Chapter Eleven & Twelve

Four Years Later

"Ma'am, can you take a look at this chocolate biscuit? I made it myself. It is delicious and affordable", Eve pointed to a cake by her side.

"Cute baby. What's your name?", She smiled at the young girl beside her.

"Izzy"

"Izzy - that's a nice name. Why don't you taste this cake and tell your mother if you'd love to have it all to yourself", Eve pulled out a knife and skillfully cut out a slice of vanilla cake for the little girl.

The girl took the cake and ate it and her eyes lit up in surprise.

"Mm. This is a delicious cake mommy. I want this as my birthday cake", She said and tugged at her mother's sleeve.

"Is that so?", The mother eyed Eve and said, "Let me have a taste of the 'delicious' cake"

Eve gave the mother a slice of the cake too and she also had a taste like her daughter did.

"Wow!", The mother exclaimed and added, "This is truly delicious. I'll like to buy this but-"

Eve caught her looking at the confectionery store.

"Is this the only size available? I'd like a bigger size of this with her name on it as well as her new age", The mother gave her order that sounded like a sort of complaint.

"Okay ma'am. Please write those information here", Eve gave her a small note and pen.

"You'll receive the cake in a couple of minutes. Happy birthday to you dear", Eve beamed her sweetest smile to the little girl.

"Thank you", The little girl beamed in happiness.

"I'm afraid I have to leave now. I'm so sorry. This young lady here will proceed with the rest", Eve pointed to her colleague and took off her working apron and cap.

"May I ask why you're leaving, beautiful Aunty?", The little girl asked with a slight frown.

"Oh! My shift has ended so I have to go to my other job", Eve replied.

She collected her daily salary at the financial office and left as soon as possible. She realized that she won't go to her other job that day because it was their excursion to the museum.

She stopped at the supermarket to do some shopping. She bought a lot of things such as a new pair of shoes, nice wig, some brassiere, some clothes, disinfectants, cream, deodorants and many ingredients for food that was running out in her house.

She pushed the cart to her not so flashy car and arranged them into the boot. She returned the cart and sped off to her house because she was starting to have a mild headache.

"Stop", She heard her best friend's voice and turned to the direction she heard it from.

"Evelyn!!!", Her best friend flagged the car and waited till it stopped.

"Girlfriend, you look bad", She said.

"Yoona!!!", Eve got out of the car and suddenly collapsed in her arms.

"Oh fuck!!", Yoona cursed and dragged her into the passengers seat and then drove the car out of the parking lot.

****

"Make way for the captain", A soldier shouted as many soldiers swiftly arranged themselves in rows.

"Attention ", He yelled as they matched their feet with their hands to their temple in salute.

"Salute!!", Another shout was heard and they dropped their hands uniformly.

"I just returned from the commander's office. News has been sent out across the barracks.

Since the mission has been accomplished, you are all allowed to go home to your family. You all may leave whenever you are ready to.

"Dismissed!!", The captain said and they skipped away.

"Captain Alexis!!", A fellow soldier approached Alexis and saluted.

"Amber", He called out. "I've been asked to accompany you to the general's office", She said.

"Okay. Get ready in three minutes. You're driving", He handed the car keys to her. She collected it and smiled.

They returned from the general's office and went to the place the car was parked. Alexis stuck out his hand for the key.

"I'm driving, isn't it?", Amber asked when she saw his outstretched hand demanding for the keys.

"Not anymore. I'm going somewhere else so take the cab", He replied and took the key from her hand.

"Bye", He said with a stern face and marched forward.

"You didn't congratulate me, Ale-Captain Alexis", Amber corrected herself but Alexis didn't show any sign and got himself into his keep.

*Pim* *Pim*

He honked and alighted from his vehicle. He took off his cap and pressed the bell. He pressed it again and Eve's face came to view. She was looking tired; that he could tell.

"Hi Alexis", She was excited and hugged him tightly. He hugged her back and was surprised to see her burning up. He quickly entered the house and asked her to go to her room.

"I'm cooking, Alex", She muttered quickly.

"Go and rest. I thought Yoona was with you", He raised his brows.

"Yeah. She stepped out to get me medicines"

"Okay"

""I missed you Alex", She muttered and hugged his waist. He patted her hair softly and tucked her in.

"Yo! Captain Alexis!", Yoona screamed as soon as she saw Alexis.

"Captain!", She raised a hand to her temples and stomped her feet. She giggled excitedly and walked to the kitchen.

"You are so handsome, Alex", Yoona blushed as she stared at Alexis dreamily.

"You should go give the medicine to her. You're noisy", Alexis frowned.

"Okay, bye baby", She said and waved her hand. She walked to the refrigerator to get Eve a bottle of water and walked to the room to give her the medicine.

By 10pm, Alexis and Yoona were bickering about the movie to watch.

"Why must I watch Korean movies? Their romantic nonsense is too pathetic", He remarked.

"I guess you can watch your movie on your phone or rather still, your laptop", Yoona replied as she searched for a romantic movie.

"This is the tale of the nine tailed", She announced. "It's like an action movie too so-"

"I'll watch it", He cut in and she smiled.

"I'm gonna grab the snacks", Yoona said and went to take their juice and snacks from the kitchen.

"So", She began. "Any girl in your life?", Yoona asked with her eyes still fixed to the television.

"What about you?"

"I asked first, bro", Yoona laughed.

Alexis laughed at her and replied, "I'm still single. Fortunately for me"

"Fortunately?", She raised a brow.

"You still like her, don't you?", She asked him quietly.

"Yes", He replied honestly.

"But she rejected you, remember?", Yoona reminded him.

"I can wait till she finally decides to accept me, Yoona", He said hopefully.

"Don't hope in vain. I don't think she will like you anytime soon", Yoona said and he scoffed.

"I don't think so though", He argued. "Tomorrow is Mandy's stuff so let us all go greet her"

"Okay", He replied and shut his eyes to sleep.

**

Eve was up as early as 8 a.m in the morning. She was making breakfast for the three of them. "There should be bread", She muttered.

"Yes, there is", Alexis chirped in. He was wearing a sky blue shirt that hadn't been buttoned.

'He looks handsome', Eve thought in her mind and Alexis looked at her sharply.

"That's because you haven't seen me for seven months", He replied to her and she blushed.

Alexis was happy to see her blush because of him so early in the morning.

"Congratulations on being a captain, Alexis", She said as he approached her.

"Wait!", She raised her voice a little and he halted.

She walked to him and held his clothes. He looked at her and they made eye contact for a few seconds. She was trying hard to change the awkwardness around them.

She buttoned his shirt one after the other and left the two buttons undone.

"Why did you do that?", He asked her.

"I feel like and then", She went to turn off the cooker. "You look more hot", She winked and he blushed, scratching his head.

"Come help me serve the food", She commented and he took out the plates from the rack.

They sat at the dining table to eat. No one spoke a word and minded themselves. It was only the sound of their cutleries that was heard.

"Let us go and greet Mandy first", Yoona proposed as soon as they finished eating.

"Yeah. Let me get ready. I'm having a class by eleven today so we're gonna hurry up", Eve said and they agreed.

The drive to Mandy's drive was a fast and lively one. Alexis was hosting the girls about his profession as a soldier. He was telling them about the harsh conditions and requirements expected of a soldier.

"But that's a bit bad, Alexis", Yoona said. Alexis had told them that the commander would have to spray some pepper into the soldier to test their capabilities.

"He's just preparing you, you know", Eve responded and they laughed.

Eve received a call from Lady Elizabeth. She frowned and answered the call anyways. She frowned as she listened to what the lady has to say to her.

"What?!", Yoona exclaimed.

"That's ridiculous, Evelyn", Alexis remarked after hearing what Lasy Elizabeth told her.

"I have no choice. She said "I'm going to help her for just a month" and besides, she might have changed to become a better person". Eve reasoned.

"That witch can never change", Alexis spoke but Eve disagreed.

"It's just a month, Alexis. I'll be back", Evelyn assured him and pulled them both into a warm hug.

IN THE MANSION

"Welcome dear", Lady Elizabeth sang out loud as soon as Evelyn walked into the mansion. In Eve's eyes, the mansion has changed a lot. It has fewer maids and it was a bit uglier than before. That mansion holds many memories of the past, both good and bad.

That was where Mandy died. She doesn't want to talk about Mandy's death now…not yet.

"Come help with the food. I'm so famished", Lady Elizabeth said and pushed her into the kitchen.

It was almost immediately that she caught sight of Mr. Salavatore. Mr. Salvatore was Lady Elizabeth's favorite partner. He was a proud vampire from the high class. He claimed not to have ever drank blood from an animal before but from the 'pathetic' humans directly from their veins.

He's also a wicked man in Eve's eyes because he puts everybody, especially the maids, in danger.

She deliberately ignored him so as not to have anything to do with him. She entered the kitchen and helped the maids with the cooking. A maid had to leave to attend to Mr. Salavatore to give him blood. That was upon Lady Elizabeth's stupid order.

Eve also helped them to dish out the food and set the table.

"I ate on my way", Eve replied Lady Elizabeth when she asked her to join them to eat.

"I'll be in my room then", Eve said and dragged her luggage to her room.

She wasn't surprised to see the room in a mess. When she had asked if the outcome of her room earlier, the response she got from the maids were "Lady Elizabeth abandoned that room"

She packed her hair into a ponytail and began tidying the room. She kept the furniture and clothes according to her taste. She face-palmed herself and began to sob quietly. 'Why is the lady like this?', She asked herself but could not provide an answer to the question.

Why would she go to the university from there?

She didn't plan to live in the mansion. She had asked for a leave of absence for a month in her working place. How was she going to know that she won't be coming back there? How do she tell Yoona and Alexis that she's stranded with the witch because she had seized her phone, laptop and other phone accessories?

Unbelievable was the perfect word to describe the ridiculous actions of Lady Elizabeth.

THE NEXT DAY — 7:41 A.M

"Oh gosh!", Eve groaned and entered the full bus that would take her to Hawaii university. She held the stand and fell backwards as soon as the bus stepped on the brake.

"You can take my seat, pretty girl", A guy offered and stood up to offer his seat to her. Eve could comprehend that he was bewitched by her beautiful face and body.

"Thank you", She thanked him and sat down.

They both got down at the university. Eve was amazed and speechless at the same time on seeing the university. It was so big and grand.

"Oh hi!! I'm Collins. I see that we're going to the same destination", The guy introduced himself.

"Actually, I'm a freshman here. I came to submit my form personally", Eve replied.

"Let me take you to the office for proper registration", He said but some students began to run in their direction. Eve was confused but she later understood what was going on.

Some rich students just arrived so the students were chasing their flashing cars as they drove past her. She hissed when she saw the spoiled brats come out of their distinct cars. They boys were looking at her as she walked with Collins. She didn't mind them because it was a normal thing to her.

But then, she was wearing a simple outfit. It was a crop top, short skirt, a thigh boot and a flashy overall coat. With the help of Collins, she got admitted into the university properly. The online admission was actually difficult but she answered all the questions correctly and got into the university.

Hawaii university is actually the best university in Lady Elizabeth's eyes. The problem was that the university was far away from the mansion. After all, Mr. Salvatore also played his role in convincing her to go to Hawaii university.

By now, she was sure that Alexis has called her many times. Even Yoona must have been worried about her by now. Everywhere was beautiful and flashy.

"Can I store my number in your phone in case of necessity?", Collins asked smiling but Eve shook her head.

"I don't have a phone for now. Maybe later but you can write it down", She gave him her pen and notepad. He wrote down his contact and left to his class for lecture.

Eve had a hard time finding her class. She was lost in the school's environment. She didn't have a cell phone to call due to Lady Elizabeth's reasons.

"Hello! I'm Jamal. You were standing here for ten minutes. Is there any problem? Don't feel shy because I'm the Prince of Azariah. I can help", The blonde boy introduced himself to her.

Eve smiled and looked at the guy's features. He introduced himself as a Prince and he also looked like one so she believed him. Maybe because he was handsome but she believed him all the same. She felt like there was some sort of resemblance between them but she didn't know what to say.

"I'm-I'm looking for the lab. The chemistry lab and I don't know how to get to the laboratory", Eve said while blushing.

Truth be told, the boy was handsome but there was this cold aura he was emitting.

"Let me help with downloading the school's app on your phone", Jamal offered but her reply amused him.

"Should I get you one? I can get you anyone you want", Jamal insisted but she turned down his offer.

He looked at her documents and chuckled, "You're a fresher. I'll always be around to help you but I'm your senior"

Evelyn agreed with him and watched him converse with other people. "Thank you Jamal", She appreciated and entered the laboratory.

Jamal shook hands with some students and began conversing with them.

"I can't believe Lex ain't here yet", Jamal said to Philip. Philip laughed and replied, "Thought he'll come early to see some pretty girls. But as the owner of Hawaii university, you don't expect to show up whenever you feel like seeing him"

"Have you seen Raphael?", Jamal asked as he looked around.

"He's busy flirting with Caro. You've got a naughty little brother", Hudson announced but Jamal did not look interested all of a sudden.

"Lex has been behaving weird these days", Amos cut in and they began speaking on the matter.

"That's because things are hard for him", Jamal said and they agreed.

Students were screaming as Lex drive into the school. The girls screamed in excitement and pure joy as they followed him around gushing about his excitement.

Meanwhile, in the laboratory, Eve had to borrow a course mate's phone to call Alexis. Truth be told, he was already worried about her. Sadly, he has been transferred to another base in another state for some months. That also means that he won't be able to see her till he comes back.

But Yoona came to see her at the university. "I'm kinda speechless babe", Yoona stated. That was the first statement that came out of her mouth after the scream of "Eve!!!!"