CLAIMED BY BOYFRIEND'S EX-STEPFATHER

CHAPTER 15 REFUSING TO MEET

It felt like torture. Evander had trouble meeting Callista because she rejected him. Dhruv had tried to persuade her, but she remained adamant about not meeting him.

“She helped you last night. Can't you just be nice to her?” asked Dhruv.

Callista smiled smugly. “If you demand me to be nice to everyone, then I won't hold a grudge against the Evans family, because they were also nice to me.”

Dhruv sighed. He felt uneasy every time Callista mentioned that family's name.

“I won't meet anyone until we arrive at the mansion. I will never want to meet your friend again, Dad.”

“He's not here to help me, but to make my life even more difficult.”

Dhruv nodded resignedly. “All right, I'm sorry. You better get ready now. I'll finish some work before we return to London.”

Callista didn't answer. When her father left the room, she immediately closed the door and locked it, then sat back down on the bed. The television screen turned on, showing some rather boring daytime programs.

But one thing caught her attention: an advertisement for a fashion show that would be broadcast live on television.

“If this works, I'll owe Matthew a lot,” she muttered.

Callista opened her phone; there was no news from the middle-aged man. Callista hoped her plan would work this time, even though she felt a little reckless. Her phone rang, Evander's name appeared, but Callista ignored it.

Once, twice, until finally Evander stopped calling her. Shortly after that, there was a knock on her door. Of course, Callista knew who it was.

“You really don't want to talk to me?” Evander spoke from behind the door.

“Okay, I'm sorry for my attitude. But please, we can talk about everything nicely. I already asked your father for permission, but you're so stubborn.”

Whatever. Callista really didn't want to deal with that young female predator.

Evander was evil, that man was completely crazy and cruel. Callista was traumatized by him. For the first time in her life, there was a man who treated her like an animal.

It wasn't just about s*x, but also the words Evander said during their relationship that night. Callista clenched her fists, disgusted and sickened by herself for being treated like a f*****g slut.

“Callista, I won't say this twice. I could tell your father what really happened—”

“Just say it, Evander!” Callista replied loudly. “Tell him what happened, then you know what he'll do to you.”

Evander was silent.

“You heard what he said earlier, right? Our relationship should end here. You and I, we'd better go back to being strangers. I don't want to be involved with a liar like you!” Callista shouted.

Evander didn't answer, realizing that he had treated Callista with his own obsession. Callista was not an object, nor had she ever been a tool. Evander almost forgot the resentment and trauma that the woman harbored.

“All right, I won't bother you anymore, but... if you need anything, I'm willing to help you.” Evander slowly backed away, leaving the door of the room hesitantly.

The man went down to meet Dhruv. The father of the woman he loved just laughed at his failure to persuade Callista.

“I told you she's stubborn. She left me for years. If you hadn't met her back then, she might have drifted even further away from all of us,” said Dhruv with a sigh.

“Ah, she's just like her stepmother. My wife taught her to be a strong woman.”

Dhruv placed a cup of coffee in front of Evander. “Do you like Callista?” he asked, surprising Evander, whose face flushed with embarrassment.

“What do you mean—”

“You don't need to worry like that, I'm just asking.” Dhruv lowered his eyes, his voice softening slightly. “You know... my daughter is too precious to be involved with scoundrels.”

“Someone like Lucas Evans and his family. Those people should be under Callista’s feet, and I need someone like you to help her... not trap her into doing things she doesn’t want to do.”

Evander glared, and at that moment, Dhruv looked at him with a small, terrifying smirk.

“I know what happened to Callista today must be because of you, Evander. She couldn't have fainted on the street; I know my daughter. She only had to introduce herself as the daughter of the Turner family, and no one would dare hurt her.”

"New York, Los Angeles, all the way to Canada... everyone knows me. This is my home, I have done a lot for this country. Callista will not be harmed by anyone, unless that person is not afraid of me," said Dhruv.

Evander swallowed hard. He felt like he was dying on the spot hearing Dhruv's words, which sounded like an accusation.

“I won't ask what you did to her, my daughter's fear is enough to answer everything.”

Dhruv finished his coffee, then continued, “You don't need to worry, I still allow you to see my daughter and take care of her... but if she doesn't want to, you can't force her.”

The empty coffee cup was placed back on the table, and Dhruv left, leaving Evander silent with a tight knot in his mind and heart. Dhruv had created a clear and visible distance, and it was quite astonishing.

Evander and his obsession might be buried after this, and Callista... that woman would be even further away from him. Evander didn't know what to do now. He might go crazy without the woman whose beauty poisoned half of his mind.

“Unless... you kill Dhruv.” Sabine's words echoed in his mind, but there was no way he could do that. Killing people for a purpose was not his style, but when it came to Callista... for some reason, those evil intentions had arisen ever since the woman was attacked by the Evans family.

The sound of the television from the living room was loud; Dhruv had deliberately turned up the volume. Evander stood behind the curtain, watching.

Viviane Vale's face appeared on the screen, her plane landing and being greeted by several reporters at the airport. Lucas and his wife were also there, and they were confirmed as sponsors of the fashion show that night.

Evander glanced at Callista's door. The woman appeared from behind the door, her expression flat, but her eyes revealed something that made Evander realize something.

Callista slowly walked down the stairs, hugged her father, and said, “I want to call someone, can I borrow the phone in your office?”

Dhruv nodded immediately. “Do whatever you want, dear.”

Callista turned around, glanced at Evander for a moment, then left. But on the other hand, Evander desperately wanted to follow her.

“This woman... she’s dangerous.”