"Six million euros should not be difficult for you to provide, right? Besides, you are the son-in-law of the Cooper Family. Do you not care about Nevaeh?"
"And who said I do not!?"
Nicholas slammed his hands on the table as he stood up, agitated.
That, he thought, was enough. Being the son-in-law of one of the most prestigious families in the city often made people think his life was a dream, like a bed filled with roses. The reality was the exact opposite.
The Browns and the Cooper Family had been best friends. They did everything together and when Nicholas and Evelyn were born, they decided to not just be friends but become one big family.
Nicholas and Evelyn were betrothed to each other. But no one could have imagined that the Browns would suffer a huge blow and lose everything they owned.
The Browns became nobodies in the capital city. They were trampled upon by those who wanted to raise their own status and soon, the family ceased to exist. Eventually, only Nicholas and Nevaeh, his younger sister, managed to escape the predicament.
Eight years later, Nicholas, once a young Master admired by many, had become a poor, lowly, shameless son-in-law who depended on his wife's family for almost everything.
"Why are you getting angry, Mr. Brown? The Coopers have recently launched a new project that earned over five hundred million euros in just two days. Six million euros is all you need to save Nevaeh."
"If I do not hear from you within twenty-four hours, I will believe you are not ready to save her and she will be immediately discharged. We have been giving her treatments without expenses for the past three years because the Coopers are one of our hospital's sponsors. Now, we can no longer delay her surgery. It needs to be done and it is urgent."
Watching the doctor leave in his lab coat with a stethoscope around his neck, Nicholas could only slam his hand on the table again.
What should he do? He had to save his sister. She was his last family.
*** Copper Family Villa***
"What? Six million euros? No, Nicholas, you cannot be serious!"
Evelyn screamed at the top of her lungs. She looked at Nicholas with disdain and rolled her eyes.
"Evelyn, please, it is only six million I am asking for. I know you have more than that and I pray you always do. I have to make immediate payment for Nevaeh's surgery or she will be discharged and her treatments put on hold. You know she is the only family I have left."
"So what if she is your only family? What should I do about it? Do you know we have been covering her medical expenses for the past three years? Do you? How do you plan to repay me for that? Besides, although she has been receiving treatments, she has not woken up or even blinked once. It is clear she is DEAD! She can NEVER wake up again so stop!"
"EVELYN!"
Nicholas' body quivered as he pointed his index finger at the woman he once held with infinite respect in his heart.
"What now, Nicholas? Do you want to hit me? You even dare raise your voice and point your fingers at me. Whoa! Hit me then!"
Evelyn sneered wickedly. Her heels clicked against the floor as she gracefully approached Nicholas. Only then did Nicholas realize his mistake.
How could he, a lowly peasant, stand a chance to talk back to Evelyn Cooper, a Director at Cooper's Conglomerate, one of the most successful companies in the Capital City?
"I…"
Nicholas was tongue-tied. He dared not speak further, afraid he might cause more problems for himself.
"KNEEL!"
The word made him break into a cold sweat. Everyone in the Cooper mansion knew what it meant when the young lady asked her husband to kneel.
"Evelyn… you!"
"SSHH! A disobedient pet must be taught a lesson. Besides, I remember telling you never to mention my name with your filthy mouth."
Nicholas gulped. The sweat forming on his forehead made Evelyn excited. She walked in circles around Nicholas, gazing at him with eyes like a predator.
"For six million you disrespected me and shouted at me. You called my name and even pointed your stinky dried finger at me. HAHA!"
Her voice dripped with venom.
"What are you waiting for? KNEEL!"
Evelyn's voice reverberated in the room. Nicholas could only obey. With his head bowed, he swallowed the last bit of pride he had left and knelt.
Seeing him so helpless, a satisfied smirk curled Evelyn's lips. She loved knowing she had this man wrapped around her little finger. He would do anything she wanted.
"Axel, get me my cane!" Evelyn ordered.
Axel, her standby assistant, did not hesitate.
"Yes, Mistress."
He immediately left to get the cane.
"If I give you six million to treat your already dead sister, how do you plan to repay me?" Evelyn asked with a knowing smile.
"I… I will do anything. Please, I only need six million to pay for Nevaeh's treatment. Please, help her."
"Alright, I will help you."
"Really? Oh my God, thank you. Thank you so much, you are my lifesaver, I owe my life to you. Tell me what you want me to do, I will do it, I promise, as long as it is not against the law."
"TCH, where is your sincerity, Nicholas? You will not do anything that is against the law? What if that is what I want you to do? Does that mean you would refuse?"
"Eve… I…"
"Mistress, your cane!"
Evelyn smirked as she accepted the cane. She pulled it from its sheath and the metal rod with thorns wrapped around it came into view.
This was Nicholas' worst nightmare. The pain from the rod was something even a strong man like him could not bear.
"I want a divorce!" She flashed the rod in his face. Adrenaline rushed down his spine.
"You will get nothing from the divorce. We will go together to the Bureau of Civil Affairs to nullify our marriage and you will agree that you want nothing from me. Is that clear?"
"I…"
"SSHH! You and I know it is easy for me to settle this by paying them off. But… you need the money more than they do… Do you? Or do you want me to…"
"I am willing."
Nicholas did not dare refute. She could easily buy them off and he would gain nothing from it. He also would not be able to save Nevaeh.
"Good boy! I will give you the six million euros in cash once the divorce is settled."
"I… I need it urgently. It takes weeks to process a divorce."
"OOPS! Do not worry, everything can be done in just ten minutes. But before then…"
Evelyn paused, trailing her fingers along Nicholas' face and clicking her tongue in disapproval. Her blue eyes flickered with evil intentions.
"I hate that you are so good-looking and attractive. How about a change?"
Saying that, she flung the thorny rod against his face.