Chris was silent, the only movement the slight clenching of his jaw. He wasn’t about to jump into the family argument. He knew his place—an outsider, at least in Kate’s eyes—and he had no intention of fanning the flames further. His thoughts were already on what needed to be done next, on how he would make the Carter family pay for what they had done. “Enough,” Bruce’s voice cut through the tension like a knife. He sat up straighter, turning to face his wife. His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it that silenced Kate instantly. “What’s done is done. Arguing about it isn’t going to change anything.” For a moment, Kate looked like she was going to protest, but the look in Bruce’s eyes stopped her. She huffed and turned away, folding her arms across her chest again. The silence returned, but this time it was heavier, more oppressive. The weight of unspoken words and unresolved anger hung over them like a storm cloud. Eva sighed, sinking back into her seat. Her heart ached with

The car continued through the rain, the rhythmic sound of the windshield wipers the only noise for a while. Eventually, the bright lights of the city began to fade as they entered a quieter, more affluent area. The streets here were lined with large trees, their branches swaying gently in the breeze, and the houses were grand, each one more impressive than the last. Kate, who had been sulking in the back seat, perked up as they turned onto a wide, gated driveway. She frowned, glancing at Bruce who was equally curious about where they were going and then she shifted her gaze to Eva, who had a blank expression on her face and didn't even seem bothered in the slightest possible way. The mansion came into view after a long, winding drive through a private road. “Where are we?” Kate asked, her irritation giving way to confusion as the car rolled slowly toward the gates. Chris didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he pulled up to the security panel by the gate, rolled down the windo

Kate blinked, clearly stunned by her daughter’s outburst. She opened her mouth to retort, but no words came out. She glanced at Bruce, who said nothing, his eyes focused on the mansion before them. Eva’s eyes flashed with anger, and she spun on her mother. “Stop it, Mom! Chris has never taken anything from the Carters. This house—this life—it’s his, not yours, not the Carters’. You should be thankful.” Eva’s patience snapped. “Mom, would you stop already? Chris is trying to help. Why can’t you just trust him for once?” Kate turned to her daughter, her expression one of exasperation. “I’m just trying to understand. This doesn’t add up. We’re supposed to believe he magically has this mansion after all this time? I’ve known Chris for years, Eva, and he’s never mentioned anything like this.” Eva’s anger simmered beneath the surface, but Chris’s calm voice broke the tension. “Mother,I havent exploited you in all these years.” he said, his tone neutral but firm, “there’s a lot you don’t

The large golden grandfather clock in the corner of the living room ticked softly, its steady rhythm the only sound in the mansion as Bruce and Kate entered. Eva was sitting alone on the couch, her hands folded in her lap, eyes distant as she stared at the dull skies through the wide glass windows. The air felt heavy, thick with tension that had been building since they arrived at this new mansion. The words that Chris said to her before leaving were still lingering in her mind that she didn't notice the presence of her parents. Bruce, ever observant, immediately noticed the absence of Chris. His eyebrow furrowed, a mix of concern and curiosity settling on his face. He had never quite understood the man his daughter had married. Chris had always been an enigma to him—quiet, often too reserved, but there was something about him that Bruce had long suspected was more than it seemed. Today, that suspicion weighed on him more heavily than ever. He cleared his throat, and both Kate and

Eva’s heart ached hearing the hesitation in her father’s voice. She knew that Bruce still held some attachment to the Carters, despite how they had treated him and his family over the years. But this wasn’t the time for sentimentality. Chris was risking everything to protect them, to ensure that their home wasn’t destroyed, and she wasn’t about to let her father hold onto false loyalties. “Dad,” Eva began softly, reaching out to place her hand on his arm. “I know it’s hard. But the Carters have always treated us like we’re less than them. You know that. They’ve never cared about us, not really. They’ve humiliated you, belittled you… and now, they’ve destroyed our home.” Bruce remained silent, his face drawn tight with conflicting emotions. Eva continued, her voice growing firmer. “We can’t keep forgiving them just because they’re family. Look at what they’ve done to us. To Mom. To Chris. It’s time we stand up for ourselves.” Kate, who had been watching the exchange quietly, fi