“You people are really shameless! Always seeking out ways to exploit us in order to reap greater benefits.” Bruce remarked with a displeased expression on his face. For a moment, he actually believed that Eric was being sincere seeing how he willingly returned the items he had confiscated but it turns out that it was just a charade to make use of Eva as they always did in the past.“What are you talking about, uncle?”“ You would never have bothered to return these items back if the Carter's family wasn't in a dire situation and needed eva help to resolve the situation. You are not really here to reconcile with us but to take advantage of us.”Eric laughed awkwardly after listening to the bruce words. “It is very unpleasant if you put it that way uncle. We are a family so it's natural if we helped each other out.” he said, trying to mediate the situation.“We are no longer part of the Carter household so you should stop bothering us with your problems. What is the point of being part
Eric knew that Benjamin was being shameless at this moment but he knew that arguing would only make his situation worse than it already was. After being scolded harshly by his grandfather, he turned around and left the house, feeling frustrated and upset.“Father, don't you think that you are being too harsh on eric? afterall , the one who should be blamed is Brother Bruce. If only he had trained his daughter more strictly then Eva wouldn't have grown to become very rebellious and keep on causing trouble for the family.” brian remarked as soon as Eric walked out of the room. He couldn't stand watching his son being consistently rebuked by everyone.Benjamin glared at Brian with a scornful gaze. “Maybe the family situation wouldn't have gotten this worse if only you were half as competent as your older brother,” he muttered half-heartedly wondering why he had so many strokes of bad luck. Bruce,who was his first son, was very bright and skillful in managing the family business. It wa
Brian, who had also accompanied Benjamin remarked, berating Bruce in a disdainful tone.“Considering the relationship between us I didn't think that you would be expecting us to give you a warm welcome when All you have done these past couple days is torment us and you are likely here to cause another trouble.” Kate remarked in a displeased tone. Compared to Bruce who was holding himself back she on the other hand had no intention of hiding the disgust she felt after seeing Benjamin and Brian.Both Benjamin and Brian were equally taken by surprise when they heard Kate's words.“You damn old hag! Do you realize that you are in the presence of the patriarch? You must have gone crazy to be speaking to us in such a discourteous manner?” Brian lectured, his voice enveloped with agitation as his ego was bruised by Kate's behavior. In the past, Kate was usually intimated by Benjamin’s presence but she was speaking more boldly contrary to how nervous she always acted and this irked Brian
Brian couldn't remain silent after hearing all the benefits that Benjamin promised to hand over to Eva and her parents just for the sake of convincing them to return to the family.If Eva accepted the offer then she and her family would hold a significant amount of influence within the family and he couldn't allow that to happen. “Father, you are offering too much. I am afraid that you are going to cause more harm than good to the family with these conditions.” Brian protested in a low voice only Benjamin could hear.“Fool! I told you to shut the hell up, didn't I? I'm only doing this to bring Eva back to the family so don't bother me now.” Benjamin groaned in a frustrated voice, rolling his eyes at Brian.On the other hand, Eva, Bruce and Kate could hide the shock they felt after hearing Benjamin’s offer. To be able to work at the Carters’ company was simply their dream for many years!Kate was especially enticed by the offer since it meant she would receive more monthly allowance w
“Bruce, you can talk to Eva. She is your daughter. Tell her to put everything in the past and look towards the future. You are direct descendants of the Carter family no matter what anyone thinks.”“Father, I understand your point of view and I do feel bad about the current state of the Carter family. However, this matter has gone beyond my capability.” Bruce replied with a solemn expression lingering on his face.“What are you saying?” Benjamin queried with a raised eyebrow as that wasn't the response he was expecting from Bruce.“I'm saying that I won't force Eva to make a decision against her will. It's up to her to decide if she wishes to return to the family or not.” Bruce clarified, focusing his gaze intently on Benjamin as a gesture to express his unwavering determination to not change his decision.Benjamin was overwhelmed with disappointment but he couldn't stop trying. “I'm trying to save you from the regret of letting your own household collapse when you could have done so
Misunderstanding?!” Benjamin Carter immediately lost his temper. He had already wasted several hours at their home and even got provoked, only to hear that it was all a misunderstanding and that Eva was not in a relationship with the chairman of Pegasus Enterprise.If that was truly the case then it also signifies that Eva really didn't have any connection to the current crisis of the Carter family and was of no use to them as he had presumed.He stood up, stared at them with a hostile gaze, and roared, “How could you make a mistake with such an important matter?! Weren’t you very proud and conceited when you bragged about it?! Huh? All you do is brag and show off, but you’re so useless at solving problems! You’re a bunch of garbage!”“How is this our fault?! I was merely stating my opinion and didn't force anyone to take my words seriously. You shouldn't blame your misfortunes on someone else.” Kate also lashed out at Benjamin as she couldn't endure being reprimanded by him. “Shut
Bruce had his eyebrows as he silently watched Kate throw a fit “why do you even bother? You already know that she won't change her mind unless she desires to do the same thing you want. It's about time you stop pestering her or haven't caused enough misunderstanding already.”“I haven't done anything that is so wrong. As her mother, I'm only looking out for what is best for her so just stay out of it if you are not going to be of any help." Kate lashed out by bruce.It was at this moment Chris made his entry into the house as he just returned from grocery shopping.Seeing him, Kate wasted no time directing all her pent up frustration at him.” you damn wastrel. Were you going to spend the whole night shopping for groceries? You have been gone like forever.`` she shouted furiously at chris.Chris, who was clueless about everything that has happened in his absence, was a bit confused. He had only been gone for about thirty minutes and couldn't understand why Kate was overreacting. Howeve
The following day, Chris drove Eva to work on his scooter since her vehicle had been severely damaged when she was kidnapped by John Landon’s men. “Thanks a lot for the lift. I'll make sure to get my car fixed as soon as possible.” Eva said after getting off the bike. She assumed that she was being an inconvenience to the Chridls“Why are you speaking so formally? I wasn't doing any favors. You are my wife and it is actually very normal for me to drive to work.” Chris responded with an assuring smile plastered on his face.As the couple were busy chatting, they noticed that a lot of stares were directed to them.It was morning and many of the company employees were resuming their day jobs. Since Eva was the CEO of the company, they all easily recognized Eva as they walked past her and Chris who were several feet away from the entrance of the building.Considering her status and rank within the company, many of them found it bizarre that eva was arriving to work on such a cheap l
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