The CEO's Secret Obsession
Chapter 68: Deserving
CHAPTER 68: DESERVING
He swallowed, struggling to keep his composure. "You are overreacting. You cannot threaten your own son—"
"You stopped being my son the day you married that hag into this family."
Benjamin went silent, completely silent and something inside his stomach twisted.
Margaret took a deep breath to calm herself down. "We both know Alexander is the future of this family, not you or Jack and if Evelyn Carter becomes a part of him, she becomes a part of us."
"I know, I have trained that boy to take over the company," Benjamin stated. "But he needs someone equally deserving by his side and Evelyn Carter is not the one."
In response, Margaret threw her head back and smirked, "Are you seriously going to throw ’having someone deserving by his side’ card after keeping a woman like Olivia by your side all these years?"
Benjamin froze. He opened his mouth in protest but nothing came out. Because deep down, he knew she was right.
"Look Benjamin, I am not here to have a discussion with you and I am least interested in knowing what you are planning." She squinted her eyes and warned him again. "I just want you to stay away from Alexander and Evelyn because if you don’t, there will be consequences."
Margaret’s words were still hanging in the air when Benjamin opened his mouth to respond but a faint sound outside the door snapped her eyes upward.
A floorboard creaked and both of them went still.
Margaret slowly turned her head toward the door and her gaze sharpened. Someone was standing outside and listening.
Her eyes narrowed.
"Come in," Margaret called. Her voice was steady but cold.
No one answered.
She leaned back in her chair, tapped her cane once and repeated, louder, "I said—come in."
The door opened slowly and Jack stepped in.
His expression was a strange mix of defiance and fear but one look at Margaret wiped the arrogance off his face and he lowered his head quickly.
"Grandmother," he muttered.
Margaret stared at him like she was staring at an insect crawling across her carpet. "You were eavesdropping."
Jack stiffened. "No, I was just passing by."
"Then you must pass by often," she replied dryly.
Benjamin rose from his chair, jaw clenched. "What are you doing here?
Jack swallowed. He wanted to act unaffected but Margaret’s presence suffocated any courage he usually faked.
"I heard raised voices," he murmured.
Margaret arched her brow. "Raised? Oh no, dear. If I raise my voice, this entire mansion will know."
Jack flinched.
Then she exhaled sharply and stood with the help of her cane. "My work here is done."
Before leaving, she turned to Benjamin.Her eyes were sharp enough to cut bone.
"Remember what I said, Benjamin. Stay out of Alexander’s life and stay the hell away from the Carters." She looked him up and down with pure disappointment. "And if you dare interfere again, you will regret the day you were born."
Benjamin swallowed hard.
And with that, Margaret glided past Jack and out of the study, the air returning to the room only after the echo of her cane disappeared down the hallway.
Jack didn’t breathe until she was gone.
As soon as the door clicked shut, Benjamin exploded.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" he snapped. "Eavesdropping outside my door like a child?"
Jack’s fists tightened. "If it concerns Alexander and Evelyn, then it concerns me."
Benjamin laughed bitterly. "You? You are the last person involved in anything."
Jack’s face flushed with humiliation and rage. "You took everything away from me. You cut my cards, froze my accounts—what did you expect? For me to stay quiet?"
Benjamin’s eyes flared. "I did that because you embarrassed this family in front of the Carters. And now, because of your pathetic stunt, Gregory Carter wants nothing to do with us."
"That’s not fair—"
"I don’t care about fair," Benjamin barked. "Do you know what your brother is doing right now while you stand here complaining like a useless child?"
Jack blinked. "What?"
Benjamin breathed out sharply, almost mocking. "He is preparing to marry Evelyn Carter."
Jack froze.
His stomach dropped.
"What—what did you say?" he whispered.
Benjamin smirked cruelly. "Yes. While you are busy acting like a victim, Alexander is winning."
The door suddenly swung open.
Olivia rushed in, face twisted with panic and concern. "What is going on? I heard shouting." She then looked at her husband, "Benjamin, please, don’t speak to Jack like that."
Jack’s gaze snapped to her. It was raw, vulnerable and desperate for a lifeline.
Benjamin scoffed. "Of course. The savior arrives."
Olivia hurried to Jack’s side, putting a hand on his back. "Are you okay, sweetheart?" she whispered in a broken voice that trembled perfectly.
Jack clenched his jaw. "No. I am not."
Olivia glared at Benjamin. "Why can’t you show compassion? He is your son."
Benjamin rolled his eyes. "He is an embarrassment."
Jack’s breathing grew uneven.
Olivia rubbed his shoulder soothingly. "Jack, tell me what happened."
"He said—" Jack’s voice cracked, "that Alexander is marrying Evelyn."
Olivia’s eyes widened dramatically, almost theatrically but convincing enough for Jack.
"Oh no," she whispered, hand covering her mouth. "Oh, Jack—" She then hugged him from the side. "My baby—"
Benjamin scoffed again and turned away. "I am done here."
Before he could dismiss them, Olivia stepped slightly in front of Jack, like the perfect shielding mother.
As soon as Benjamin disappeared, her voice dropped into a soft poisonous whisper only Jack could hear.
"Do you see now?" she murmured. "Alexander takes everything. He always has."
Jack’s heartbeat spiked.
"The company and position was not enough," she sighed. "Now he is marrying Evelyn, your ex-girlfriend."
Jack’s hands curled into fists.
Olivia leaned closer, sealing the final crack in him.
"Are you really going to let him take the last thing that ever mattered to you?"
"No, I will not," Jack yelled, furious.
He then jerked Olivia’s hand away and stormed out of the room
....