After getting dressed, Eva left the room and headed downstairs. As she was through the hallway she was amazed by the luxurious interior decoration of the mansion.It was spacious, the furniture was crafted and designed with the highest quality of material. She could clearly tell that many of the huge shining chandeliers that were hanging from the ceiling were made with real gemstones. Eva also recognized several famous and expensive paintings and priceless antiques that were used as extra decoration In her mind she wondered when and for how long Chris had owned such a beautiful house. Moreover, why was he still living with her and her parents in their old colonial house where he was being treated like a house boy. She was surprised enough to find out that Chris was rich when he paid a huge sum of money to settle the bill at her class reunion gathering event that took place a few days ago. That was a revelation she was still trying to get used to but this discovery was going t
Bruce and Kate spent the next several minutes explaining the incident that took place after Eva had left for work and Chris had mysteriously disappeared the previous day.At this point, Eva's blood was boiled in rage and her eyes were filled with anger. The Heart of Pierre was a gift that was actually very precious to her. In addition, it was so expensive that even she couldn't bear to wear it.Hearing that such priced jewelry had been stolen by her greedy and cunning cousin made her completely feel infuriated. This time around, Eva was unwilling to let this slide.“Mom, dad, I'll see you when I get home tonight. I have to end this conversation here because there is something that I have to do.” Eva declared and hung up the call without waiting for her parents' response.“I need to go to the Carter villa.” Eva said in a firm tone.“Is everything alright?” Chris asked, seeing the dark expression on Eva's face.“ There is something I need to take back from Eric Carter.” Eva replied in
At this happy moment, the family butler suddenly dashed in nervously.“What’s wrong? Why are you so flustered?!” Benjamin queried the butler with a displeased facial expression. He was annoyed by the fact the joyous atmosphere had been ruined, “How many times have I told you that I do not like to be disturbed during family meetings?”“ I apologize, sir but this news is very urgent.”“Well, why aren't you saying it?” Eric snapped at the butler as he was also infuriated.“I just received word from the guards at the gate that Miss evangeline is on the premises and she headed this way to meet you.” the butler revealed.What?!..... Who let her in? And why wasn't I informed before giving her access to enter the building." Benjamin roared, lass]himg out at the butler. “We didn't give her access to enter the compound,sir?” the butler hurriedly explained to clear up the misunderstanding.“How else do you mind explaining how she got in?” brian asked, frowning at the butler.“I heard they fo
Eva felt that it was pointless to continue conversing with Eric. “I want to see grandfather.” She declared. Hearing this, Eric immediately blocked Eva's path. “Hmph, you want to go inside the Carter Villa? Forget about it! You have already been kicked out and disowned by the family. You have no right to enter our family’s house again without being invited and be rest assured that would never happen. Grandpa has promised to appoint me as the official heir of the family and there is no way I will let you back into this family once I'm Patriarch.” “You can only blame yourself for this loss since none of this would have happened if only you had accepted our offers and reunited with the family. In fact, you should be grateful that we aren't kicking you out of the house as well so take your leave now while I'm still being nice and don't cause anymore trouble here.” “Eric Carter, don't you have no conscience. You are doing all this just fid the sake of becoming the patriarch. Do you thin
“What are you doing here? I didn't give permission to let you enter.” Benjamin remarked with a gloomy expression. “If you have anything to say, hurry up and say it. Leave immediately after you finish,” he said coldly without hiding the disdain he had for them. Although Eva had already prepared herself for this, she still felt rather uncomfortable. She had always held Benjamin in high regard but he was usually cold and indifferent toward her Now, he was now treating her like a stranger and the same goes as well for the rest of Carters seated in the room who were staring at her with a scornful gaze. However, Eva remained unfazed even though their apprehensive attitude was like a dagger piercing through her heart. “I'm here to reclaim the items that Eric confiscated from my parents yesterday.” she declared without any hesitation. “How presumptuous?!” Benjamin hollered, bursting out in outrage. “You have the audacity to make such an absurd request despite the calamity you caused
Eva was furious and aggrieved.“I-I’ll ask you one last time. Do you still intend not to release the items back to me.”she asked hoping that Benjamin would change his mind.“Don't bother. Nothing will change even if you kneel down and beg us, we won’t look at it!” Benjamin exclaimed with disdain. “You are the one who is going to be in regret once the Carter family makes a return.” Brian remarked “Eva, you were only able to become a big shot because you were sleeping around with many men but your luck will run out eventually.”Chris' eyes glinted with a murderous gaze. He charged towards Eric and immediately kicked him in the chestThe impact sent Eric's body flying and he passed out immediately after slamming against the wall.“Eric!” Brian was shocked and rushed over to check Bryce’s condition. His expression was filled with horror and only after confirming that his son was alive and merely fainted due to the shock of Chris' attack. “He is alive.” He announced.Benjamin signaled in r
At first, she was surprised by her mother's swift change in behavior but she finally understood the reason. “Can't you see that I'm disciplining this irresponsible punk!” Kate answered self righteously. “He deserves to be punished for his unfilial behavior.” She claimed. “But, Chris didn't do anything so why are you punishing him?” Eva snapped back at Kate before returning her attention back to Chris. “Are you alright?” She asked in a concerned tone. “Yes. It's nothing that I can’t endure.” Chris replied, slightly nodding his head with a small reassuring smile on his face. Kate became more infuriated seeing how Eva was doting on Chris. “Eva, are you seriously taking that punk side over me despite the fact that he abandoned your own parents?” she lamented in disgust. Eva immediately turned around after hearing Kate's words which were meant to blackmail chris “Mom, I already told you before that wasn't what happened. Chris was with me and probably had no idea that Eric was even h
Meanwhile the carters were still in a state of euphoria as they were very convinced that they would be able to triumph over the family financial crisis. Unaware of the heavy storm that was charging towards them, they continued celebrating in spite of the ruckus that eva and chris had caused at their residence paying no attention to chris warnings. “Grandfather, I just had a conversation with the mr. Ryan, the manager of Apex Bank and he has agreed to accept the heart of Pierre that was confiscated from Eva as a payment for the previous bank loan. In addition, he has also agreed to grant us another loan of a hundred and fifty million dollars.” Eric whose face was still swollen revealed with a beaming smile. He was revived a few minutes after Chris and Eva had left the crater villa, “That's very good news! Our family can make a strong comeback with that kind of money. I'm really glad that I put you in charge of this matter.” Benjamin complimented, feeling very ecstatic by the news.
As Chris drove toward the Carter family’s new residence, the tension in the car was palpable. Chris’s jaw was set, his thoughts churning. He knew where they lived—it wasn’t hard to find—but confronting them so directly was a calculated risk.When he arrived, the mansion loomed in quiet grandeur, its façade belying the chaos within. Benjamin Carter himself opened the door, his expression shifting from surprise to unease as he recognized Chris.“You…,” Benjamin began cautiously, surprised to see Chris alone at their house. The last time Chris paid a visit to the Carter ended up becoming a tragic incident for the Carters. “What brings you here?”Chris didn’t respond, brushing past him into the house. Benjamin, caught off guard, quickly closed the door and followed him into the living room.Elliot lingered near the entrance, his posture relaxed but vigilant. Benjamin was surprised to see Elliot as well. “Mr…Mr Brown….” He stuttered, casting him a wary glance, noticing the subtle differen
Chris knew that his peaceful life with Eva would surely be disrupted. He could put Eva and her loved ones in a lot of danger. Moreover, leaving now, with Eva dealing with the Carter situation, felt equally impossible as he didn't want to leave her unprotected.“Sir?” Ethan’s voice broke through his thoughts. “What are your orders?”Chris hesitated, his voice betraying the conflict he felt. “Stay on this and keep me updated. I need to think.”“Understood, sir,” Ethan said, his tone respectful. “And for what it’s worth, I know how much sir, James means to you. We’ll do everything we can to bring him back.”Chris ended the call and sat in silence for a long moment. The thought of James—strong, unyielding James—being captured felt like a punch to the gut. But the thought of leaving Eva behind, especially now, felt just as wrong. He was at a crossroads, and no matter which path he chose, the stakes were unbearably high.---Eva, meanwhile, sat at her desk, trying to focus on the tasks in
Chris kept his focus on the road, but his thoughts repeatedly drifted to Eva seated beside him. Her gaze was distant, her fingers nervously fiddling with the strap of her handbag. He could tell the morning's encounter with the Carters was weighing heavily on her.After a few moments of silence, Chris spoke, his voice calm and steady. “Eva, I know it’s a lot to process, but you don’t have to keep it all bottled up. Talk to me.”Eva sighed and shifted in her seat. “It’s just… they showed up out of nowhere. Again. It’s exhausting, Chris. I keep wondering why now, why after all these years?”Chris glanced at her briefly before returning his eyes to the road. “People like the Carters often realize the value of what they’ve lost only when it’s too late. But you don’t owe them anything, Eva. Not an explanation, not a second chance—nothing.”Eva shook her head, frustration creeping into her tone. “It’s not that simple. They’re still my family, even if they’ve hurt me. And now with them grovel
Benjamin quickly intervened, his tone desperate. “Please, Eva, don’t let his foolish words ruin this. I’m truly sorry for everything. I know I failed you, and I failed Bruce. We should have stood by you instead of casting you out. Please, give us a chance to make things right.”“I don't think everyone agrees with the motive of apologizing for your wrongdoings so I can't believe that your apologies are sincere.” Bruce remarked.Benjamin turned to Eric, his expression hardening. “Eric,” he said, his voice stern. “You owe them an apology.”Eric's usually confident demeanor was gone, replaced by a nervous energy that made him look small and uncertain. Benjamin turned to him, his expression hardening.Eric’s eyes darted between Eva, Kate, and Bruce. “I—”“Now,” Benjamin commanded.Eric swallowed hard, his gaze finally landing on Eva. “I’m sorry,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.Eva’s eyes narrowed. “Sorry? For what, exactly?”“For everything,” Eric said, his voice shaking. “For
Benjamin hesitated, taking in the luxurious yet understated decor that surrounded them. This was Chris’s doing—he could see it in every detail. The man had built a fortress, a sanctuary for Eva and her family.They were foolish to not have recognized his talent and worth all these years that had him living amongst them.“I came to apologize,” Benjamin said, his voice steady despite the storm of emotions inside him. “To you, to your family. And... to make things right.”Kate let out a bitter laugh. “Make things right? That’s rich, coming from you. Do you think showing up here with an apology is enough to undo everything you’ve done?”“I don’t,” Benjamin admitted, his gaze dropping to the floor. “But I had to try. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I need you to hear me out.”Eva folded her arms, studying him with a cold, calculating gaze. “Then speak.”Benjamin could see that it was impossible to get through Eva judging by the cold stare in her eyes. He stepped forward. “Bruc
As the night deepened, Eric and the two representatives sat in their car, the weight of their desperation growing heavier with each passing moment. They had hoped that Eva would still come out of the building as they didn't want to admit that she could be living in such an expensive mansion.However, it finally dawned upon them that Eva wasn't coming out after waiting for several hours. Eric felt bitter as it pained him to see that Eva was living the life of luxury….. the kind he always dreamed about.The Carter's drove back home in subtle silence and even though nothing was said the other representative could feel Eric burning rage but the main problem was thinking about how Benjamin would react when he heard the news of their discovery.****The Morning sunlight streamed through the windows of the luxurious mansion, casting a golden glow over the spacious interiors. Eva had just finished her breakfast and was preparing to leave for work when she noticed something unusual. From the l
Eva returned home that evening, her mind clouded with thoughts of the Carters' audacious behavior earlier that day. The memory of Eric's arrogant tone and his entitlement grated on her nerves, but she was determined not to let it ruin her evening. She stepped into the warm, inviting ambiance of the mansion, finding Chris seated in the living room, a glass of wine in hand and an air of calm about him.“Welcome back,” Chris greeted, his voice soft as he looked up at her. His sharp eyes immediately noted the tension in her posture. “Rough day?”Eva exhaled and sat down beside him, kicking off her heels. “You could say that,” she replied, leaning back against the plush cushions. “The Carters were at Cross Corporation again today.”Chris’s hand tightened slightly around his glass, though he kept his expression neutral. “What did they want this time?”“They were begging for a meeting,” Eva said, shaking her head. “I refused to see them, but they didn’t leave. They waited in the reception ar
As the Carters waited in the reception area of Cross Corporation, the tension in the air was palpable. Time seemed to crawl as they sat in near silence, the occasional murmur of distant phone calls and the soft hum of the building’s air conditioning system providing little comfort. Eric, his hands clenched into tight fists, could hardly sit still. The humiliation of being here—forced to beg for forgiveness from Eva, a woman who had once been part of their family, yet now was their greatest obstacle—was eating away at him. Every minute that ticked by felt like an eternity. The receptionist, efficient and unfazed by their presence, had told them that Eva was unavailable. That alone was enough to set Eric’s nerves on edge. Alan, the other representative accompanying him, tried to keep the peace, suggesting they wait patiently. “This is our only shot, Eric,” he said quietly. “We can't afford to make things worse.” But Eric was past the point of patience. The weight of their family's ru
The incident at the Carter residence had left a trail of rumors and whispers that had quickly spread through the high society of Brooklyn. Every elite family, once rivals or allies of the Carters, now speculated about the cause of the downfall. But no one dared to point fingers at the one responsible, especially not at Chris, the lowly son-in-law. After all, who would ever suspect a man living under another family’s roof? Yet, beneath the surface, Chris was the mastermind behind the fall of two once-proud families—the Ambroses and the Carters.Days had passed since the fall of the Carter family, and their reputation, once untouchable, was now a shadow of its former self. Their vast wealth had been seized by the banks, leaving them with nothing more than a dilapidated Victorian house to call home. Benjamin, the patriarch of the Carter family, sat in the small living room of their new residence, surrounded by his relatives. The room was filled with heavy silence, as each person seemed l