Chapter - 97
"You, what are you doing with her?" Jack when saw Rick and Evelina awfully close, had his ears perked up.
"I am just showering my girlfriend with so love. Don't b so stuck up old man," Rick said and winked at Jack.
"Boyfriend? You... Are you her boyfriend?" Jack's brother questioned, seeking clarification.
"You are late to the party, uncle... umm...? What is your na again? I don't think you have introduced yourself yet," Rick asked.
"Neither have you. You keep claiming to be my daughter's boyfriend, but who the hell are you?" Jack interjected before his brother had a chance to respond.
"Isn't it impolite to ask soone for their na before introducing yourself?" Rick retorted with a smirk in response to Jack's question.
"So you acknowledge you were rude to my brother?" Jack finally seized the upper hand in his conversation with Rick.
"A son-in-law can have his monts of rudeness," Rick replied nonchalantly, deflating Jack's ego.
"Enough with the pointless small talk," Evelina finally had enough and had to step in. She turned to Rick, "And you..."
"Co with to see my grandmother," Evelina instructed Rick as she started to walk away, but Jack halted her.
"Where are you taking him?" Jack inquired.
"Did you hear her, Father-in-law? We're headed to et the ultimate boss, your mother, or did you marry into the family like ?" Rick playfully teased Jack.
"Listen, boy, I don't know who you are, but you're pushing my limits here. Just be quiet... Shut your mouth," Jack warned Rick, his patience wearing thin.
"Maybe I struck a nerve," Rick murmured to himself.
"He's going to see Grandmother. He's here to treat her," Evelina sighed, unable to tolerate Rick's banter with her family any longer, so she finally disclosed the truth.
"What do you an he is going to treat Mom?" Jack furrowed his brow upon hearing Evelina's revelation. "How could you make that decision on your own? You didn't inform or anyone else about it."
"I don't need to tell anyone anything," Evelina remained unfazed.
"Are you out of your mind? How can you allow a nobody, a complete stranger, near your grandmother?" Jack interrogated Evelina, then turned his attention to Geoffrey.
"Why didn't you intervene and stop her?" Jack asked with irritation. "Is this how you take care of your duties?"
"I apologize, sir," Geoffrey replied with a nod, maintaining his stoic expression. "I've always followed the head of the family's directives."
"And since the matriarch has entrusted miss Evelina with overseeing the family's affairs, her instructions hold precedence over all others," Geoffrey firmly asserted.
"I didn't realize you were so loyal. Kudos to you," Rick comnded the butler. "You might be a stickler, but at least you're loyal."
[Warning - 1: You are not suppose to praise the old butler. If you do that again, you will start to loose rewards.]
"But I still don't like you." Rick quickly said, when he saw the system's warning.
"No matter what, I won't allow him to get anywhere near your grandmother," Jack asserted with frustration.
"No one is seeking your opinion," Evelina retorted, then turned her gaze to Rick. "Are you just going to stand there grinning all day? You seem to be enjoying this a bit too much for soone who initially didn't want to co."
"I was mistaken. I've always been a fan of drama," Rick admitted with a shrug. "And when it cos to family drama? No one can resist it."
"Don't get too wrapped up in it," Evelina cautioned Rick. "Do what you're here for and then leave."
"I will," Rick agreed. "But not before I see the money first. I want my seven million upfront."
"7 million?" Jack's attention was imdiately grabbed by the sum. "Why are you giving him such a large amount of money?" Jack inquired, directing his question to Evelina.
"It's rely a business deal," Rick replied on Evelina's behalf.
"Are you genuinely her boyfriend, or did she hire you to pose as one?" Listening to them, Michelle couldn't help but voice her suspicion.
"Oh, you are quite the sharp one," Rick playfully winked at Michelle, keeping the teasing going.
"Stay out of my affairs," But Evelina snapped at Michelle.
"Hey, don't speak to your mother that way," unexpectedly, Rick swiftly ca to Michelle's defense, leaving Evelina and everyone else surprised by his actions.
"What did you say?" Evelina inquired, her eyebrows raised as she looked at Rick with questioning eyes.
"I an, I'm just suggesting that you should be a little more courteous to your mother," Rick backpedaled, his tone less assertive.
"I already told you not to get too involved. Co with ," Evelina reiterated, choosing not to linger on Rick's comnt.
"Stop, you haven't answered . Why are you paying him that much money?" Jack still persisted with his question, undeterred by the constant useless talk around him.
"Actually, that's not all..." Rick wasn't finished stirring the pot for Evelina. He was on the verge of ntioning the additional ten million dollars she'd pay him for a re sneak peek at her grandmother. However, his words got stuck in his throat when he saw her glaring at him.
"Are you suggesting that you don't want Grandmother to recover?" Evelina inquired, redirecting her question to her father.
"What are you implying? Of course, I want that. Stop making baseless accusations," Jack quickly backpedaled, hastily defending himself.
"Then stop going against for everything. I am doing it all to cure her," Evelina addressed Jack with a disdainful expression. "While you were busy popping champagne and your son was busy snorting drugs with his friends, I was out there seeking a cure for her. So quit obstructing at every turn and let do my thing."
"And you do what you are good at," Evelina remarked with a smirk.
"What would that be?" Jack inquired, a touch of confusion on his face.
"Nothing," Evelina replied with disdain. "Do absolutely nothing. Just go ahead and spend the pocket money I provide, and relish your life without a care in the world. Leave the thinking to ."
"You..." Jack was left fuming by Evelina's words, but he had no recourse. It was the truth that his mother had indeed put Evelina in-charge during her absence.
And with that, after delivering a reality check and making her stance clear to them, Evelina turned to depart. Jack attempted to stop her, but she paid him no heed. Since she had chosen to disregard them, Rick had no choice but to forgo the enjoynt of the family drama. He glanced at the crestfallen Jack one last ti, and his gaze t Michelle's, who was looking at him with a mischievous stare.
He smiled at her, and without uttering a single word, he followed behind Evelina.
Now, in the hall, various emotions brewed within the remaining individuals. Jack was simring with anger, his brother appeared fearful, and his wife seed bewildered. anwhile, Michelle looked at Rick's departing back as he ascended the stairs, her thoughts inscrutable.
The two boys were engrossed in their quest for 'chicken dinner,' while Jack and Michelle's son remained sprawled on the table, completely oblivious to the world around him.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"So... it seems you have a pretty bad relationship with your family, huh?" Rick couldn't resist stealing a glance at Evelina as he asked, his tone a blend of curiosity and caution. There was sothing about her that piqued his interest, although he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
Evelina shot him a sharp look. "Don't interfere in my family affairs," she rebuked, her voice carrying a hint of irritation.
However, Rick wasn't one to back down easily anymore. Ever since he had acquired the system, sothing intrinsic within him had transford. He had never been known for his persistence. In fact, he often gave up on things rather quickly due to deep-seated self-doubt that had held him back from pursuing the things he wanted.
But only God knows why he stopped in front of that old man that day. On any other day, he might have felt sympathy for the old man but left him to his own devices. He wouldn't have ddled. Yet, on that particular day, things were different.
But thanks to that chance encounter, he now possessed an incredible system. Whether it was for better or worse, he couldn't be certain. Nevertheless, he had transford after that day. He was no longer the timid, antisocial boy. He had beco a philanderer, bold and confident – a complete 180-degree shift from his forr self.
"I an, are you adopted?" he asked with a grin that bordered on audacity.
Evelina's glare could have frozen molten lava. "What's it to you?" she snapped.
Rick, undeterred, let out a nervous laugh. "I was just observing, you know? They don't seem to treat you like their daughter. They didn't appear to be all that concerned about you. They were too busy enjoying their little party."
"And I can't say you're particularly fond of them either," he couldn't help but point out.
"Is this how they always are?" Rick inquired, disregarding the exasperation evident in Evelina's eyes.
Evelina attempted to evade his questions, her irritation evident in her voice. "Can you please drop it? Why are you suddenly so concerned about ?"
Rick wasn't willing to let it go. "Why wouldn't I be? Family drama is intriguing. In fact, everyone's interested in it. And if they say otherwise, they're lying."
Evelina sighed, running a hand through her hair, "You know, you are quite nosy for soone I barely know," she mumbled.
"You also don't fuck people you barely know," Rick flashed her a mischievous grin, "But since, you brought here. Consider it a bonus on top of my paynt."
"Shsshh..." Evelina quickly tried to cover Rick's mouth, but he successfully evaded, "Don't say that out loud.Soone might here you."
"So what? Isn't it the truth?" Rick shrugged.
Evelina sighed, casting a sidelong glance at Rick. "Look, I appreciate you standing up for and all, but I would appreciate if we rather not talk about my family and that thing, okay?"
Rick chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "No problem, no problem at all. I understand," he said, seeking to ease the tension. "You know, family conversations can get ssy. Sotis, it's better to leave them untouched. And I won't talk about 'THAT' either.
At least not in front of others."
By now, the two of them had already ascended the stairs and made their way across the various rooms. Rooms lined both sides of the long, wide corridor they walked through. When they reached the end of the corridor, they encountered another set of stairs leading downward. They descended these stairs to find themselves in another sizable hall.
Rick continued to follow Evelina as they traversed this hall, only to enter another corridor with rooms on either side. It was a massive mansion with seriously a lot of rooms. They eventually halted in front of the second-to-last room.
"This is it, the mont of truth!" Evelina exclaid.
* * * * *
Reviews
All reviews (0)