CHAPTER 4

**Eva's POV**

Arriving at the White Estate gate where Cruz lives, the taxi pulled to a stop in front of the gate. My only brother, Cruz, had married Maddison Brooklyn, a rich man’s daughter; she was pompous and proud. She went along with my older sister, Elora.

Sighing, I walked up to the gate to meet the estate security man.

“Yes, who are you here to see?” the tough-looking security man in black asked.

“Um, I’m here to see my older brother, Cruz Brooks. He lives in the estate,” I said, already exhausted.

On a Saturday morning like this, I knew I should have been at home resting. But here I was, standing in front of an estate gate.

“Call him,” the security man said, then ordered me to stand aside. I knew I wouldn’t be allowed entry yet.

Pulling out my phone, I called my older brother, Cruz.

I was stunned when a black Rolls Royce drove towards the estate gate—White Estate was known to house many wealthy billionaires in this Dominic city.

I gulped when my gaze locked with Ethan Owen, the same man I’d had a one-night stand with a few hours earlier.

What was he doing here? Did he live in White Estate too?

I immediately looked away and pretended I didn’t know him, but his gaze bored into me; I could feel its intensity.

Another security man pulled the magnificent gate open and Ethan’s car drove in, followed by a convoy of bodyguards. I released a breath I hadn’t realized I had been holding.

“Hello, Cruz, I’m at the estate gate now,” I said on the call. He answered, “I will be there now.”

The call ended. I took out a white handkerchief from my bag and wiped the sweat from my forehead.

After a few more minutes, my brother arrived in a red sports car and parked. The security man finally let me enter.

“Eva, take a look at your face and neck. What the heck?” Cruz gasped. I was stunned—I hadn’t checked myself in a mirror.

“What happened to me? What do you mean?” I asked, laughing nervously. I walked up to his car and peered at my reflection.

I was shocked. My cheek was painted red and there were hickeys all over my neck.

“What???” I gasped, embarrassed by my own state.

“I didn’t know I looked this bad. I’m sorry,” I said. My brother shook his head, still laughing at my embarrassment.

“This is enough for Jacob Stone to break up with you. Who did you get laid with?” my brother asked, eyes peering at me. I lowered my head and my cheeks flushed.

“It’s not important. It was a one-night stand,” I said, voice trembling as my older brother towered above me.

“One-night stand, and he painted you red. Do you happen to know him?”

“No… I… I mean, I don’t know him,” I replied, my voice quivering.

“Can you take me to your house and stop asking me questions?” I said, wanting to escape his inquiry. He peered at me with a calculating gaze.

“Why do I feel like you’re lying and you know the man you had a night with? Well, in case you aren’t aware: Jacob cancelled the engagement and is demanding the sum of ten million dollars as compensation for all the money he spent on you,” Cruz said as he moved to open his car door for me.

“What? Ten million dollars? When did Jacob spend such a huge amount on me? The university cost only $700,000 times four years, and a few more expenses. Let’s say a total of $3,000,000. When did Jacob ever spend up to $10,000,000 on me? Even the money he spent on me isn’t up to $3,000,000,” I said sharply. Cruz exhaled.

“Well, that’s what Jacob is demanding as compensation for you cheating on him. As for Dad, he broke off the partnership and demands that Dad pays him five million as his support f*e. So that’s a total of fifteen million dollars we have to pay Jacob now,” Cruz said calmly as I sat in his car.

“I will not pay that amount. We dated and I don’t owe Jacob anything. Where is it written that you have to pay for a breakup as compensation? I didn’t intend to cheat on him. Layla set me up, and I ought to have her arrested. How can Jacob not understand? Instead he blocked me from contacting him,” I ranted, wanting to confront Jacob and Layla, though I looked so flushed.

“Mmm,” my brother exhaled. “It’s why you should have kept your guard up. You already made the mistake and Jacob caught you. But how about the man you slept with—did he see Jacob and you? If he could afford a room at the Owens’ luxury five-star hotel, then he must be a big shot,” Cruz said, his gaze calculative.

“I don’t want to talk about the man. He said that I owe him for taking advantage of him,” I said, and my brother burst out laughing.

“He took advantage of you and blames you for taking advantage of him. Well, I would say you let him go, but if you happen to know him, you could have made him explain to Jacob that it was a setup,” Cruz said, but I shook my head.

“Just take me home. I will confront Layla and Jacob later,” I said, exhausted. My brother closed the car door, walked to the driver’s seat, got in, and fastened his seat belt.

“About my wife,” Cruz said. I knew Maddison and I didn’t get along.

“You have to put up with her tantrums and not argue with her,” he reminded me, and I sighed.

“Why should Maddison be the one controlling you? You didn’t marry her for her money. If you hadn’t helped in her father’s company, Almond Tech wouldn’t have grown to the height it is today,” I said, knowing my brother worked for Maddison’s father before he married her. She controlled him to the point that she didn’t even allow their baby to answer to my brother’s last name—her baby is Chris Brooklyn, instead of Chris Brooks.

“It doesn’t change anything. So long as we love each other,” Cruz said, but I didn’t have time to advise him. He was thirty and old enough to make his own decisions. I sat silently, watching the road as Cruz drove his red sports car down the White Estate road. He finally arrived at a white gate and parked.