Hours slipped by as Dave went about his daily chores. He was cleaning the marble table in the seating room when Eva walked in, just returning from work. He glanced at the time — 8:00 p.m.
She sat down on the couch with a tired and sorrowful expression on her face. Dave noticed immediately. After all, they had been married for the past three years, and he could tell when something was off with her.
For the first time, he truly felt concerned about her sadness. She sat there, looking pitiful and worn out.
Their marriage had always been a contract — nothing more. Since the day they tied the knot, Dave had never once felt her affection. The only physical contact between them came in moments of abuse — a slap, a shove, or worse.
She never let him share the king-sized bed. His only sleeping space was the hard floor. That's why he had unknowingly fallen asleep on the couch early this morning — it had been so long since he had rested on a soft surface.
He looked at her, trying to show concern. "Welcome, Eva," he said softly, but she didn't reply. She just sat there, silent and withdrawn.
He hesitated for a moment, then asked again, "Is everything okay?"
Suddenly, her expression twisted into one of anger. The moment she heard his question, she snapped.
"What kind of stupid question is that?" she shouted, her voice sharp and filled with rage.
Startled but calm, Dave replied, "Your mood was looking down… sorry I thought something might be wrong. That's why I asked."
Her eyes burned with fury as she stood up. "You thought something was wrong? "You want to know what was wrong?" she yelled. "What's wrong is that I helped your worthless life when you needed it! I should've let your debtors kill you when they had the chance. At least then, the world wouldn't have a useless piece of garbage like you still breathing!"
Dave froze.
Jesus Christ…
The words cut through him like a knife, piercing straight into his chest and sinking deep into his bones. It felt like she hadn't just insulted him — it was as if she had shattered whatever pieces of dignity he had left.
Dave stood there quietly, taking in every cruel word she hurled at him. When she finally stopped, he lowered his gaze and said softly, "I'm sorry. Don't mind me… I'll just carry on with my work."
Eva stared at him for almost a full minute, her eyes unreadable, before she turned away and sat back down—wearing that same tired distant expression she had walked in with.
Moments later, Samantha walked into the seating room. "Oh darling, you're back home," she said cheerfully. "How was work today at the office?"
Eva didn't respond. She just sat there in silence, her face still heavy with emotion.
It didn't take long for Samantha to notice that something was off. Eva's mood was visibly darker than usual—too quiet, too dolly.
Concerned, Samantha sat down beside her and gently asked, "Dear, what's wrong?"
Eva looked at her and finally spoke, her voice low and trembling.
"Mum… the company is in debt. And if we don't pay it back within a week, we're going to lose everything."
Samantha's eyes widened in shock. "What?! How is that even possible?"
Eva swallowed hard, barely able to keep her voice steady. Since we were short on funds, we borrowed fifty million dollars from the bank. "My assistant and manager advised me to invest it in the stock market, thinking we could recover with profit…"
She paused, her voice cracking. But the market crashed. We lost everything. And now the bank has given us a final notice. If we don't return the money in under a week, they will seize the company.
Samantha stared at her in disbelief. "Oh my God… this is terrible." She clutched her chest. "Where on earth are we going to get fifty million dollars a week?"
Clink, clink — the soft sound of someone cleaning the table caught Samantha's attention.
She turned her head and saw Dave quietly standing nearby, still wiping the surface of the table. He clearly overheard their conversation.
The moment she noticed him, her expression turned cold with disgust. She couldn't stand the sight of him.
What are you doing over there, you fool? "Leave this place immediately!" she snapped, her voice sharp and commanding.
Dave didn't say a word. Without protest, he lowered his eyes and quietly walked out of the seating room, just as she ordered.
After Dave left the room, the door quietly clicked shut behind him. Samantha turned back to Eva, her expression still filled with contempt.
"I honestly don't know why you married that hopeless loser," she said, shaking her head in frustration. "If you had married Edward, none of this would be happening right now."
Eva didn't respond immediately. She just sat there, staring at the floor, the weight of her mother's words — and the pressure of the situation — pressing heavily on her shoulders.
Samantha continued, her voice sharp. "Edward is wealthy, he has money and experience. He would've known how to handle a business. Not like him — a nobody, a charity case! He's done nothing for you, and now look where you are."
Eva sighed deeply but remained silent, her mind torn between anger, shame, and exhaustion.
After Dave left the sitting room, he went upstairs. He went to the master bedroom and stepped inside. Immediately, his phone began ringing again in his pocket. He took it out — it was the same number that had called him earlier, when he was watching Samantha's car.
He answered the call out of curiosity, wondering who this person was and how they knew his mother's name.
"Hello, who's this, please?" Dave asked curiously as he picked up the call again.
Is that you, young master? "How is Madam Victoria?" came this same voice from the other end.
Victoria is his late mother's name.
Dave froze. Hearing that name from a complete stranger hit him like a punch to the chest. He had spent years trying to forget how tragically she died, but now, the memory came rushing back as if it had happened just yesterday.
His voice turned sharp. "Who are you, and how do you know that name?" His eyes burned red with emotion as he clenched his fist.
"My apologies, young master. I am Danny Wacmor, the closest assistant to the Wayne family. We've been searching for your people for a very long time. And now... we've finally found you. My master would like to see you. He doesn't have much time left—he's very ill."
"What? Wait... wait, what do you mean, 'Wayne family'? And how do you know my mother?"
Danny responded calmly, "That's why my master—your father—wants to see you. He will explain everything."
Before Danny could continue, the door of the bed room swung open. Eva walked in.