It only took thirty minutes to arrive at Cross Corporation. Eva proudly headed straight to the office that was meant for the vice chairman accompanied by Chris. As soon as they both walked into the room they were dismayed to find Eric comfortable seated at the desk when the room was expected to be empty. A frown immediately appeared on Eva's face and she was totally infuriated by the sight before her. “What is the meaning of this, Eric?” She immediately queried “I don't understand what you are talking about.” Eric replied with a taunting grin on his face. “Don't play games with me now. I'm not in the mood and I also don't have the time to tolerate your pranks right now because I've got some important work to handle.” Eva growled. She was growing impatient with Eric’s antics. “Well, I don't think I'm disrupting you from doing your work.” Eric replied as he kept teasing Eva because he was enjoying the frustrated expression on her face. Eva instantly became even more frustra
Eva and Chris left the Cross Corporation building together and their next destination was the Carter family villa to meet Benjamin. Throughout the journey, Eva didn't say a word but it was clearly evident that she was in despair. As soon as they arrived at the villa, she briskly walked into the building with a desperate look. “Where is my Grandfather?” Eva asked one of the maids she came across. “Good morning, Miss Evangeline. The patriarch is in the living room but you can't go to see him because he is holding a meeting.” The maids replied. Eva headed to the living room, ignoring the maid's words. Arriving at the living room she found Benjamin and a few older members of the Carter family seated on the couches in the living room. There were also a couple bottles of wines and dishes on the table It was more like they were having a small celebration rather than a meeting. “Why are you here, Eva?” Benjamin questioned after Eva made her unexpected entrance. He sneered when he
Upon their arrival back home, Chris and Eva explained the incident that occurred at the office to both Eva's parents. Bruce and Kate were overwhelmed with frustration. Kate didn't relent in throwing her usual tantrum about Benjamin's biased decision. They had gone to celebrate the good news of Eva being appointed as the vice chairman but now it was meaningless. She had been hoping to live a luxurious life. There was a glimmer of hope for that to happen when Eva was appointed to become the vice chairman but the chance of having that luxurious life she had dreamed of was dead since Eva was no longer the Vice Chairman. Eva could barely keep her sanity at the moment. She was mentally exhausted and depressed. Her body was on the verge of breaking down so she directly went straight up to her room to get some rest. Meanwhile, Chris stepped outside the house after Eva went up to the room. He picked out his cellphone number and dialed Elliot’s phone number. After a few rings the call
Inside the car, Eric was displeased. He grumbled in dissatisfaction feeling irritated by how they were treated dishonorably at Pegasus Enterprise. As they arrived at the Carter villa, they saw Benjamin and other members of the Carter family waiting in the main hall for their victorious return. As a result, Eric's frustration grew as it was embarrassing to bring a failed report to these people when they expected him to arrive with a paycheck of three billion dollars. The moment they got out of the car, the confettis were popped into the air and everyone jumped into a celebratory mood welcoming Eric in jubilation. “Welcome back, grandson. You’ve done well for the sake of the family. I expect that the negotiation went well.” Benjamin said, addressing both Eric and Brian in an exalted mood. Eric was at a loss for words, not knowing how to explain the situation to Benjamin. Benjamin was very sharp witted and so he easily sensed something amiss judging from the countenance of both his
Benjamin was extremely anxious. He was currently in a very foul mood but he dared not flare up because he was dealing with the Pegasus Enterprise; the largest business organization in Brooklyn. After Eric left, he called in a servant. “Tell everyone to come here for an emergency meeting!” he ordered. In less than an hour, all the members of the Carter family had arrived at the Carter Villa, except for Eva and her parents and gathered in the main living room. Each one of them was smiling brightly and had an excited expression on their respective faces. They didn't know why Benjamin summoned them all but they had all assumed that they had received good news from Pegasus Enterprise. Unfortunately, none of them were aware of the recent developments regarding Pegasus Enterprise's intention to terminate the contract. They soon realized that something was amiss when they saw the irritated expression on Benjamin’s face as he entered the room. The smile on their faces instantly vanished
Eva remained cooped in her room and refused to see anyone after her last meeting with Benjamin. She was unwilling to do anything or even get involved in the matters of the family anymore. In spite of her parents' constant probing, she refused to say a single word and came out of her room. At this point, Chris was even becoming more worried. At this moment, Bruce’s phone rang. He was surprised seeing that it was a call from his younger brother, Brian, he immediately picked up. “Hello, Brian. It’s very surprising that you called me personally after such a long while. “I don't have time for pleasantries. I need to pass an urgent message from our father to your daughter, Evangeline. I wouldn't have bothered calling you if only I could reach her.” Brian said in an unpleasant tone. He had tried calling Eva a couple of times but he couldn't establish a connection. “The Patriarch had ordered her to be at the villa as soon as possible. If she fails to comply then you all can forget abou
After hearing the words that Benjamin said, the Carters couldn’t help but look at each other in astonishment. It had been a long time since anyone was disowned and kicked out of the family. Although people no longer place that much emphasis on family ties and being disowned by your family may not warrant public hatred these days, it was still a serious matter for a major elite family like the Carters, because it was a matter that could be pursued publicly. After being disowned and chased out of the family, they would no longer be entitled to all the dividends and benefits of the companies owned by the Carters, and even their residence would be confiscated. After all, being disowned by your family was an extremely embarrassing thing, as it usually meant that you had committed a heinous offense and had a problematic character that caused you to be chased out of the family. At this moment, Eva’s heart turned cold. She had done so much for the family in the past, but what was i
At the Cross Corporation building, Benjamin was seated at the head of the table in the conference room along with all the top executives of the company. The Carter family household was in a state of disarray. Today was the deadline Pegasus Enterprise had given them to sort out the compensation f*e for breaching the contract but they were yet to find a solution to the issue. As a result, Benjamin had called a meeting to discuss this troubling issue. However, the meeting was just about to commence when Eric got a phone call from a lower employee who informed him about the arrival of delegates from Pegasus Enterprise. At first, Benjamin was about to scold Eric for keeping his cell phone on during such an important meeting but he was instantly interrupted before he got the chance to say anything. “Grandpa, it's very bad news! I have just been informed that the legal team representing Pegasus Enterprise has arrived and they are currently in the lobby.” Eri was extremely flustered, and h
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