“So, what have you decided about my offer? It still holds true,” said Alexander’s dad in a taunting tone, as if he was sure she would change her mind and jump at his offer.
“My decision remains unchanged, Mr. Van Every,” said Eva, taking a deep breath to calm herself. She wouldn’t react, nor would she shed any tears.
“Do you realize that you’re playing with my son’s life with your stubbornness? Take the money and get out of his life. I will hire the best legal team to save him right away, but before that, I want you out of his life for good.”
“Thank you, Mr. Van Every, but I am quite capable of saving my husband,” said Eva, while her friends gaped at the ongoing conversation in shock. This was a completely different side to Daniel Van Every that they were witnessing, a side only Eva knew existed. It wasn’t anything different. He had been the same in the last twelve years of her association with him.
“I don’t trust the likes of you. It is because of you that Alexander has stooped to such a level to murder someone. How could he not use his own good sense? Take the money and get out. I can increase it to five hundred million dollars. Will that suffice, or do you need more?” barked Daniel Van Every, losing his patience.
“I don’t need your money, Mr. Van Every. I can earn it myself. Have a good day, sir,” she said with a sigh but he didn’t end the call.
“Why are you so bloody stubborn? If you really loved Alexander, you would have left him alone instead of destroying his life. I’m asking you nicely, take the money and leave him alone. He needs immediate legal help and you’re coming in the way.” Eva didn’t have any reply and silently stood like a statue, waiting for more insults.
“Can’t you answer me, dammit? Think it over and I’ll call you after an hour.” The dreadful call ended and Eva slumped onto the couch, yet didn’t shed a single drop of tear.
“What the hell was that? How can dad talk to you this way?” yelled Alyssa, trembling with fury.
“He always talks to me in that manner,” said Eva in a feeble and upset voice. The phone call has crushed her hopes. Was she really coming in the way of Alexander’s happiness?
“Don’t take his words seriously, Eva. No one can do more than what you’re doing for Alexander. We’ve hired the best lawyer for him, and after last night’s interaction with Alexander, Chris is hoping to get him out on bail. Let’s pray and all will be well,” said Sienna, understanding her mental battle.
Lucas came into the room, looking excited. “Chris called to say that he is on his way to see Alexander. The initial bail hearing is scheduled at eleven today. I have to reach there with the bail amount.”
“Oh, I need to go home. How much is the bail amount? I’ll sell my jewelry and arrange the amount,” said Eva, getting up. Lucas mentioned the bail amount, and Eva looked thoughtful.
“It’s just eight in the morning. Let me see if I can arrange for a loan by eleven,” she said, almost to herself.
“Wait, Eva. I thought it was decided that you’ll give me your jewelry and take a loan from me against it,” said Sienna. Eva smiled, remembering their deal.
“Oh, yes. I forgot. I’ll get all my jewelry.” She picked up her car keys and left while the others discussed Daniel Van Every’s unjust behavior towards Eva.
“This time dad has crossed the limit. I can’t accept it anymore. I’ll talk to him,” said Alyssa, getting up to leave. Nicholas had already gone home earlier, and she just drove over to her parents’ house, seething with anger. She had to straighten a few things as this sort of toxic behavior couldn’t continue.
She rang the doorbell and waited for their housekeeper to open the door. After two minutes, her mom opened the door and looked at her with surprise.
“Alyssa, when did you return? Weren’t you supposed to be on your honeymoon?” she gasped in disbelief.
“We canceled our honeymoon, mom. Alex has been arrested on fake charges. He’s in police custody and we couldn’t sleep the entire night. It was so stressful,” said Alyssa, walking into the house and looking for her dad.
“We? Who? Did Eva sleep in peace or has she left already?” asked her mom. Alyssa whirled around and gaped at her.
“Eva is pregnant with Alexander’s baby. She is extremely sick, yet she’s running around arranging for funds to pay the defense attorney to pay the bail amount. Do you know why? It’s because you both have frozen Alexander’s bank accounts.”
“So, has she sent you here to beg for money?” asked her dad, and Alyssa turned around to look him in the eyes.
“No, she doesn’t need to beg. She earns it through hard work. Even if you give her forcefully, she’ll pay you back. You have judged her wrongly, dad. Not all poor people are after your billions.”
“I see. So what brings you here, then?” asked her dad.
“I overheard your phone call with Eva. We all were in the same room. Why are you doing this to Alex, dad? He has always looked after you, been an obedient son to you. Doesn’t he have the right to marry the girl he loves?” she entreated, but her dad didn’t buckle. He stood haughtily and frowned at her.
“We? Who all were with you?” he asked with interest. He had to know who was helping Eva. Why didn’t she need his money? Surely she was getting financial support from somewhere else.
“Sienna, me, and Nicholas were at Lucas’s house since last night with Eva.”
“I see. So, is Lucas bearing all the legal costs?” he sneered with disgust.
“No, I paid the lawyer’s fees.” Before she could finish her sentence, her father laughed, taunting her.
“No wonder she’s still sticking around. You people are handing everything out to her on a platter. She doesn’t need to do a thing to gain your sympathy. You’re contradicting your own statement, my dear. You said a minute ago that she’s running around arranging for funds,” laughed her dad.
“Yes, she is. You didn’t let me finish. I paid the lawyer’s fees, but Eva accepted it as a loan against her apartment. Sienna and Lucas offered to pay the bail amount, but she sold all her jewelry to them. Eva isn’t a gold digger. She’s the mother of Alex’s unborn child. She’s my best friend. You’ve seen her for twelve years and insulted her terribly, yet she has never uttered a single bad word against you both. I’m surprised that you both are blind to her selfless nature. You could love Beatrix, but not someone as pure as Eva. You both accepted Nicholas because he is a billionaire, but not Eva. Why dad? Is it because she’s a poor orphan?” cried Alyssa, wiping the tears that threatened to fall from her eyes. Her heart was breaking for her best friend and she swore she would get her the respect she deserved.
“Daniel, please let’s forget everything and help Alexander out,” begged her mom with tears in her eyes. Her dad stood like a statue with a brooding look on his face.
“You know this isn’t about money. It’s about her mother,” he said in a grim tone.
“Well, Eva isn’t Aunt Stella. She has led the life of an orphan ever since her parents separated and forgot about her. Then why bear a grudge against her?” cried Alyssa, the tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Daniel, please forget the past. I can’t afford to lose my only son because of your grudge. If you remember, even we have caused Dave’s death indirectly. How are we saints, then? How can you just hold Stella responsible for her problems with your brother? Please let’s not go into this blame game and forget everything now. Alexander needs us,” cried her mom.
“No, he doesn’t. He needs Eva. If you both cannot accept her, then you can forget him in this life. Eva is going through a hard pregnancy. She’s been admitted to the hospital several times already. Please do me a favor and don’t add to her trauma by calling her unnecessarily. If anything happens to her, if she loses the baby, I would never forgive you both.”
A gasp escaped her mom’s lips, and she looked at her husband hopefully. Alyssa sighed at seeing her dad’s frozen state. He hadn’t uttered a word for the last few minutes.
“I just came here to convince you to forget your grudge and accept them, dad. Maybe it’s a lost case. We have such a small family. It’s sad we can’t be happy together in this life,” said Alyssa, walking away dejected and feeling hopeless.
After she left, Jodie Van Every turned towards her husband. “I can’t listen to you anymore, Daniel. I can’t see them suffer so much. I’ve accepted their relationship.” She walked away towards the room to call Alyssa and tell her.
“Wait, Jodie! I think it’s time to forget our grudges. I’ll accept their relationship too,” said Daniel Van Every, releasing a staggering breath and flashing a smile at his wife.