CHAPTER 72: BARKING DOG

The door clicked shut behind Benjamin, leaving a trail of rage still vibrating in the air.

For a moment, Alexander stood frozen with his jaw clenched, brows drawn tight and pulse loud in his ears. He couldn’t remember the last time he had seen his father so openly furious or so openly threatened.

Margaret, however, looked delighted.

She dusted off her hands as if she had just taken out the trash.

"Well," she said calmly, "now that the barking dog is gone, let’s talk about what actually matters."

Alexander dragged a slow breath, still trying to process everything.

"Grandmother," he began, "Is any of this true? The shares in Evelyn’s name?"

Margaret’s smirk softened into a proud grin. "Of course, dear. I don’t offer empty promises. I told Gregory Carter that his daughter would be protected and I don’t lie."

Alexander blinked twice because he genuinely hadn’t expected this.

"You blindsided him," he murmured.

"I blindside everyone," she said casually. "That’s why no one has replaced me yet."

She tapped the arm of her cane before adding, "Evelyn will enter this family with security, respect and power before she even sets foot down the aisle. That is how you treat a woman who will become the backbone of a legacy."

Alexander swallowed as something warm he didn’t dare name yet spread through his chest.

Then Margaret fixed him with a pointed look.

"Now," she said briskly, "you have work to do."

Alexander straightened slightly. "What work?"

She arched her brow.

"The formalities, Alexander," she slapped his head. "The share transfer."

And then realization hit him like a bolt. "You want me to do it—today?"

"Of course today," Margaret snapped lightly. "What do you think weddings are? Picnics? Gregory Carter has agreed, Evelyn has agreed and the only one left pacing around like a confused pigeon is you."

Alexander exhaled sharply. "I wasn’t told she said yes."

"Oh stop it," Margaret said firmly. "Stop sulking like a Victorian orphan and do the damn paperwork."

She handed him a neatly folded set of documents from her handbag.

"These are the final drafts. Sign your part, have Legal process the transfer and then—" Her eyes sharpened."I want you to go to Carter Enterprise and inform Gregory yourself that the shares are now in Evelyn’s name. No phone calls, no emails, I want you to go in person."

Alexander nodded slowly.

"And Alexander," she added.

He looked up.

Margaret gave a slow, approving smile. "Fix your face before you go. You look like someone stole your dog."

He huffed a quiet laugh despite himself.

Margaret pointed her cane at the door. "Now move. We have a wedding to prepare."

Alexander picked up the documents, slipped them into a folder and straightened his suit before walking out of the room.

.....

[Carter Mansion]

Patricia was talking enough for five people.

She sat cross-legged on the dining chair, hair messy, wearing one of Evelyn’s old hoodies, happily munching lunch as if she lived there.

"And I am telling you, babe, if you put me in a peach bridesmaid dress, I will sue you." Patricia rolled her eyes, "Literally, my complexion will commit suicide."

Evelyn blinked, staring at her untouched plate.

"Uh-huh."

Patricia snapped her fingers. "Hello bride-to-be? Should I throw water on you? Maybe holy water? Where are you lost?"

Evelyn sighed. "I am just thinking."

"Oh, sweetheart, thinking is dangerous, especially for you." Patricia leaned in dramatically. "Okay, spill. What did Alexander say when you told him?"

Evelyn stiffened when realization hit her. She hadn’t told Alexander yet.

"Don’t tell me you didn’t tell him yet." When Evelyn didn’t answer, Patricia froze mid-chew.

"Evelyn?"

"I didn’t tell him."

Patricia put her fork down like it offended her. "You agreed to marry the man and forgot the part where you tell the man?"

Evelyn rubbed her forehead. "I—I wasn’t ready. Everything happened so fast yesterday and—"

"And you what? Slipped into a coma?!" Patricia slapped her arm lightly. "Evelyn, he is probably pacing his mansion thinking you hate him or you eloped with one of your father’s potential suitors."

Before Evelyn could respond, footsteps echoed down the staircase.

Melissa appeared, pale and tense, clutching her phone.

Both girls straightened.

"Mom? What happened?" Evelyn asked immediately.

Melissa hesitated which was always a bad sign. She sat down beside Evelyn, taking her hand gently.

"There is something I need to tell you." Her voice trembled.

Evelyn’s stomach dropped. "What?"

Melissa exhaled slowly. "Gregory met Margaret Reid yesterday."

Patricia’s eyes widened. "Oh sh*t, I do not like where this is going."

Melissa continued, "And they talked about your marriage to Alexander."

Evelyn swallowed, hard. "Okay? But that doesn’t explain why you look like you saw a ghost."

Melissa sighed and then finally said it. "Your father agreed on the condition that shares of the Reid enterprise be transferred to your name before the wedding."

The words punched the air out of Evelyn’s lungs.

"What?" she whispered.

Melissa’s heart clenched when she saw the disappointment in Evelyn’s face.

When Gregory told her about the agreement he had with Margaret, Melissa was surprised. She tried to rebuke and tell him how wrong it was but Gregory refused to listen and kept telling her that whatever he was doing was for Evelyn.

Initially, Melissa thought of keeping it away from Evelyn. But keeping such a big thing from her daughter felt wrong. She didn’t want to keep her in the dark.

She thought about it all morning and finally decided to tell Evelyn everything.

Melissa cupped her cheek. "Evelyn, listen—"

"No." Evelyn pulled back sharply. "Shares? Shares?" Her voice cracked. "So I am what? A bargaining chip now?"

Patricia stood slowly. "Evie—"

"He didn’t approve because he believed in me," Evelyn whispered, her voice trembling. "He didn’t approve because he trusted Alexander. He approved because he wanted SHARES?"

Tears stung her eyes but they were angry and betrayed tears.

"I am not an asset, Mom," Her voice broke. "I am not a piece of land to be exchanged for profit."

Melissa tried to reach for her but Evelyn pushed back her chair, shaking.

"That’s why he kept pushing. That’s why he pushed me to meet all those strangers. That’s why he suddenly agreed last night." Her chest heaved. "Because he wanted something in return."

"Evelyn—" Melissa pleaded, "your father didn’t mean—"

"HE DID."

The dining room fell silent.

Then Evelyn grabbed her bag. "I will not let anyone treat me as an asset."

Patricia was already up. "Oh no, I know that face." She grabbed her bag too. "That’s the ’I am about to burn the building down’ face."

Evelyn marched toward the door.

"Evie, wait—" Melissa called but Evelyn didn’t stop.

Patricia gave Melissa a reassuring look before she followed Evelyn.

"But, where are you going?" Melissa asked.

Evelyn’s voice shook with fury as she answered, "I am going to the office to confront him."

Patricia sighed, jogging to keep up. "Oh perfect, let me come too. I will stand behind you and nod like a supportive backup dancer and also make sure you don’t actually kill your father or anyone else."

And Evelyn did stop her. She was too angry to think straight.

In fact, she wasn’t just angry, she was shattered and she was done being treated like a transaction.

....