Chapter 4
1119 Words
Eva's POV
The taxi pulled to a stop at the White Estate gate, where Cruz lived. My only brother, Cruz, had married Maddison Brooklyn, a rich man's daughter, and she was too pompous and proud. She got along with my older sister, Elora, than me.
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, already exhausted.
On a Saturday morning like this, I should have been at home resting. But here I stood, in front of an estate gate.
"Call him," the security man replied, ordering me to stand aside. I wouldn't be allowed entry into the estate.
I pulled out my phone and called Cruz. A black Rolls-Royce drove into the estate gate; the White Estate was known to house many wealthy billionaires in Dominic City.
My gaze locked with Ethan Owen's—the same man I'd had a one-night stand with a few hours ago.
What was he doing here? Did he live inside this White Estate too?
I looked away swiftly, pretending not to know him, but his gaze bored into me, its intensity pressing down.
Another security man pulled the magnificent gate open. Ethan's car drove in, followed by a black convoy of bodyguards. I released the breath I hadn't known I was holding.
"Hello, Cruz, I am at the White Estate gate now," I said to my older brother on the call, and he replied, "I will be there now."
The call ended, and I took out my white handkerchief from my bag and wiped the sweat from my forehead.
After standing a few more minutes, my brother arrived in a red Audi and parked, and the security man finally let me through the gate.
"Eva, look at your face and neck. What the heck?" Cruz gasped. I hadn't looked in a mirror.
"What happened to me? What do you mean?" I laughed nervously, then walked to his car and peered at my reflection in the side mirror.
The sight stunned me. My cheek was painted red, and hickeys covered 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 embarrassment.
"Eva, this is enough for Jacob Stone to break up with you. Who did you get laid with?" Cruz asked, his eyes peering at me, and I lowered my head as my cheeks flushed.
"It's not important to talk about the man. It was a one-night stand," I replied, my voice trembling as my older brother towered above me.
"A one-night stand. And he painted you this red. Do you happen to know him?"
"No… I… I mean, I don't know him," I replied, my voice quivering.
"Cruz, can you take me to your house and stop asking me questions?" I snapped, trying to escape my brother's inquiry. He peered at me with a calculated gaze.
"Eva, why do I feel like you're lying to me and you know the man you spent the night with? Well, in case you're not aware, Jacob cancelled the engagement and he is demanding the sum of ten million as compensation for all the money he spent on you," Cruz said, moving 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 eight hundred thousand per year for four years, and a few more expenses. Let's say a total of four million. When did Jacob ever spend up to ten million on me? Even the money he spent on me isn't up to four million," I stated, 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 pay him five million as his support fee. So that's a total of fifteen million that we have to pay Jacob now," Cruz said in a calm voice, as I sat in his car.
"I will not pay that amount. We dated for five years, 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 visit Jacob and Layla, but I looked so flushed at the moment.
"Mmm," my brother exhaled and said, "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 arguing at the hotel? 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 calculative.
"I don't want to talk about the man. He said that I owe him for taking advantage of him," I replied, and my brother burst out laughing.
"The man took advantage of you, and he blames you for taking advantage of him. Well, I'd say let him go, but if you happen to know him, you could have 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 replied, exhausted, and my brother closed the car door.
Walking over to the driver's seat, Cruz got into the car and fastened his seat belt.
"About my wife," he said, and 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 must Maddison be the one controlling you? You didn't marry her for her money." I complained.
My brother had worked for Maddison's father before he married her, and without his help, Almond Tech wouldn't have grown to the height it is today. But she controlled him to the point that she didn't allow their baby to take his surname. Their baby was Chris Brooklyn, not Chris Brooks.
"It doesn't change anything. So long as we love each other," Cruz replied, but I didn't have the time to advise him. He was thirty years old and old enough to make his own decisions. I sat silently, watching the road as Cruz drove his red Audi down White Estate road. He arrived at a white gate and parked.
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