E was minding her own business, scrolling through random short videos on her phone, giggling softly at the absurdity of some of them.


    The restroom was her one refuge, the only space left where she could breathe without being surrounded by ssmates, admirers, or social climbers who clung to her every move.


    It was peaceful—until the door swung open and a group of girls stormed in, gossiping loudly, shattering her moment of solitude.


    She let out an annoyed sigh.


    Of all ces. Couldn''t they find somewhere else to air their dirtyundry?


    As their voices filled the room, E perked up. Their conversation wasn''t just mindless gossip; it was about


    Eve Rosette,


    her cousin Cole''s fiancée.


    E rolled her eyes.


    Of course, they''re talking about her.


    Eve had always been a subject of controversy, her name frequently entangled with drama.


    E wasn''t particrly fond of her—mostly indifferent, really. Eve was just another pretty face vying for Cole''s attention, chasing him with relentless devotion for years. E didn''t me her; Cole Fay was a catch, after all, and Eve had been head over heels for as long as E could remember. Admirable, perhaps. But irritating all the same.


    Still, E wasn''t invested enough to care. She leaned back against the stall, contemting how long she should wait before leaving. She didn''t want the awkwardness of those girls realizing she''d heard everything.


    Just then, a loud


    bang


    echoed through the room, causing E to flinch.


    What on earth?


    Amanding voice followed. "Got something to say to my face? Go on, don''t be shy. Continue your conversation."


    E''s breath hitched. She knew that voice. It was Eve.


    So she''s here.


    A grin tugged at E''s lips.


    This should be good.


    Eve''s entrance was unexpected, and the tension in the room thickened. E could practically feel the girls freezing in ce, caught like deer in headlights. From her hidden corner, E could hear the sharp retort in Eve''s tone, followed by the sudden, unmistakable sound of a p.


    E''s eyes widened in surprise.


    Eve pped them?


    She stifled augh, her hand covering her mouth as her shoulders shook.


    So she does have a backbone after all.


    As Eve stormed out, leaving a lingering warning, E couldn''t help but admire her. She always thought Eve was all sh and no fire—too haughty and above others to bother with petty squabbles.


    But this. . . this was different. Eve was aplete badass.


    "That


    bitch


    !" Guinevere screeched. "I''ll make her pay! Mark my words, she''ll regret this!"


    E sighed, contemting her next move. She didn''t want to walk out and face them after all that drama, but her phone buzzed in her hand, interrupting her thoughts. It was a call from her brother, Zachary. He was waiting for her outside, along with Cole.


    Great timing.


    Reluctantly, E pushed the stall door open. The sound made Guinevere freeze, her anger shifting into fear. "Who''s there?!" she snapped. "How dare you eavesdrop! Show yourself, or you''ll regret it!"


    E stepped into view, and the girls'' faces paled as they realized who it was.


    Standing before them was none other than


    E Fay Johnson


    , the youngest heiress to the Johnson fortune—the secondrgest corporation in the world, just beneath the Fays.


    She was a sight to behold, her shoulder-length blonde curls bouncing with every step, her emerald eyes gleaming with a mischievous spark. Her presence alone seemed to light up the dull bathroom, casting a shadow over the gossipers.


    Guinevere''s voice faltered. "L-Lady E . . ."


    E smiled sweetly as she casually washed her hands, her back to the group. "Did you threaten me just now?" she asked, her tone calm but carrying a dangerous undertone.


    The girls instantly bowed, their heads low, not daring to meet her gaze. "N-no! We wouldn''t dare! Please, forgive us! We didn''t know it was you!"


    E chuckled softly. "Rx. I won''t bother with gossipers. It''s beneath me." Her smile lingered as she dried her hands, her eyes flicking to the mirror before she turned to leave, the tension in the room thick enough to cut.


    But before she stepped out, she cast them onest look—a look that made them feel small, insignificant. Like insects beneath her heel.


    The girls shivered.


    E stepped out of the restroom, her phone still in hand as she walked toward the field where her brother Zachary and cousin Cole were waiting. As she rounded the corner, a scene caught her eye—one that made her stop in her tracks.


    Eve stood tall and poised, her stiletto heel pressed dangerously close to a man''s cheek. The tension around her could be felt, the air thick with unease.


    Sophie was sobbing pitifully at the side, surrounded by a group of men who were trying tofort her. E didn''t need to know the details; the scene spoke for itself. Eve, it seemed, had once again shown her mettle.


    Without a word, Eve pulled her heel back, her expression cold. She didn''t linger. She simply turned on her heel and walked away, leaving everyone in stunned silence.


    E''s eyes followed Eve''s retreating figure, a spark of admiration lighting up within her. There was something somanding about the way Eve carried herself, the way she left in the wake of chaos without so much as a backward nce.


    But what truly surprised E—and everyone else—was Eve''s next move.


    Cole stood nearby, his presence drawing every eyes in his tailored shirt and cks, the wind tousling his grey hair. Beside him was Zachary, equally handsome but with dark skin and a yful grin that never seemed to leave his face.


    Everyone expected Eve to falter, to rush into Cole''s arms the moment she saw him—just like she always did. But this time, she didn''t.


    Eve merely nced in Cole''s direction, her expression indifferent, before flipping her hair and walking past him as though he were nothing more than a stranger.


    The crowd gasped. Even E found her jaw dropping slightly.


    Is this really Eve?


    she thought, her mind racing to make sense of what she had just witnessed.


    As E approached her brother and cousin, she muttered under her breath, still staring after Eve''s retreating form. "Is she really Eve?"


    She was so different than before.