CHAPTER 4

EVA:

Arriving at the White Estate gate where Cruz lives, the taxi pulled to a stop in front of the gate. My only brother, Cruz, got married to Maddison Brooklyn, a rich man's daughter, and she was too 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 me.

"Um, I'm here to see my older brother, Cruz Brooks. He lives in the estate," I said, as I was already exhausted.

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

"Call him," the security man said, before he ordered me to stand aside, and I knew that I wouldn't be allowed entry into the estate gate.

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

However, I was stunned when I saw a black Rolls Royce driving into the estate gate, as the White Estate was known to house many wealthy billionaires in this Dominic city.

Gulping, I was stunned when my gaze locked with Ethan Owen's. The same man who had a one-night stand with me a few hours ago.

What was he doing here? Did he live inside this White Estate too?

I gulped and immediately looked away from Ethan. I pretended like I didn't know him, but his gaze bored into me, as I could feel the intensity of his stare.

Another security man pulled the magnificent gate open, and Ethan's black car drove in, along with the bodyguards in another convoy following behind him. I gulped and released the breath that I didn't know I was holding.

"Hello, Cruz, I'm at the estate gate now," I said to my older brother on the call, and he said, "I'll be there now."

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

A few minutes later, my brother arrived in a red sports car and parked, and the security man finally let me enter the gate.

"Eva, take a look at your face and neck. What the heck?" Cruz gasped, and I was stunned, as I hadn't taken a look at myself in the mirror.

"What happened to me? What do you mean?" I asked my older brother, laughing nervously. So I walked up to his car and peered at my reflection in the mirror.

I was shocked by the sight that beheld me. 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, and my brother shook his head, still laughing at my embarrassed state.

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

"It's not important to talk about the man. It's a one-night stand," I said, my voice trembling as my older brother towered above me.

"One-night stand. And he marked you this red. Do you happen to know him?"

"No... I... I mean, I don't know him," I said, my voice quivering.

"Can you take me to your house and stop asking me questions?" I said, wanting to escape my brother's inquiry, and he peered at my face with a calculated gaze.

"Why do I feel like you're lying to me and you know the man you had a night with? Well, in case you are not aware, Jacob cancelled the engagement, and he is demanding the sum of 10 million as compensation for all the money he spent on you," Cruz said as he moved over to pull his car door open for me.

"What? Ten million? When did Jacob spend such a huge amount on me? The university cost only 1,500,000 times four years, and a few more expenses. Let's say a total of 6,500,000. When did Jacob ever spend up to 10,000,000 on me? Even the money he spent on me isn't up to 6,500,000," I said, my voice sharp, and 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 demanded that Dad pays him 5 million as his support f*e. So that's a total of 15 million that we have to pay Jacob now," Cruz said with a calm voice as I sat in his car.

"I will not pay that amount to Jacob. We dated for five years, and I don't owe him anything. Where is it written that you have to pay for a break-up 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 visit Jacob and Layla, only that I looked so flushed at the moment.

"Mmm," My brother exhaled and said, "It's why you should have kept your guard up. You made the mistake, and Jacob caught you. But how about the man you slept with? Did he see Jacob and you arguing? If he can afford a room at the Owen's luxury five-star hotel, then he must be a big shot," Cruz said, his gaze calculating.

"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.

"The man took advantage of you, and he blamed you for taking advantage of him. Well, I'll 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, and my brother closed the car door. Walking over to the driver's seat, he got into the car and fastened his seatbelt.

"About my wife," Cruz said, and I knew that Maddison and I didn't get along.

"You have to put up with her tantrums and not argue with her," Cruz reminded me, and I sighed.

"Why will Maddison be the one controlling you? You didn't marry her for her money. If you hadn't helped in her father's company, the Almond Tech wouldn't have grown to the height it is today," I said, knowing that my brother worked for Maddison's father before he got married to Maddison. But she controlled him to the point that she didn't allow their baby to use his surname. Her baby is Chris Brooklyn, instead of Chris Brooks.

"It doesn't change anything. As long as we love each other," Cruz said, but I didn't have the time to advise him. He was 30 years old 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, and he finally arrived at a white gate and parked.