Chapter 448

The servant opened the door to find a stranger standing on the doorstep.

"Who are you?" the servant asked, frowning in confusion.

The man adjusted his tie. "I'm from Horizon Realty. Mr. Hayes has instructed us to list this property for sale."

At those words, Margaret shot up from the sofa, her face paling.

"What did you just say? Has Richard lost his mind? This is the Hayes family estate! He can't possibly sell it!" she cried, her voice trembling with outrage.

Evelyn’s mind raced. And the deed is still in my name.

The agent remained unfazed, as if he had expected this reaction. "Mr. Hayes stated he owns fifty percent of the property and intends to sell his portion."

Margaret was rendered speechless, her hands clenching into fists.

Evelyn understood immediately—this was Richard’s way of forcing Margaret’s hand.

For weeks, he had humbled himself, reaching out repeatedly, only to be met with cold rejection. Now, he was flipping the game, taking control of the situation in the most ruthless way possible.

Evelyn stepped forward, her voice firm. "You can leave. This house isn’t for sale."

The agent hesitated, but one look at Evelyn’s icy glare made him retreat without another word.

As the door closed, Margaret turned to Evelyn, her eyes wide with panic. "What is he thinking?"

Evelyn exhaled slowly. "He’s making sure you have no choice but to talk to him."

Margaret sank back onto the sofa, her expression a mix of fury and dread.

Richard had just declared war.

The first call went unanswered.

It wasn’t until the third attempt—made by Margaret Hayes with icy determination—that Richard Hayes finally deigned to pick up, his tone dripping with lazy indifference.

His voice crackled through the speaker, laced with impatience.

"What do you want? Make it quick. I’m busy."

In the background, the unmistakable clatter of poker chips and muffled laughter painted a vivid picture of where he was.

Evelyn Carter could practically see the smirk twisting his lips, the arrogant tilt of his chin.

So, in just twenty days, he’s gone from groveling to outright defiance.

Margaret cut straight to the point.

"Richard, what the hell are you doing? Selling the house?"

His reply was infuriatingly calm.

"Aren’t you filing for divorce? Assets get divided. That’s how it works."

"But the deed is still in Evelyn’s name."

"Everything under the Hayes name belongs to me. What difference does it make if she’s holding the papers?"

Margaret’s fingers tightened around the phone.

After nearly three decades of marriage, she was finally seeing him for what he truly was—a man without shame.

Evelyn exchanged a glance with her mother before smoothly taking over the conversation.

The air in the room grew thick with tension as Evelyn leaned forward, her gaze sharp as a blade.

"If we're discussing selling assets to divide the estate, then Horizon Enterprises is half my mother's as well. Why don't we put that on the market too?"

Her voice was calm, but the challenge in her words was unmistakable.

"Alexander mentioned just yesterday that there aren't many solid investment opportunities available right now. Horizon Enterprises, however, is a stable venture. I’ll speak with him—I’m sure he’d be willing to make a fair offer. After all, it’s all in the family."

Richard Hayes froze. He hadn’t anticipated this move from his daughter.

A storm of fury darkened his expression.

"You ungrateful child!" he spat, his voice trembling with rage. "You’ve truly turned your back on your own blood since marrying into the Whitmore family! Now you’d hand over the company too? How could you betray your grandfather’s memory like this? He adored you!"

Evelyn’s response was ice-cold, her tone devoid of warmth.

"Don’t use Grandfather to manipulate me. If he were here, he’d be confronting you first. If you can sell Hawthorne Estate, then Horizon Enterprises is just as fair game."

The words struck like a whip, leaving Richard momentarily speechless.

His original plan had been simple—use the sale of the family estate as leverage to pressure Margaret, to make her reconsider the divorce.

But Evelyn had dismantled his strategy effortlessly, turning his own weapon against him.

The silence that followed was heavy, charged with the weight of unspoken battles yet to come.

"Evelyn, you need to come home. We're waiting for you."

The call ended abruptly, leaving Evelyn Carter standing frozen in place.

Margaret Hayes studied her daughter's tense expression. "Tell me the truth—have you truly decided to go through with the divorce?"

Evelyn clenched her jaw, the betrayal still raw. Richard's secret affairs. Evelyn Sinclair's unforgivable act of swapping her child.

The damage was irreversible.

But after the initial storm of anger, logic crept in.

If I divorce him, it might soothe my pride. But what then? Richard marries Evelyn Sinclair, and I hand them everything on a silver platter?

It was like toiling under the sun only for someone else to reap the harvest.

Why should I give them that satisfaction?

Nearly three decades of marriage had bound their lives together—families, businesses, reputations. A divorce wouldn't just shatter them—it would send shockwaves through Horizon Enterprises and Titan Capital Group alike.

The cost outweighed the fleeting relief of walking away.

Margaret watched the silent battle play out across Evelyn's face and understood. Some wars weren't fought with exits, but with staying power.

Secret Longing: A Second Chance After the Fall (Evelyn Carter)