CHAPTER 5

**Eva's POV**

Arriving at the white gate, Cruz parked the red sports car at the frontage, and I asked him, "How about the other houses? Are all the houses the same?"

"No. Houses in this White Estate are expensive and only billionaires can afford to live here," Cruz replied calmly as he waited for the gateman to open the gate.

"So your wife is a billionaire? Then tell her to pay Jacob Stone for us," I asked my brother, and he laughed.

"Maddison is not really a billionaire, and moreover, you incurred the debt. You should think about how to earn money to pay Jacob off before he comes to arrest you," Cruz said as he started his car and drove into the compound.

"Why would Jacob come to arrest me? I didn't steal from him or intentionally cheat on him. Moreover, where am I going to find work that will pay enough to cover a ten million dollar debt? At Almond Tech I was offered a job with a salary of $200,000. How many months would I have to work to be able to pay Jacob?" I said, not wanting to mention Ethan Owen to my brother.

"Eva, you should have thought about all this, before you cheated. If you cannot pay Jacob, you should go back and beg him. I'm sure he will forgive you and take you back. Besides, he loves you very much," Cruz advised, and I sighed as he turned off his car.

"Jacob did so much for you, Eva. Try to reach out to him and ask for forgiveness. I'm sure he will forgive you. Also, I cannot ask Maddison for another help. It's enough that she helped you get a job at Almond Tech. I don't think she will want to get involved in your scandal," Cruz said, and I nodded.

"It's fine. I will find a way to reach out to Jacob later," I said. My brother nodded and reminded me, "That reminds me. Maddison's younger brother, Noah, is at home. You shouldn't get on their wrong side," Cruz advised before he unlocked his side door and I got out of the car.

The sunny wind hit my face and blew at my slim body as I stepped out in my green midi dress and looked at the white duplex that loomed in front of me.

The last time I was here was a year ago, when Cruz and Maddison had just welcomed their son. Now I was here again. I knew how Maddison looked down on my family because she thought we were poor, but because Cruz loved her, he condoned her silly behaviour.

Cruz rang the doorbell and waited for someone to open the door, even though it was his own house.

The entrance door swung open, and a young man wearing a blue top and black jeans stood there and peered at us. His eyes fell on me, and he smiled as Cruz and I entered the living room.

The young guy resembled Maddison and I didn't need anyone to tell me who he was.

"Welcome, brother-in-law," he said as Cruz and I entered the living room.

"Yeah. Noah. This is my sister, Eva," Cruz introduced us, and I smiled at Noah, as I had seen him once on the day of Cruz and Maddison's wedding.

"I know, brother-in-law. You don't have to introduce us," Noah said, his tone playful as his brown eyes shamelessly raked over my body.

Unable to hide his curiosity, Noah asked, "Why does Eva have hickeys all over her body? Or is it an allergy?"

"Noah," Cruz's expression hardened; he didn't approve of Noah mocking me.

Maddison strode downstairs, her steps slow as she peered at me.

"Cruz, why would you bring your sister here? Her scandal is the talk of the internet that she cheated on her fiancée and was disowned by her parents, and yet you brought her here," Maddison's sharp voice cut through the air, and Cruz turned to face her.

"Babe, my sister didn't deliberately cheat on Jacob. They can still settle their differences. Just let her stay with us for a few days, until she can find her way and settle her issues with my parents," Cruz tried to explain to Maddison, even as he asserted himself as the man of the house.

"No," Maddison said sharply. "What do you want my friends to say, our family members and business partners? First, your sister cannot work with us at Almond Tech because her scandal is all over the internet—she supposedly refused her boyfriend for five years, and yet she is secretly hooking up with any available rich man she can find," Maddison said as she glared at me.

"Babe! Eva is my sister. She is not that type of woman. She didn't intentionally agree to do it. Just let her stay here for a while," Cruz begged his wife on my behalf, but she refused.

"No, Cruz. I don't want your sister here with us. Let her find her way or go back to Jacob. She is not welcome here. Didn't you see the news? That billionaire CEO Jacob Stone is demanding fifteen million dollars from your family. Are you going to help Eva pay it? Let her leave!" Maddison shouted, and I tried to speak.

"Sister-in-law…"

"Don't call me that. I am not your sister-in-law!" Maddison yelled at me, her eyes shooting daggers my way.

"I cannot be sister-in-law with a cheap slut like you. So get out of my house before you corrupt my son or sleep with my brother for money," she accused, and my jaw dropped as I stood speechless.

"What? Big sister, how can you accuse me of such?" Noah said, laughing despite his sister's anger.

"Who knows what Eva is capable of when she doesn't take her eyes off rich guys," Maddison said, her voice cold, and Cruz raised his voice at her.

"Babe, Eva is my younger sister. She is not leaving this house if your brother stays. If you don't want my sister to stay with us, then your brother is leaving too," Cruz said, refusing to let me leave. But I didn't like that he and his wife were quarreling because of me.

"It's okay, brother. I will go. You don't have to fight with your wife because of me," I said, but my brother shook his head.

"No, Eva. Maddison doesn't allow you or Elora to come here, but she allows her own siblings. Isn't that partial?" Cruz asked, his voice sad, and I sighed.

"It's fine. I will find a hotel to stay in until I can find an apartment," I said, wanting to leave, but my brother stopped me.

"No. I said you're not leaving. Let Maddi come and take you out. Let me see," Cruz insisted, and Maddison stood speechless, staring at us.

"Come on, let me show you to the guest room," my brother insisted, but I shook my head.

"Brother, let me go. You don't have to quarrel with your wife because of me," I said, but he shook his head.

"If I do not stand up for you, who will? You are my sister, and just because you made a mistake does not mean I will not cast you away. You also helped me at my lowest. So if Maddison wants to end our marriage because of you, it's fine. She can send us out together," my brother declared, and Maddison stood there speechless.