Claimed By The Arrogant Billionaire

Chapter 4

-Eva Brooks-

When I arrived at the White Estate gate where Cruz lived, the taxi pulled to a stop in front of the magnificent white gate.

My only brother, Cruz, got married to Maddison Brooklyn, a rich man's daughter, and she was too pompous and proud. She got along with my older sister, Elora.

Sighing, I walked up to the magnificent gate to meet the two estate security men there.

"Yes, who are you here to see?" the tough-looking security man in black asked me.

"Um, I'm here to see my older brother, Cruz Brooks. He lives in the estate," I said, as I was already exhausted.

On a Saturday morning like this, I knew that I should have been at home resting. But here I was, standing in front of an estate gate.

"Call him," the security man replied, before he ordered me to stand aside, and I knew that I wouldn't be allowed entry into the estate gate.

Pulling out my phone, I called my older brother, Cruz.

However, I was stunned when I saw a black Rolls Royce Phantom driving into the magnificent white estate gate, as the White Estate was known to house many wealthy folks in Dominic City.

Gulping, I was stunned when my gaze locked with Ethan Owen's. The same man who had a one-night stand with me a few hours ago.

*What was he doing here? Did he live inside this White Estate too?*

I gulped and immediately looked away from Ethan, pretending like I didn't know him. But his gaze lingered on me, as I could feel the intensity of his stare.

Another security man pulled the magnificent white gate open, and Ethan's driver drove in—and not just his car alone. I noticed the bodyguards in another black convoy following behind him. And I gulped and released the breath that I didn't know I was holding.

"Hello, Cruz, I'm at the White Estate gate now," I said to my older brother on the phone call, and he replied, "I will be there now."

The phone call ended, and I took out my white handkerchief from my black handbag and wiped off the bead of sweat on my forehead.

After a few more minutes of standing outside the white estate gate, my brother arrived in a red sports car and parked. The security man finally let me enter through the gate.

"Eva, take a look at your face and neck. My goodness! What the heck happened to you?" Cruz gasped, and I was stunned, as I hadn't taken a look at myself in the mirror.

"What happened to me? What do you mean?" I asked my older brother, laughing nervously, despite my voice trembling. So I rushed up to his car and peered at my reflection in the mirror.

I was shocked by the sight that beheld me. My cheek was painted red, and hickeys were all over my neck.

"What???" I gasped, embarrassed by my own state.

"I didn't know I looked this bad. I am sorry," I said, and my brother shook his head, still laughing at my embarrassed state.

"Eva, this is enough evidence for Jacob Stone to break up with you. Who did you get laid with?" My brother demanded, his blue eyes peering at mine for an explanation, and I lowered my head as my cheeks flushed.

"It's not important to talk about him. It's a one-night stand," I replied, my voice quavering as my older brother towered above me.

"One-night stand. And the man painted you this red. Do you happen to know him?" Cruz queried me.

"No… I… I mean, I don't know the man," I replied flatly, my voice quivering again.

"Cruz, can you take me to your house and stop asking me questions?" I replied sternly, wanting to escape my brother's inquisition, and he peered at my face with a calculated gaze.

"Eva, why do I feel like you're lying to me and you know the man you had a night with? Well, in case you are not aware, Jacob has cancelled the wedding engagement, and he is demanding the sum of 10 million as compensation for all the money he spent on you," my brother said, as he moved over to pull his red car door open for me.

"What? Ten million? When did Jacob ever spend such a huge amount for me? The university costs only 600,000 per year. And he paid for four years, plus a few more expenses. Let's say a total of 2,500,000. When did Jacob ever spend up to 10,000,000 on me? Even the money he spent on me isn't up to 2,500,000," I said, my voice firm, and Cruz exhaled.

"Well, that's what Jacob is demanding as compensation for you cheating on him. As for Dad, Jacob broke off the partnership and demanded that Dad pay him 5 million as his support fee. So that's a total of 15 million that we have to pay Jacob now," Cruz said with a calm voice, as I sat in his car.

"I will not pay Jacob that amount. We dated, and I don't owe him anything. Where is it written that you have to pay for a relationship breakup as compensation? I didn't intend to cheat on Jacob. Layla set me up, and I ought to have her arrested. How can Jacob not understand? Instead, he blocked me from contacting him," I ranted, wanting to visit Jacob and Layla—only that I looked so flushed at the moment.

"Mmm," my brother exhaled and said, "That's why you should have kept your guard up. You already made the mistake, and Jacob caught you. But how about the man you slept with? Did he see Jacob and you? If he is able to afford a VIP room at the Owen's luxury five-star hotel, then he must be a big shot," Cruz said, his gaze calculative.

"No. I don't want to talk about the man. He said that I owe him for taking advantage of him," I replied sadly, and my brother burst out laughing hard.

"Hahaha. The man took advantage of you, and he blames you for taking advantage of him. Well, I will say you should let him go, but if you happen to know him, you could have at least made him explain to Jacob that it was a setup," Cruz said, but I shook my head.

"No. Just take me home. I will confront Layla and Jacob later," I said, exhausted, and my brother closed the car door.

Walking over to the driver's seat, Cruz got into the car and fastened his seat belt.

"About my wife," he said, and I knew that Maddison and I didn't get along.

"You have to put up with her tantrums and not argue with her," he reminded me, and I sighed.

"Why will Maddison be the one controlling you? You didn't marry her for her money. If you didn't help in her father's company, Almond Tech wouldn't have grown to the height it is today," I ranted, knowing that my brother worked for Maddison's father, before he got married to Maddison. But she controlled him to the point that she didn't allow their baby to take my brother's last name. Her baby was Chris Brooklyn, instead of Chris Brooks.

"It doesn't change anything. So long as we love each other," Cruz replied, but I didn't have the time to advise him. He was 30 years old and old enough to make his own decisions. I sat silently, watching the road as my brother ignited his red sports car and drove down the White Estate road. Finally, he arrived at a white gate and parked.