2025-03-10 06:29:00However, as he stared at the door, a faint smile crossed his lips. This war was far from over—but he was not afraid.
He was ready.
Marcus turned away from the door and walked toward the window of his study. The dim afternoon sunlight pierced through the glass, painting the room in hues of gold and amber. For a moment, he allowed himself to enjoy the tranquility, the calm before another storm.
The bustling city view below gave a sense of peace, even as various strategies and potential next steps swirled in his mind. He knew time wouldn’t stand still, and every moment that passed was an opportunity to prepare for new challenges.
A wave of relief flowed through him, but a sense of vigilance still enveloped his thoughts. Every decision made had to be carefully considered, and he wouldn’t let this calm make him complacent.
As the sunlight began to fade, Marcus returned to his desk, ready to strategize the next steps in the battle against Prescott. He knew this was just the beginning, and his determination to protect what was valuable would continue to burn.
However, the knock came sooner than expected, breaking the fragile peace.
Marcus shifted his focus from the view outside the window, sensing tension return to the room.
“Come in!” Marcus said, his voice calm but firm.
The door creaked open, revealing Evelyn standing there, hesitant. She clutched her handbag tightly, her knuckles pale from the pressure. She looked different—her usual confident demeanor seemed cracked, and her eyes were clouded with something Marcus hadn’t seen in years: vulnerability.
Marcus paused for a moment, feeling an odd atmosphere fill the room. Evelyn, the woman he had always known as tough and independent, now appeared weak. There was something troubling his mind, perhaps one or two burdens hidden deep, and it stirred a profound empathy within him.
He stepped forward, allowing Evelyn to enter. The room, typically filled with a sense of purpose, now felt heavier with the tension flowing between them. Evelyn slowly closed the door, as if afraid a loud noise would shatter this moment.
“Evelyn,” Marcus said, his tone neutral as he gestured to the chair across from him. “What brings you here?”
Evelyn stepped in slowly, her heels softly clicking on the wooden floor. She didn’t sit immediately. Instead, she wandered around for a moment, her fingers touching the edge of his desk as if searching for something to anchor herself. Every movement seemed careful, as if she were gathering courage.
The room felt silent, only the sound of her steps breaking the stillness. Marcus watched closely, sensing the tension that flowed between them. Evelyn appeared trapped in her thoughts, struggling to find the right words.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she took a seat in the chair across from Marcus. Her eyes didn’t meet his at first; instead, she lowered her head, as if avoiding a burden too heavy to lift. There was a mixed expression on her face—concern, doubt, and a hint of hope.
Marcus felt the urge to give her space, to let her ponder what she wanted to express. He knew whatever had brought her here was important. When Evelyn finally lifted her head and met Marcus's gaze, there was something different in her eyes. She seemed more open, more vulnerable than before.
“I never thought I would be here,” she finally said, her voice trembling slightly. “I need to talk to you,” Evelyn added, her tone softer than usual.
“About what?” Marcus leaned back in his chair, his eyes sharp, watching Evelyn closely. The question hanging in the air left an unspoken tension. He knew this topic wouldn’t be easy for either of them, especially after everything that had happened.
Evelyn hesitated, her lips parted as if to speak, then closed again. She appeared to struggle with her thoughts, as if the right words were hard to find. Finally, after a moment that felt like eternity, she sat down in the chair and placed her bag aside.
“About us,” she said quietly, her voice nearly shaking. The words hung in the air between them, heavy and raw. Marcus felt his heart race; this was the conversation they had avoided for too long.
He observed Evelyn, seeing how vulnerability enveloped her face. He knew that to reach this point, she must have gone through many considerations. There was pain and hope intertwined within her, and Marcus felt a weight in his chest.
Marcus raised an eyebrow. “Us?” he echoed, almost laughing. “There is no ‘us,’ Evelyn. Not anymore.”
She was taken aback by his words but didn’t retreat. “I know. I know that better than anyone,” she said, her voice slightly breaking. “But... there are things I need to say. Things I should have said a long time ago.”
He folded his arms, his expression unreadable. “I’m listening.”
Evelyn took a deep breath, her eyes focused on the floor. “I never stopped loving you, Marcus,” she said, her voice trembling.
Those words hung in the air between them, heavy and unfiltered. Marcus felt the impact of that confession, as if everything had suddenly come to a halt. His jaw tightened, but he didn’t say anything. He was caught between the desire to respond and the fear of the consequences that might follow.
Evelyn looked at him, hope and doubt mingling in her gaze. She knew that her confession would not be easy to accept, but she felt the need to express feelings that had long been buried. In the silence that filled the room, Marcus reflected on all the memories they shared—both the beautiful and bitter moments that had shaped their relationship.
He remembered the moments when everything felt so perfect, when they were an inseparable team. But as time went on, ambition and rivalry had hurt that relationship. Marcus felt trapped in confusion; he wanted to acknowledge his feelings, but there was a fear of reopening old wounds.
Evelyn continued, “I know we’ve been through a lot, and maybe I don’t have the right to speak like this. But I feel like we can get back what we lost.”
"I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness," she continued, her voice now more stable. "And I’m not asking for it. But I need you to know the truth. Everything I did—leaving you, marrying Daniel—it wasn’t because I stopped loving you. It was because I was afraid."
Marcus squinted. "Afraid of what?"
"Afraid of my family," she admitted, her voice barely a whisper. "Afraid of what they would do if I chose you over them."
She let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. "Do you expect me to believe that? That you left me because of your family?"
"That’s the truth," Evelyn said firmly, looking at him for the first time. "You know how they are, Marcus. My mother—she’s cruel. She threatened to cut me off, to ruin me if I didn’t marry someone ‘respectable.’ And at that time, I thought I had no choice."
Marcus leaned forward, his eyes blazing. "So you chose money over love. Power over loyalty. Are you here now because you regret it? Or because Daniel isn’t what you thought?"
Her face flushed at his words, and for a moment, she looked like she might cry. But she held her ground, her chin lifted with courage. "I’m here because I can’t live with the lies anymore," she said. "I’m tired of pretending, Marcus. Tired of pretending that I don’t love you."
She looked at him, her expression unreadable. For years, he had dreamed of hearing those words, of her admitting that she had made a mistake. Yet, at this moment, the moment he had been waiting for, it didn’t feel like he imagined.
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Poor Son-in-law 31
Instead of happiness or relief, Marcus felt a confusing mix of emotions. There was pain flowing within him, recalling everything that had happened. Every good and bad memory flashed through his mind, creating a storm of feelings that was hard to capture.Evelyn, with hopeful eyes, appeared vulnerable in this moment. He sensed the tension in the air, as if every heartbeat counted down the time before something significant would happen. Marcus struggled to find the right words, caught between the desire to move forward and the fear of potential heartbreak again.He wanted to respond to Evelyn's confession, but the words seemed to escape him. All his dreams of hearing that confession now felt like a burden weighing on his mind. He had spent years longing for Evelyn’s presence, but in this moment, he felt trapped in doubt.Evelyn continued, "I don’t expect you to forgive me just like that. I just want you to know
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The night was heavy with anticipation. Marcus Carter walked down the dimly lit street, a bouquet of white lilies held firmly in his hand. The flowers were Evelyn's favorite—soft, elegant, and timeless, just like the love he thought they shared. He adjusted the collar of his overcoat as a chill breeze swept past, but his mind wasn’t on the cold. Tonight was their anniversary. He glanced at his watch—8:45 PM. He was late. Work had dragged on longer than he'd planned, but he was certain Evelyn would understand. She always did. Or at least, she used to. The golden light spilling from the windows of their house was warm and inviting, and for a moment, Marcus allowed himself to imagine her reaction. She’d scold him for being late, of course, but then she’d smile—soft and forgiving. They’d toast to another year together, another year of promises. But as he stepped through the front door, something was… off.The house was eerily quiet, too quiet for a night meant for celebration. The fain
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The restaurant was perfect—modern yet intimate, with soft amber lights casting a warm glow over every polished surface. The kind of place where the waiters wore sharp suits, the cutlery gleamed like silver mirrors, and the wine list was thicker than the menu. Evelyn ran her fingers over the rim of her wine glass, letting the faint hum of conversation around her settle like a comforting backdrop.Daniel sat across from her, his presence as commanding as ever. His tailored navy-blue suit hugged his broad shoulders perfectly, and his sharp jawline tensed slightly as he inspected the wine in his glass. He exuded confidence, the kind of man who knew he was the center of attention without even trying. Evelyn hated how much she craved that confidence. It wasn’t love, not really, but Daniel filled a void she couldn’t bear to face. After all, it was easier to drown in someone else’s ambition than to confront the ruins of her own choices.“Evelyn.” His voice cut through her thoughts, smooth bu
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The door creaked open as Marcus stepped into the house that no longer felt like home. The weight of the evening clung to his shoulders, heavier than the coat he had draped over his arm. The faint scent of Evelyn’s expensive perfume lingered in the air, a sharp reminder of the life he was about to leave behind. The living room was dimly lit, shadows stretching across the walls, but the silence was deafening.He exhaled slowly, taking in the surroundings. The place was spotless, as always, every cushion perfectly arranged, every trinket in its place. Evelyn had always been meticulous about appearances. But to Marcus, it all felt hollow now.He walked toward the staircase, his footsteps muffled by the thick carpet, and paused at the base. For the first time in years, he felt like a stranger in his own house. The memories came flooding back—laughter, arguments, stolen moments of tenderness—but those felt like they belonged to someone else, someone he no longer recognized.He clenched his
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The morning air was crisp, carrying with it a faint scent of rain from the night before. Marcus stood at the edge of the curb, his suitcase by his side, watching the empty road in front of him. The house behind him still loomed, its cold, pristine walls a reminder of everything he had just walked away from. He exhaled slowly, his breath visible in the chilly air, and glanced down at his phone.The call with his uncle from the night before still rang in his ears. "Tell me everything," Richard had said, his voice laced with both concern and authority. And Marcus had told him—everything about Evelyn, the betrayal, the humiliation. He had laid it bare, and Richard had listened in silence, only speaking at the end to say, "I'll take care of it. Be ready in the morning."Marcus didn't know what "take care of it" meant, but he trusted his uncle. Richard Carter was a man of his word. A man of power. And as much as Marcus had tried to distance himself from the Carter family over the years, dee
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The driveway leading up to the Carter estate was a long stretch of cobblestone surrounded by towering oaks. The winter air was crisp, and the faint gray clouds above hinted at an oncoming storm. Marcus slowed the car as the grand, Victorian-style mansion came into view. It had been years since he’d last set foot here, and yet the sight of it still stirred something in him—nostalgia? Bitterness? He wasn’t sure.He parked near the front steps, taking a moment to steady himself. The past few months had been nothing short of chaos, and now, standing here again, he felt like a man teetering on the edge of two worlds. One was his past—the ghost of the man he used to be, broken and humiliated. The other was his future, the man he was becoming: calculated, focused, and unrelenting.As he stepped out of the car, the front door opened. Richard Carter, his uncle, stood tall in the doorway, his sharp features softened slightly by a welcoming smile.“Marcus,” Richard greeted, his voice firm but wa
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The office building of Prescott Industries loomed in front of him like a fortress. Its sleek glass facade reflected the pale morning light, sharp and unyielding, much like the people who worked inside. Marcus stood across the street, his hands buried in the pockets of his tailored coat, observing the flow of employees filing into the building. He took a deep breath, steadying himself.This was it. The first step.He adjusted the tie around his neck, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. It had taken months of planning, connections, and careful maneuvering, but he was finally here. Not as Marcus Carter, the man Evelyn had cast aside, but as someone entirely new.Inside that building, they wouldn’t see the broken man they thought they’d destroyed. They’d see someone confident, capable, and untouchable. They’d see someone they underestimated—and that was exactly what he wanted.Marcus walked through the revolving doors, his polished shoes clicking against the pristine marble f
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Marcus adjusted the cuffs of his tailored suit as he stepped into the large conference room. The air was crisp with the faint smell of coffee and fresh paper, and the hum of muffled conversations filled the space. He scanned the room with calm precision, his eyes landing on her. Evelyn.She was seated near the far end of the long mahogany table, her posture as poised as ever, one manicured hand resting on the armrest of her chair. Her expression was unreadable, but Marcus caught the slightest twitch of her lips when their eyes met. She didn’t smile. Neither did he.Instead, he moved with deliberate steps toward his seat, directly across from her. His confidence wasn’t forced anymore—it came naturally now, as if he had been born for moments like this. Evelyn could feel it. The Marcus she had once known—the quiet, soft-spoken man who avoided confrontation—was gone. Replaced by someone sharper. Someone unpredictable.“Morning,” Marcus said casually as he pulled out his chair, his voice s
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Instead of happiness or relief, Marcus felt a confusing mix of emotions. There was pain flowing within him, recalling everything that had happened. Every good and bad memory flashed through his mind, creating a storm of feelings that was hard to capture.Evelyn, with hopeful eyes, appeared vulnerable in this moment. He sensed the tension in the air, as if every heartbeat counted down the time before something significant would happen. Marcus struggled to find the right words, caught between the desire to move forward and the fear of potential heartbreak again.He wanted to respond to Evelyn's confession, but the words seemed to escape him. All his dreams of hearing that confession now felt like a burden weighing on his mind. He had spent years longing for Evelyn’s presence, but in this moment, he felt trapped in doubt.Evelyn continued, "I don’t expect you to forgive me just like that. I just want you to know
30
However, as he stared at the door, a faint smile crossed his lips. This war was far from over—but he was not afraid.He was ready.Marcus turned away from the door and walked toward the window of his study. The dim afternoon sunlight pierced through the glass, painting the room in hues of gold and amber. For a moment, he allowed himself to enjoy the tranquility, the calm before another storm.The bustling city view below gave a sense of peace, even as various strategies and potential next steps swirled in his mind. He knew time wouldn’t stand still, and every moment that passed was an opportunity to prepare for new challenges.A wave of relief flowed through him, but a sense of vigilance still enveloped his thoughts. Every decision made had to be carefully considered, and he wouldn’t let this calm make him complacent.As the sunlight began to fade, Marcus return
29
Richard turned, his expression unreadable. "You’ve started, then?"Marcus shrugged off his jacket and placed it on the back of his chair. "If you’re asking whether I’ve attacked Prescott Enterprises, the answer is yes," Marcus said bluntly, sitting at his desk.He looked at his uncle seriously, feeling the weight of responsibility grow heavier. Every step he took now had consequences, and he knew this battle would not be easy.Richard nodded, realizing Marcus's decision was a bold move. "Alright. We need to ensure we have all the necessary information to proceed."Marcus opened his desk drawer and pulled out several documents. "I’ve gathered data on Prescott and the people around him. There’s plenty to exploit."Richard approached, examining the documents. The serious expression on his face indicated that he understood the significance of this moment
28
Marcus stared at the message on his phone, his knuckles whitening as he tightened his grip on the device.Unknown Number. *[You can't trust anyone, Marcus. Not even those closest to you.]*The words hit him like a hammer. A wave of anxiety washed over his mind. Who sent this message? What did it mean? He felt trapped in a game far larger than himself.Marcus felt tension in his neck, and his mind began racing. He couldn't let this uncertainty take control. Carefully, he started considering who might be enemies around him. Daniel was clearly a threat, but who else could be involved?He tried to recall his last conversations with friends and colleagues. Were there any signs that they couldn't be trusted? Paranoia began to creep in, and he knew he had to be cautious.Marcus shifted his gaze from the phone and looked around the room, feeling an urgent need to secure the place. He wou
27
"Because I'm telling the truth," Evelyn said desperately. "I know you have no reason to believe me, but you need to listen. Daniel is not who you think he is. He… he’s not just targeting your business, Marcus. He’s targeting you."Marcus's heart raced in his chest, although he kept his voice steady. "What do you mean?""He's planning to hurt you," Evelyn said, her voice almost a whisper. "Physically. I heard him talking to someone last night. He… he’s angry, Marcus. He feels you’ve humiliated him, and he wants revenge."Before Marcus could respond, the call suddenly dropped. He pulled the phone from his ear, frowning as he tried to call back, but there was no answer. A sense of discomfort enveloped him, making him restless.He stood and began pacing his office, each step filled with anxiety. Thoughts of Evelyn kept swirling in his mind. He knew all too well that
26
The fact that Daniel Prescott was a real threat only emphasized the urgency of their meeting. Without a doubt, Marcus knew that Prescott wouldn’t stop until he got what he wanted. If Margaret had information that could help him, he would be foolish to dismiss it.He studied Margaret’s expression, searching for signs of honesty behind her calm demeanor. Despite the tension, Marcus couldn’t overlook the potential benefits of this collaboration. Leveraging Margaret’s strengths and information could be a strategically smart move, even if it meant entrusting part of himself to this enigmatic woman.With his decision becoming clearer, Marcus felt compelled to explore this possibility. He knew that every step had to be taken carefully. The choice to work together could lead them both down a dangerous path, but if it was the only way to protect Evelyn and confront Prescott, then he had to be prepared to face the risks.
25
Marcus stepped toward the corner of the street, the sound of his footsteps muffled by the cold concrete floor. He took a deep breath, trying to capture the fresh night air, even though a hint of worry lingered in his heart.This city, usually bustling, now felt quiet, as if waiting for something unexpected. He looked around, ensuring no one was watching him. Despite the risks of this meeting, he felt it was the right step.In the pocket of his coat, his hand brushed against a note he had written earlier. The information was invaluable and could change everything. Marcus knew that if he failed tonight, the consequences could be severe.He felt his heartbeat quicken as their eyes met. The woman had a mixed expression, as if waiting and worried at the same time. He stepped inside, taking in the warm and intimate atmosphere of the café, a stark contrast to the darkness outside. Soft lights cast a warm glow, creating a
24
Richard looked at him for a moment before speaking. “You need to decide, Marcus. Are you fighting for revenge, or are you fighting to protect what’s yours? Because those are two very different battles.”For a moment, Marcus said nothing, his mind filled with conflicting emotions. He respected his uncle’s wisdom, but the thought of Prescott and Evelyn together ignited a fire he couldn’t extinguish.One side of him urged immediate action, to retaliate against all the pain caused. Yet the other side recognized that revenge would only add to the chaos, ruining everything he had built. He knew he had to find balance—a way to protect what was precious without getting trapped in a cycle of hatred.The tension deepened, and Marcus felt the weight of the decision pressing on him. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his swirling thoughts. He needed to think clearly and plan his next moves care
23
Each second felt like it slowed down, and Marcus felt an overwhelming wave of emotion. The beautiful memories with Evelyn, the moments when they dreamed about the future together, now loomed in a dark light. He felt as if he had been betrayed not just by Evelyn, but also by the world he believed in.In the silence of the room, Marcus struggled to maintain his composure. The pain stung, reminding him of all he had sacrificed. He remembered how hard he fought to move on after Evelyn's departure. Now, hearing that she was involved with Prescott made everything feel futile.His colleagues' eyes were on him, filled with attention and concern. They sensed the tension hanging in the air. Marcus knew he had to regain control of the situation. He couldn't let his emotions take over; he had to act wisely.He looked at Richard, trying to suppress the anger bubbling within him. Deep down, he was determined to find the truth. He coul
