Chapter 265
The following two days passed without a trace of Ethan.
Today, Vanessa arrived at Whitmore Manor early. Partly, she wanted to impress the Whitmores. But more than anything, she was desperate to catch a glimpse of Ethan.
It was Christmas Eve, and the Whitmore family was gathering for their annual celebration. There was no way Ethan would miss it.
Just seeing him would ease the restless ache in her chest.
By evening, Evelyn and Alexander had arrived.
Evelyn glowed with contentment, clearly thriving in her new life.
Unlike Vanessa, who had brought carefully selected gifts, Evelyn walked in empty-handed.
The moment they settled on the sofa, a servant appeared with steaming cups of coffee.
Not long after, Harrison approached Evelyn with an elegantly wrapped box. "Mrs. Whitmore, Mr. Whitmore asked me to give this to you."
Evelyn blinked in surprise. "What is it?"
Her fingers hesitated over the ribbon before she finally untied it.
Inside lay a velvet jewelry box.
Her breath caught as she lifted the lid.
A dazzling emerald necklace sparkled under the chandelier's light, its intricate design unmistakably expensive.
Vanessa's grip tightened around her own untouched coffee cup.
The Whitmores had always favored Evelyn, but this was too much.
Why did she always get everything?
Even now, when Vanessa had gone out of her way to please them, they still only had eyes for Evelyn.
It wasn’t fair.
Not at all.
The winter sun cast long shadows across the marble floors of Whitmore Manor as the family gathered in the grand hall.
"Mr. Harold specially arranged these as Christmas gifts for you," the butler announced, presenting an ornate velvet box to Evelyn. "He mentioned that since it's your first year as part of the Whitmore family, he wanted to express his appreciation as the patriarch. Please accept them."
Sophia couldn’t resist peeking over Evelyn’s shoulder. Her eyes widened in shock. "Oh my God!"
Harold’s generosity knew no bounds—he had gifted Evelyn a sprawling penthouse in the heart of Cresthaven’s most prestigious district.
That single property alone was worth a fortune!
Sophia clutched the edge of the box, her fingers trembling with envy.
Audrey leaned in, her voice laced with amusement. "Alexander, your grandfather clearly adores your wife. We certainly didn’t receive anything this extravagant when we married into the family."
With Harold setting such a lavish precedent, the rest of the Whitmores felt compelled to match his gesture.
The Whitmores were nothing if not competitive, especially under the watchful eyes of their peers. No one wanted to appear stingy.
Audrey swiftly produced a limited-edition designer clutch, its diamond-encrusted clasp glinting under the chandelier light.
Not to be outdone, Sophia presented an heirloom jewelry set—sapphires surrounded by flawless diamonds, passed down through generations.
Audrey’s lips thinned. Without hesitation, she added the keys to a sleek, custom sports car to her gift.
The tension in the room was palpable.
Evelyn stood frozen, her hands full of unimaginable wealth, while the women around her silently waged war through their generosity.
Alexander merely watched, his lips curling into a knowing smirk.
This was the Whitmore way—love, expressed through ruthless competition.
Sophia Ellis, never one to be overshadowed, took things a step further by presenting a rare painting she had just acquired at a prestigious auction.
Evelyn Carter made a quick trip back to Whitmore Manor, and somehow, she returned looking like she had just won the lottery.
In her left hand, she gripped the deed to a luxurious penthouse. Her right hand held the keys to a sleek sports car, along with an assortment of dazzling jewelry. Whatever she couldn’t carry herself, she handed off to Alexander Whitmore.
Even Eleanor, the matriarch of the family, couldn’t stay indifferent after witnessing Audrey Mills and Sophia showering Evelyn with extravagant gifts.
Eleanor had always harbored some discomfort around Evelyn, especially given her complicated history with Ethan Caldwell.
As the leading lady of the Whitmore family, with Audrey and Sophia already displaying their generosity, she knew that if she didn’t contribute, rumors would spread—accusing her of being stingy or hiding ulterior motives.
After a brief hesitation, Eleanor decisively instructed someone to retrieve the million-dollar diamond set Vanessa Hart had gifted her that very morning and deliver it straight to Evelyn.
Vanessa watched in silent fury as the gift she had painstakingly chosen to win Eleanor’s favor was immediately handed over to Evelyn, her face paling with barely contained rage.
Both women had married into the Whitmore family, yet Vanessa had spent years bending over backward to please everyone—only to walk away empty-handed.
Meanwhile, Evelyn strolled in without lifting a finger, empty-handed, yet walked away with a mansion, a luxury car, and everyone fawning over her with extravagant gifts.
How was that just?
Ethan only returned to Whitmore Manor in time for dinner.
He had been holed up in a hotel these past few days.
The moment he demanded a divorce from Vanessa, she had shattered into uncontrollable sobs. He had never witnessed her break down like that before.
In the past, her tears would have twisted his heart into knots. But this time? Nothing. Not a single flicker of emotion.
That was when it hit him—perhaps what he'd felt for her had never been love at all.
The realization settled like ice in his veins.
He had given her everything—years of devotion, wealth, status—only for her to scheme and manipulate behind his back.
And Evelyn? She had done nothing but exist, yet the world handed her everything on a silver platter.
His jaw clenched as he stared out the window, the twilight sky mirroring the storm inside him.
Life had never played fair.
But neither would he.