Unparalleled Supremacy

Chapter 3

Meanwhile, Eric and the rest of the Carter relatives burst into loud laughter after hearing Chris' response.

“Hahaha……This is totally hilarious, I wasn't aware that your family was too poor to afford a decent present for grandfather. We would have gladly supported you if only you had asked for help rather than insulting grandfather's prestige by buying a lowly present.” Eric remarked in a mocking tone, intentionally trying to humiliate Eva.

Eva was speechless and bit her tongue in frustration. She was unable to refute Eric's words. Afterall, she could blame herself for blindly putting her trust in Chris when she was clearly aware of how useless he had always been.

However, she always hoped that he would try to make an effort to change people's disdainful impression of him but this wasn't the time for her to be moping on such useless thoughts.

Eva was currently in a state of dilemma worrying about how she was going to resolve the unfavorable predicament that Chris had just thrown her into. She was very certain that her grandfather would be utterly displeased if such a lowly item presented to him as a gift.

It was also going to be embarrassing if she was unable to present a gift to her grandfather.

At this point, Eva was confused because it was impossible for her to get another gift at this time. She already had a bad reputation within the family which would go beyond saving in future if she couldn't solve her current predicament.

A huge door that was an entry to the banquet hall was instantly pushed open making Eva's heart skip a beat and instantly began thumping faster than its normal rate when the imposing figure of her grandfather made its entrance into the hall.

Everyone bowed respectfully as Benjamin, the helmsman of the Carter family elegantly strolled towards the seat reserved for him in a prideful manner. He placed his attention back to the entirety of the room.

“It brings me so much joy to see that you all are gathered here because of me. Thank you all for coming to celebrate with me out of your busy schedule.” he addressed.

Eric rushed to meet Ben as soon as he took his seat “Happy New year, grandfather.” he cheerfully greeted a bright smile plastered on his face.

“Thank you very much, my dearest grandson.” Ben replied, smiling back at Eric. The Carter family business has been doing well recently thanks to the fact that our family has produced a fillal and capable heir like you." Ben praised with a proud smile.

“I really appreciate your kind words, grandfather. Besides, I was only able to achieve so much success thanks to your proper guidance.”

Eric shamelessly replied even though he clearly knew that barely contributed to the success of the family business since he always pushed the most difficult task to Eva and would steal the credit of everytime Eva successfully completed this task.

The members from the lower branches soon began presenting Ben their gifts along with their greetings.

“I bought you this Chinese porcelain tea mug that cost two hundred thousand dollars. I represent a new season.”

“Grandpa, this is a limited edition wristwatch. It cost seventy thousand dollars to purchase it.”

“I won this painting in an auction for a bid price of a hundred and fifty thousand dollars.”

It was a long procession and Ben Wilson was brimming in joy as he received all the luxury and expensive presents gifted to him by the guests.

Finally, it was time for the two main family branches to also present their gift.

Eva would have to present her gift first since she was the eldest and representing the first branches in place of her absent parents.

Meanwhile, Eva's mind was muddled and her thoughts were in disarray. The gifts Chris had prepared were not presentable so she had decided to give up her turn to the second branch with the excuse of not being able to prepare a suitable gift on time.

She figured that it was much more endurable to be scolded by her grandfather for not being able to prepare a gift rather than giving him a cheap antique pocket watch.

Eva was still organizing her thoughts when Chris confidently stepped forward, approaching Ben with the box in his hand. He slowly opened the box, revealing an old-looking pocket watch.

“Grandfather-in-law, I present to you this antique pocket watch that has been passed down for generations in a French aristocratic family. It is dated back to the ninth century and it still works perfectly fine. It represents longevity and I hope it will be passed down to your next generation, “ Chris said, explaining the details of the pocket watch as he presented it to Ben.

Ben’s eyebrows furrowed downward forming several wrinkle lines on his forehead as glared menacingly at the pocket watch in Chris' hand that no spectacular features.

“What is that?”

“Oh my God!....He actually dared to bring that rusted steel as a gift for the patriarch. isn't that too ominous?”

“That's too obscene. I knew that he was worthless but I didn't expect it to be to such an extent.”

Eva’s face reddened in embarrassment leading her with no courage to refute the demeaning remarks. She could only send a spiteful glare to Chris..

“Why can’t you just make me proud?..... Did you have to buy such a lowly gift and embarrass our family?” Eva grumbled and lost all desire to talk to Chris..

Sometimes, She wondered if Chris was truly a jinx here to drag her and her family down.

“This is unacceptable. How could you assume that piece of junk is a suitable present for grandpa? I can bet that it doesn't cost a hundred dollars.”

Chris shook his head. “You are actually very wrong. I spent a hundred thousand dollars to have it shipped to Brooklyn and I picked it up today.” he revealed.

Eva couldn't help but shake her head helplessly, pressing her temples as she wondered if Chris was truly dumb or he was just pretending to be one. How could he give an honest response to such a question?.

Even though she wasn't as financially buoyant at her other relative especially Eric, she was still able to give Chris a hundred thousand dollars cheque to purchase a gift but he spent the entire money on an antique pocket watch that was rusting away.

“You are even more pathetic than I assumed. How dare you insult our grandfather by attempting to give him such a cheap present?... Squandering a hundred grand on this garbage." Eric scowled disdainfully at Chris and slapped the box away from his possession.

Chris’s eyes followed the box as it fell to the ground and the delicate pocket watch broke into pieces as it crashed on the floor.

He glanced at the floor with a disappointed expression on his face. The watch was very priceless and was sold for six millions dollars in an auction that took place in Paris.

Chris knew that Eva desperately wanted to impress Benjamin so he made a request to a friend to buy the pocket watch from an auction since spending his own money could make it possible for his enemies to track him.

He had to use the money Eva gave him to pay the delivery fee for the pocket watch to be delivered in Brooklyn.

It was truly a shame that nobody was ever going to get to use it again because of Eric's foolishness.

Chris ignored the mocking laughter around him. He quietly endured the mockery, for if it weren't for Catherine Carter helping him in the past then there was a possibility that he wouldn't have a chance to recuperate from his injury and would have been killed by his enemies.

It was a great kindness and so he needed to show his respect and gratitude.

Otherwise, Eric would be crawling on his knees by now after taking a beating from him.

Seeing how the situation turned out, Eva panicked and hurriedly stepped out of the crowd, rushing forward and lowered her head before Ben.

“What is the meaning of this?.....Are you blatantly making a mockery of my reputation by gifting this counterfeit artifact as a birthday present?” Ben flared up in anger.

“I apologize, grandfather. This is entirely my fault but it wasn't our intention to insult you. I was too busy with a lot of projects at work and asked my husband to prepare the gift for you instead. It seems like he was scammed instead.” She hurriedly explained in a pleading tone hoping that she would be able to appease Ben’s rage

“Evangeline Carter, you continue to bring disgrace to this family. I can understand that your husband is useless but as a member of the Carter family I expected a bit more from you.” Ben berated, sneering at Eva with a disappointed expression on his face. “You might be a female but at least try to be a bit more like your younger cousin, Eric.” he added.

Eva lowered her head in shame and squeezed the helm of her dress in frustration. She was the one who always worked the hardest for the family but her efforts had never been appreciated.

It was at times like this that she always wishes that she was born different. If only she was male then she wouldn't have been pushed by her great-grandmother to get married to Chris and her birthright wouldn't be taken away from her because Ben would acknowledge her skills and talents were better than Eric.