Chapter 187

Dominic's voice dripped with icy sarcasm through the phone. "What was I supposed to do? You refused to help me, and those loan sharks were breathing down my neck."

His tone turned mocking. "So I told them my precious sister married into the Blackwood fortune. A few crumbs from their table would be enough to cover my debts."

A dark chuckle followed. "Worked like a charm! Your in-laws are incredibly generous. They paid off half my debt without blinking."

"Your husband's reputation is even better. Just dropping that my brother-in-law is General Blackwood of the Aldenrian Military - and that you'd vouch for me - suddenly everyone was tripping over themselves to lend me money."

Dominic's voice vibrated with glee. "That name opens every door! Nobody dares cross me now. One mention of my powerful brother-in-law and they all back down."

Evelyn's knuckles turned white around the phone. Rage made her entire body tremble.

Her voice came out like shards of ice. "Dominic Carter, you despicable leech. If I hear you're using Liam's name to scam people again, I swear to God-"

Dominic's mocking laughter cut her off. "Oh please, Evelyn. Dad's been bragging to his drinking buddies about his son-in-law being General Blackwood for months. The old man loves rubbing it in their faces."

He continued with relish, "But Mom? She's the real pro. Called your husband last week and walked away with a hundred grand. Now that's what I call generous."

Evelyn could practically hear him preening through the phone. Her vision blurred with furious tears.

These people were human parasites, clinging to anyone successful. Impossible to shake off. Disgusting.

"We're divorced," Evelyn ground out. "Stop harassing him and stay away from the Blackwood family."

Dominic snorted. "Nice try. Like you'd give up that golden ticket? You'd have to be insane to walk away from that kind of money."

"Listen, I'll be reasonable. No more gambling debts. Just get your husband to pull some strings - I want a cushy military office job where-"

Evelyn slammed the phone down. She squeezed her eyes shut, struggling to breathe through the suffocating anger.

Her head throbbed. Every muscle ached with tension.

Why? Why was she cursed with this family? Being related to them felt worse than death.

She threw her phone onto the bed and dragged herself to the shower, needing to wash off the filth of that conversation.

Thirty minutes later, Evelyn emerged from her room.

Rosalind sat cross-legged by the coffee table, glasses perched on her nose as she typed furiously on her laptop.

"Morning," Evelyn muttered, collapsing onto the couch like a puppet with cut strings.

Rosalind barely glanced up from her screen, fingers flying across the keyboard. "You look like hell. Bad night?"

Evelyn let her head fall back against the cushions. "Couldn't sleep until dawn. Then got woken up by human garbage."

"Who?"

"The Carters. My so-called family."

Rosalind smirked without looking up. "You mean your parents and brother?"

"They're not my family," Evelyn said coldly.

Rosalind's fingers stilled. "Right. The adoption. Let me tell you, having grown up with Evelyn Carter - her father is absolute scum. You should watch yourself."

Evelyn's eyes opened. "Why?"

Rosalind set aside her laptop and removed her glasses. Her expression turned grim, eyes dark with disgust. "He molested her when she was twelve."

Evelyn froze. A wave of nausea crashed over her.