Chapter 6 The New Backer

Neil listened quietly as the couple argued, and then he looked around. He saw Evan standing nearby and gasped, "Mr. Evan!"

"E-Evan's here?" The gasp hit the couple like a lightning bolt.

Stefan and Cynthia turned around in horror, as if a ghost was standing right behind them. "Y-You're back!" They looked at Evan.

"Hey, Dad. Hey, Mom." Evan stepped ahead with a smile.

The smile only made Cynthia stiff. "You heard everything?"

He shook his head. "It doesn't matter anymore. I'm here to say goodbye."

"Goodbye?"

Cynthia and Stefan's hearts shook. They had a bad feeling about what was to come.

She forced a smile. "What are you talking about? I know it's been unfair to you, and I can help. I promise this won't happen a—"

"It's alright. This is my last day of being your son. After today, we're no longer a family." Evan took out a sheet of paper and a black card, both of which he handed to the couple.

Cynthia took the items, and the first thing she saw was the Formal Notice of Estrangement.

"A formal notice of estrangement?" Stefan could not believe his eyes. He took the paper with trembling hands. He too forced a smile. "You don't have to do this, Evan. We're a family. We can talk this—"

Evan did not listen.

He continued calmly, "And there's 150 million in that card. It's repayment for what you spent saving me. From now on, I am no longer a part of this family."

Stefan tried to take Evan into the house. "What are you doing, Evan? We can talk about this in the ho—"

Evan bowed, much to the shock of the trio. With tearful eyes, he said, "Dad, Mom, you've done a lot for me. Thank you for taking me in and keeping me alive."

The air itself felt heavier.

Stefan and Cynthia froze up.

"You've nurtured me and given me more chances than I could count," came Evan's comment. "You gave me a place to prove my worth!"

He bowed again. The air was freezing up. Neil was watching in shock, his heart shaken. He was witnessing Evan estranging himself from the family.

Then came the third bow. "Thank you for marrying Hazel to me. It was my dream come true."

Now, his eyes had nothing but distance and indifference. Stefan and Cynthia were like strangers to him now.

Stefan didn't know what to feel. Many times he wanted to talk, but he held his tongue. He could feel that Evan was determined to estrange himself. Hazel had hurt him too much.

Perhaps this was destined from the night she brought the injured Evan back home. Stefan knew Evan had been enduring the pain in silence all these years. It was agonizing.

Stefan thought, 'Perhaps my daughter isn't worthy of a man like him. He deserves his freedom.'

"Very well. I'll sign the paper." He took his pen out.

He was about to sign the notice, but Neil whispered, "Mr. Solberg, this is a big decision. Perhaps we need to get Ms. Solberg's agreement?"

Stefan was about to answer, but Hazel called.

Fury jumped onto his face. He took the call right away and was about to shout, but Hazel said, "I'm not coming home for a bit, Dad. If Evan comes back and asks where I've gone, cover for me! Make sure he doesn’t come after me!"

"You…" Stefan was going to scream at her, but Hazel hung up first. Then, he realized Evan was still here, and he looked mortified.

Evan smiled bitterly.

'She's still having her guard up against me,' he thought. 'But I won't be disturbing you anymore.'

"Get me my pen!" Stefan knew he could no longer keep Evan around after that call. Even now, his idiot daughter only cared about Zeke when her own husband was already estranging himself!

His face dark, Stefan signed the paper, then he shouted, "Even if we're no longer a family, you're still my son, Evan!"

Evan only smiled. "Mr. Solberg, I'll need you to come with me. I'm changing my name back to Evan Norwood. Evan Solberg is a thing of the past now."

Cynthia cried her heart out on the way to the office.

Neil was driving, but he too was shaken. He wondered how Evan would survive after cutting off ties with the Solbergs.

If that man found out he was no longer a part of the Solbergs, he would hunt Evan down.

…

Once he saw that he was no longer a Solberg, Evan heaved a sigh of relief. However, a sense of bitterness filled his heart.

Cynthia wouldn't stop crying. She wondered what Hazel would do if she found out.

Evan waved at the couple. "See you in a month, Mr. and Mrs. Solberg. Not for the reason you might think, though. Hazel said there's a grace period for the divorce. Once it's over, I'll get the divorce done officially."

That dashed any hope the Solberg couple had left. They thought he would come back as their family.

…

Evan went back to the Solbergs' place to pack his things. He folded his clothes, tucked them in his suitcase, and tossed all his belongings into the trash bag. Then, he noticed the photo of him and the heiresses on the bedside table.

It made him stop.

Everyone was smiling in the photo. Shame it was already in the past. He smiled bitterly and pushed the frame down on the table. Then, he left the villa's keys on the table.

After that, he left all by himself.

…

When the couple came home to see if he was around, all they were met with was an empty room.

Cynthia cried again.

Stefan punched the wall. "He's gone. We failed him."

Cynthia was breathing hard from the crying, her eyes red. "How will he survive alone? What about food? A house? Where can he even go? Where does he even live? What if that person's men find out?"

Cynthia's concerns were valid. Stefan was turning serious. They risked everything to save Evan from that person three years ago, and they only did it because they gave big money.

If that person found out Evan had cut all ties with them, he would be in danger. This was the consequence that came with Evan's actions.

He was free now, but his life was also in danger.

There was no time to grieve. Solemnly, Stefan said, "For his safety, no one can find out about this estrangement, not even Hazel."

"We can't even tell Ms. Solberg?" Neil was stunned.

"Yes. Act like it never happened. We'll keep this under wraps for as long as we can." Stefan thought that was the only way Evan could be kept safe.

Cynthia was determined as well. "He's right. No one can know Evan has cut off all ties with us."

Though estranged, the couple still saw him as their son.

Neil kept quiet, but he thought, 'Not like Ms. Solberg is going to care even if she knows. All she cares about is her true love.'

…

While the couple was worrying about Evan and decided to hide his actions, a Bentley limousine stopped in front of Evan. The door swung open, and out came one of Sylvie's bodyguards.

"What are you doing here?" Evan was surprised.

"Mr. Norwood! Finally!" The bodyguard hurried over to Evan. He no longer doubted Evan's skills. "Ms. Stanton is mostly healed. You're a great healer, Mr. Norwood!"

"Glad to hear she's doing well." Evan smiled.

He was about to leave, but the bodyguard got in his way. "Ms. Stanton wants to see you." He extended his arm and bowed a little. "She has one more favor to ask. Pull it off, and she'll pay you any amount you want on top of being your most dependable backer. No one in Silveraberg can touch you if she has your back."