Evan’s Family Mansion
1128 Words
As Ethan walked together with Max, his eyes narrowed upon spotting the familiar figure who was waiting by the airport entrance.
Jenkins, the Eldridge family butler, stood tall, he went ahead to give a polite bow when he saw Ethan and Max approach him.
Ethan's gut twisted with unease, memories flooding back like a bitter tide.
"Jenkins," He said, suppressing a growl "What brings you here?"
"Supreme general Ethan, it's an honor to see you again," Jenkins replied, his lips quivering as he spoke, "The Eldridge family requests your presence at the mansion."
Ethan's eyes widened in disbelief as he gazed at Jenkins. "You're telling me that after all these years, the Eldridge family wants to welcome me back with open arms? After they disowned me, beat me, and left me to rot?"
Memories then flooded his mind. He remembered the day his mother, Elizabeth, fell ill. He was just a teenager, and the Eldridge family refused to help.
They saw him as a bastard, a stain on their noble name. They turned their backs on his mother, leaving her to suffer alone.
His blood boiled as he recalled the day he begged for their help. His father, Reginald Eldridge, sneered at him, calling him a "worthless bastard." The family butler, Jenkins, stood by, his expression impassive, as Ethan was beaten out of the house.
Now, years later, Ethan had risen to become the five-star Supreme General, a man of power and respect. And the Eldridge family wanted to claim him as one of their own?
"You expect me to believe they've changed?" Ethan continued, his voice venomous. "They only want me now because of my title, my influence. Don't pretend like you are on my side, Jenkins! Even as a butler, you treated me unfairly in the past!"
Jenkins shifted uncomfortably, his eyes darting around the airport. "Supreme General Ethan, please understand—"
"Understand?" Ethan's laughter was cold and mirthless. "You want me to understand the greed? The hypocrisy? No, Jenkins. I won't play silly games. Tell them to stay away from me!”
Jenkins racked his brain for the right words. "I apologize for my behavior in the past, General. Circumstances have changed, Master Ethan. Your... achievements have not gone unnoticed. Your family also wishes to make amends."
Ethan couldn't help but laugh coldly, releasing a harsh sound. "Amends? After they beat me out of the house like a dog? I will repeat myself one more time. I. Am. Not. An. Eldridge. I have no ties with them!"
"General Ethan, please reconsider," Jenkins pressed on, he wasn't willing to fail the task that was given to him by the Eldridge family. He might even lose his job if the young general didn't agree to follow him home.
"The Zenith Group, your mother's family legacy, rightfully belongs to you. It's time for it to be handed over to you." Jenkins blurted out in desperation, carefully waiting for the young general's remark and silently praying that this would change his heart.
However, Ethan felt like he heard the butler wrong, his expression twisted in sarcasm. "Oh, how generous of them. Hand it over? You mean returning it, don't you, Jenkins? After all, it was originally my mother's family's company. The Eldridge family cheated her out of it, stole it from her. This isn't a handover, it's a return of what's rightfully mine."
Jenkins' eyes dropped, his face pale. " General Ethan, please—"
"No, Jenkins," Ethan cut him off, his voice icy. "Tell the Eldridge family that I'm not interested in their empty gestures. If they want to return what's mine, then do it without expecting anything in return. Otherwise, stay away from me."
With that, Ethan turned and walked away to the taxi junction, while Max followed him closely behind, leaving Jenkins standing alone in the airport.
Max had decided not to interfere, it was no secret that the Eldridge family had treated Ethan like a nobody.
Unknown to them, the butler had already called Sam, one of the richest men in the city, to help Ethan.
Max opened the backseat door of the taxi which was right in front of them.
He saluted respectfully and then gestured for Ethan to get into the car.
Max felt like the young general wanted to keep a low profile and that was why he preferred a taxi instead.
He was willing to follow Ethan anywhere, and so he couldn't complain. He got into the front seat and the taxi began moving.
Meanwhile, inside the taxi, Ethan's gaze drifted out the window, his mind consumed by the past.
Five years ago, his mother's illness had ravaged her body, and he'd begged the Eldridge family for help. But they'd coldly rejected him, leaving him to watch his mother slip away.
His jaw clenched as he remembered the desperation that had driven him to borrow $500,000 from his wife's father, Daniel Evans.
He'd rushed to the hospital after laying his hands on the money, hoping to save his mother, but it was too late.
She'd passed away. The family that had once claimed her as their own betrayed her.
Ethan's knuckles turned white with tension. He felt the familiar burn of anger and helplessness, the same emotions that had driven him to build his career, to become the Supreme General. He'd proven himself, risen above the pain and the rejection.
But the scars still remained, and the Eldridge family's sudden interest in him was a painful reminder of what he'd lost.
As the taxi pulled up to the Evans family mansion, Ethan's heart swelled with a mix of emotions.
While Max was paying the driver, Ethan stepped out onto the driveway, his eyes scanning the manicured lawns and towering trees.
He searched around for his wife, Lily, but he found her parents in the living room. They were not alone, a young man was having a heartfelt conversation with them.
He watched as Mr Evans and Mrs Evans conversed in hushed tones, their words sounding suspicious .
"...forging a death certificate, it's the only way," Mr Evans said, his voice laced with urgency. "Once we have it, Lily can be free to marry Walter."
Mr Evans nodded, her eyes gleaming with calculation. "Yes, and with Ethan out of the picture, we can secure an alliance with the Smiths. Their business connections will be invaluable to our family."
Walter, the arranged marriage candidate, smiled smugly, his eyes fixed on the middle-aged couple who had their arms wrapped around themselves. "I'll make sure to take good care of Lily, don't worry. She'll forget all about Ethan soon enough."
The gift which Ethan had prepared for his in-laws fell down with a crashing sound, causing everyone to turn their heads in his direction.
- Writer
