“Me? Excessive?” Eloisa gave a bitter laugh, sharp as shattered glass. “Why don’t you ask her what she did?”
Eloisa’s words sent a shiver of unease through Trinity.
Others might be confused by the outburst, but Trinity knew exactly what Eloisa was referring to.
Over the past two years, as Barbara’s health had seesawed between hope and despair, Eloisa had often turned to the Evans family to voice her anguish. One day, in a moment of deep vulnerability, she’d confided in them-only to be met not with compassion, but cruelty. That day, only Irene and Trinity had been home. And Trinity, desperate to win Irene’s approval, had said things that cut deep-callous, cold-blooded things that no grieving mother should ever hear. Eloisa hadn’t forgotten. Not a single word.
Trinity felt the past slither up her spine like ice. If Eloisa chose to expose what had happened that day, the polished image she had so painstakingly built would…
Trinity’s world seemed ready to crumble in seconds. Thinking quickly, she tightened her grip on Lance’s sleeve, her voice trembling just enough to sound sincere. “I’m really okay,” she murmured. “Eloisa’s in so much pain… I understand. Please, drop this and don’t make it worse for her.”
But Lance wasn’t letting it go. “Eloisa,” he said, his tone steely, “Trinity practically grew up in this house. Everyone knows her-how kind she is, how balanced, how composed. So why don’t you tell us exactly what she did?”
Trinity’s heart dropped. She wanted to scream at him-for his stubbornness and ignorance. “Lance, please, don’t make it a bigger issue because of me.”
“Trinity, don’t be afraid,” he said gently. “Even if the Evans family shares some responsibility for what happened with Barbara, that doesn’t give Eloisa the right to attack you-or make false accusations.” Then, he looked Eloisa dead in the eye. “If you really believe there’s a case here, then take it to court. We’ll face whatever the law decides. But if you keep throwing baseless blame around, don’t expect me to stay silent.”
His words were gasoline on open flame.
“Fine!” Eloisa snapped, eyes blazing. “Your family loves to throw your weight around, don’t you? Well, guess what? I’m not afraid of you!” And with that, Eloisa surged toward Lance
Elliana had managed to calm Eloisa, and for a moment, it felt like the storm had passed. The Evans family exhaled in relief, thinking they could finally settle things with reason. But just as the tension began to ease, Eloisa’s gaze locked onto Lance with pure fury, her body coiled like a spring.
Before Eloisa could move, Ruben stepped in. With surprising speed, he swung his cane and struck Lance hard across the back. “You arrogant brat!” he snapped. “On your knees. Now!”
Eloisa halted, stunned.
Lance didn’t protest. Without a word, he dropped to his knees, embarrassment and fear written all over his face.
Ruben turned to Eloisa, his voice low and remorseful. “I’ve been soft on this kid. He has no respect and no manners. I’m sorry, Eloisa. He crossed the line. Please just let this go.”
But Eloisa said nothing. Her lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes cold and unreadable. Inside, her fury was far from settled. Ruben’s apology was like tossing a glass of water on a raging fire.
Lance’s cruel words hadn’t only hurt Eloisa. They’d lit a fire in Gatlin and Charles, too-the kind that didn’t burn out quickly.
A thick silence settled over the room.
Trinity, worried the mess might drag up her past of joining Irene in uttering those harsh words against Eloisa, edged to the back of the crowd, trying to fade from view.
Everyone stood frozen, unsure of what to say. One wrong word could set Eloisa off all over again.
Finally, Bertram stepped forward. As Jeff’s father, he couldn’t stay silent anymore. He said carefully, “My son caused this mess. Whatever you need-whatever you want-I’ll take full responsibility. Just name it.”
Eloisa let out a bitter, humorless laugh. “Oh, you want to know what I want?” Her voice cracked as she reached for a fruit knife on the table. Her hand trembled, but her anger was unwavering. “Fine. Here it is! I don’t want your money! No amount of it will bring Barbara back! And it sure won’t fix Charles’s legs! And don’t worry-I’m not taking you to court either. You people own Ublento. Who could possibly win against you in a courtroom?”
Eloisa’s smile twisted into something dark and chilling. Her entire presence shifted-cold, unstable, and terrifying. “I want Jeff to pay for what he did to my daughter with his life!” she said, her voice low and chilling. “And anyone who stands in my way will fall with him!”
Without warning, she lunged at Jeff, the knife in her hand flashing under the lights.
Jeff, frozen in fear on the floor, screamed in panic, “No-no! Somebody help me!”
The Evans family had never imagined she’d actually attack. Panic erupted as they scrambled to stop her, but Eloisa was beyond reason now, slashing wildly at anyone who dared to get close. The room exploded into chaos-shouting, gasps, the scrape of chairs, the thud of feet.
Ruben stood frozen, unable to bring himself to call for security. He just exhaled deeply and shook his head, overwhelmed.
Then, cutting through the madness, Elliana stepped forward with quiet focus. She grabbed Eloisa’s wrist, steady and firm. “Please stop. Barbara’s not gone forever.”
The room went still. Everyone blinked, unsure if they’d heard her right. Eloisa froze mid-swing, staring at Elliana like she’d just spoken another language. “What did you just say?”
Elliana met her gaze, calm and clear. “I said Barbara can still be saved.”
Silence gripped the room. All eyes turned to Elliana-even Jeff, still trembling on the floor, looked up at her in disbelief.
Gatlin stepped closer, his voice unsteady. “What do you mean?”
Charles rolled forward in his wheelchair, his voice quiet but firm. “Please don’t mess with us or give us false hope. My mom’s barely holding it together.”
Trinity saw a chance to knock Elliana down a peg and jumped in.
“Elliana, even top doctors couldn’t save Barbara. You’re not a surgeon. I get it-you want Cole to notice you-but don’t spread lies.”
Irene, pale and rattled, held Jeff tightly. “What is this, Elliana? Are you trying to make things worse?”
“Enough!” Ruben’s voice boomed across the room. He then turned to Elliana with firm eyes. “Keep going.”
Elliana took a breath. “Barbara’s not truly gone. There’s still hope-Venacure.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.