CHAPTER 77: EXTRAVAGANT

Outside by the pool, the evening air felt heavy. Eve and Roman stood near each other, three measured steps apart. Eve’s arms were folded, her gaze fixed on the still water ahead, refusing to meet his eyes. Roman’s attention lingered on her as he could see it plainly. She wasn’t doing well. And those vultures inside didn’t care. All they wanted was her money.

"Come back home," Roman said at last, breaking the silence.

"And do what?" Her head turned, eyes sharp and unyielding. "Pretend everything’s fine? Pretend we are the picture of loving siblings?"

The hatred in her gaze was cold enough to cut. Roman had seen it before, but for the first time, it unsettled him. He didn’t care if she accepted him as her brother, he just wanted to protect her, to make sure she was safe and living a life she deserved.

"No," he replied steadily. "Come home so I can protect you. You don’t have to take me as your brother. But you can’t stay here, letting them decide your future. You know exactly what they are after."

She scoffed, bitter and dismissive. "Yes, but I don’t care. They haven’t killed anyone I love. They didn’t destroy my perfect little life." Her hands moved sharply as she spoke.

"Is that why you call her ’mother’?" Roman’s question cut through her tone, and for a moment, Eve faltered. She had never thought much about it. Yes, she didn’t like it, but drowning in her own misery left no energy for rebellion. And she knew calling Vendetta ’mother’ kept her at arm’s length from unwanted interference.

"She protects me. Isn’t that enough?" Eve asked, though the answer rang hollow even in her own ears. She could still recall moments, small, cutting moments of their mother’s suffering at Vendetta’s hands. But with no one else left in her life, she had played the role she had to.

"Does she?" Roman pressed, eyes locked on hers like he could see straight through the cracks she tried to hide. Deep down, she had asked herself the same question more times than she cared to admit.

"Grandfather can protect you. Silas can protect you. And you damn well know I can protect you. Why keep doing this?" Roman’s voice was calm, but the weight in it made her chest tighten.

"I would rather be exploited by Vendetta than let you protect me," she said, her voice low but steady. "Silas is too young to babysit someone like me, and Grandfather is too controlling. At least, Vendetta does not try to stop me from doing things," and added.

Roman’s jaw flexed, his next words quieter. "Fine. But do you want this marriage? Do you even know the man?"

"I met Syres in a single day too, it will be the same with this one. I have seen him. He’s decent. He won’t hurt me. You don’t have to worry."

Her tone was too smooth, too defensive. Roman knew her well enough to recognize a lie when he heard one. And the mention of Syres... she hadn’t moved on, not even close.

"Does it have to be him?" He asked.

"Then can you give me Syres?" She shot back.

"He doesn’t deserve you. There are countless men in this world, why do you keep choosing the ones who will destroy you?" His voice hardened. "This man you are about to marry is a misogynist. He sees women as objects, not people."

He watched her closely, and the calm in her face after hearing that made his worry sink even deeper.

"You knew?" Roman’s voice was low but sharp.

Eve sighed and turned away from him. "It’s just rumors. People will always talk about successful men, it’s nothing shocking. You have plenty of bad articles about you too, so why act like this is new?" Her tone was casual, but inside, she was unraveling. She had chased every lead, and every source said the same thing. Which meant the rumors were true.

"Don’t bullshit me. You know this is different."

She screamed suddenly, the raw sound ripping through the air and twisting his expression. Her breathing came heavy as she dragged her hands through her hair. "Who I marry is none of your business! Just let me be! How hard could that be!" Her voice cracked, tears cutting sharp lines down her face.

"I won’t let you walk into this trap, even if I have to kidnap you to stop it. You may have disowned me, but I haven’t, and I never will as long as I am alive." His words landed like an oath carved in stone.

Eve stared at him, stunned by the raw sincerity in his eyes. That wasn’t just a promise. She knew Roman, he meant it.

"Let’s see you try," she said quietly, her gaze darkening as they locked eyes, neither willing to look away.

After a tense beat, she turned and walked off, leaving him standing alone.

From behind Roman, Vendetta’s voice cut in, mocking. "Is that enough proof for you? I have no control over her life. This is what she wants. You would be delusional to think otherwise." She chuckled.

Roman ignored her words. "How much did he promise you for her dowry? I will double it...no, quadruple it. If that’s not enough, take half my company. Will that satisfy you?" His voice was tight with desperation.

Vendetta tilted her head, pretending to consider it, her fingers resting thoughtfully on her chin. For a second, Roman almost believed he was getting through to her, until she burst into laughter, the sound sharp and mocking.

"Did you really think this was about money? I genuinely care for Eve. I want the best for her. You might not believe me, but I deserve to make this choice." Her tone was so smooth that anyone who didn’t know her would be convinced. Roman almost respected her acting...almost.

"And you show that care by marrying her off to a woman-beater? That’s your idea of protection?!" He snapped.

"Those are only rumors," Vendetta replied calmly. "I have met with him myself, and I can assure you, he’s nothing like what people say." She smiled warmly, and it turned Roman’s stomach.

Realizing words were wasted, Roman straightened his suit jacket. "Since you say so... I hope I am allowed to act as a father for her."

Vendetta’s smile faltered, suspicion flashing in her eyes. "What are you plotting now?"

Roman’s lips curved into a slow, dangerous grin. "I will be here until the marriage. You will keep me updated on every detail, every meeting, every date she has with that man. And I do mean every single one."

Vendetta’s heart skipped, the sudden shift in control sending a chill through her.

"What?! You don’t have to do that. Don’t you have a company to run?" Vendetta asked, panic flickering in her voice.

"If you can go out of your way to reject wealth for the sake of my sister’s happiness, then I can do the same," Roman replied evenly. "Besides, she’s going to need someone to walk her down the aisle and I believe that title belongs to me." His tone carried the same deliberate playfulness Vendetta had been using, only sharper.

"But..." she began.

"You don’t need to worry about my accommodation," he cut in smoothly. "Your house is far too extravagant for someone like me, anyway." He gave her one last, unreadable glance before turning and walking away.

"No! Why can’t you just stay out of everyone’s life, you damn parasite!" Vendetta’s voice rang out once he was gone, her composure finally shattering.

If he stayed, he would uncover the secret she had been protecting, one she was willing to sacrifice her own daughter to protect. And knowing Roman, he would dig until there was nothing left buried. She needed Eve married to Paul, and quickly, before he dismantled everything.

Snatching up her phone, she opened her messages and began typing. Her fingers moved fast, her jaw tight. Once the text was sent, she let out a long, frustrated breath and ran both hands through her hair. She should have known better, Roman was far too unpredictable to predict.

She had assumed Eve would manage to push him away. Instead, it had only lit a fire in him.

Eve... Yes. Maybe she could use Eve to send him packing. That could work.

...

Meanwhile, away from the house, Roman pulled out his phone and typed a short message to a contact: Come pick me up.

Then he switched to his call log and dialed Kay.

’Hello, Boss,’ Kay answered.

’Board the next flight to Manama with Patricia. Tell her I am in danger if she refuses to come,’ Roman ordered without pause.

’Yes, Boss. Do you need me to bring anything?’

’No. Just bring her here safely.’ He ended the call, his gaze settling on the car pulling up in front of him.

He had made his plans before ever setting foot here. He hadn’t expected to take Eve with him so easily, his goal had been to provoke Vendetta, and that he had achieved. But as he thought about bringing Patricia into this mess, doubt tugged at him. Still, with enemies lurking around back home, it was safer to have her where he could protect her... rather than where he could barely reach her.