other security guards and they all came over.
On the other side, Santosh Qiu walked towards the elevator. When he saw his staff, they all greeted him with a bow of their heads, but as he was waiting for the lift, he could see a group of guards standing by the company door. They seemed to be surrounding a woman and her son.
Janice, the long-forgotten legitimate heiress, made her way back to her family, pouring her heart into winning their hearts. Yet, she had to relinquish her very identity, her academic credentials, and her creative works to her foster sister. In return for her sacrifices, she found no warmth, only deeper neglect. Resolute, Janice vowed to cut off all emotional bonds. Transformed, she now stood as a master of martial arts, adept in eight languages, an esteemed medical expert, and a celebrated designer. With newfound resolve, she declared, "From this day forward, no one in this family shall cross me."
It was supposed to be a marriage of convenience, but Carrie made the mistake of falling in love with Kristopher. When the time came that she needed him the most, her husband was in the company of another woman. Enough was enough. Carrie chose to divorce Kristopher and move on with her life. Only when she left did Kristopher realize how important she was to him. In the face of his ex-wife’s countless admirers, Kristopher offered her 20 million dollars and proposed a new deal. “Let’s get married again.”
As far as everyone was concerned, William had married Renee under duress. Now that his one true love was back—and with child—they couldn’t wait for him to abandon Renee. Surprisingly, Renee was candid about the situation. "To be honest, I’m the one asking for a divorce every single day. I want it even more than any of you!" But they brushed off her remark as a paltry attempt to save face. Until William made a declaration himself. "Divorce is out of the question. Anyone who spreads false rumors shall face legal consequences!" Renee was at a loss. What was this crazy man up to now?
What happens when a hook-up gets complicated by a baby? Can she hide the secret from him? Or will he show her how possessive he can be when he learns she's carrying his child? "Seven years ago, I had a one-night stand with my brother's best friend, who also happened to be my lifelong crush. The next day, he vanished leaving me pregnant. Now, I am a single mom raising our son in the same small town. Recently, he returned to attend my brother's wedding and the truth about our son was finally revealed. As he reclaims his place in our lives, the sparks between us reignite. However, danger from his past threatens to shatter our newfound connection. I am torn between my love for him and my fear of getting hurt again, especially now that I have two hearts to protect - our son's and my own."
COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. What’s worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldn’t thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesn’t seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that he’s different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?
For two years, Ashton had poured his heart into his marriage, yet Emalee's heart remained cold. Despite his dedication, Emalee presented him with divorce papers. She bluntly stated she could not remain married to a man whose net worth was less than a million dollars. Ashton signed the papers, closing one chapter of his life and stepping into a new beginning. Then, Ashton revealed his secret identities: a music mogul, a medical expert, and a martial arts master—each persona impressive enough to stun the world. As Ashton’s true capabilities came to light, Emalee was overwhelmed with deep regret.