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 some 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 rification.


    "You arete to the party, uncle... umm...? What is your name again? I don''t think you have introduced yourself yet," Rick asked.


    "Neither have you. You keep iming 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 someone for their name 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-inw can have his moments of rudeness," Rick replied nonchntly, deting Jack''s ego.


    "Enough with the pointless small talk," Evelina finally had enough and had to step in. She turned to Rick, "And you..."


    "Come with me 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-inw? We''re headed to meet the ultimate boss, your mother, or did you marry into the family like me?" Rick yfully 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 mean he is going to treat Mom?" Jack furrowed his brow upon hearing Evelina''s revtion. "How could you make that decision on your own? You didn''t inform me 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, aplete 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," Rickmended 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 someone who initially didn''t want toe."


    "I was mistaken. I''ve always been a fan of drama," Rick admitted with a shrug. "And when ites 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 immediately grabbed by the sum. "Why are you giving him such arge amount of money?" Jack inquired, directing his question to Evelina.


    "It''s merely 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 yfully 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 came 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 mean, 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. Come with me," Evelina reiterated, choosing not to linger on Rick''sment.


    "Stop, you haven''t answered me. 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 mentioning the additional ten million dors she''d pay him for a mere sneak peek at her grandmother. However, his words got stuck in his throat when he saw her ring 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 usations," Jack quickly backpedaled, hastily defending himself.


    "Then stop going against me 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 me at every turn and let me 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 me."


    "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 enjoyment of the family drama. He nced at the crestfallen Jack onest time, and his gaze met 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 simmering with anger, his brother appeared fearful, and his wife seemed bewildered. Meanwhile, 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,pletely oblivious to the world around him.


    ~ ~ ~ ~ ~


    "So... it seems you have a pretty bad rtionship with your family, huh?" Rick couldn''t resist stealing a nce at Evelina as he asked, his tone a blend of curiosity and caution. There was something 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, something intrinsic within him had transformed. 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 meddled. Yet, on that particr 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 transformed after that day. He was no longer the timid, antisocial boy. He had be a phnderer, bold and confident – aplete 180-degree shift from his former self.


    "I mean, are you adopted?" he asked with a grin that bordered on audacity.


    Evelina''s re could have frozen moltenva. "What''s it to you?" she snapped.


    Rick, undeterred, let out a nervousugh. "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 particrly 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 me?"


    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 someone I barely know," she mumbled.


    "You also don''t fuck people you barely know," Rick shed her a mischievous grin, "Butsince, you brought me here. Consider it a bonus on top of my payment."


    "Shsshh..." Evelina quickly tried to cover Rick''s mouth, but he sessfully evaded, "Don''t say that out loud.Someone might here you."


    "So what? Isn''t it the truth?" Rick shrugged.


    Evelina sighed, casting a sidelong nce at Rick. "Look, I appreciate you standing up for me 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 messy. Sometimes, 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-tost room.


    "This is it, the moment of truth!" Evelina eximed.


    * * * * *