?Chapter 121:


    Elliana had managed to calm Eloisa, and for a moment, it felt like the storm had passed. The Evans family exhaled in relief, thinking they could finally settle things with reason. But just as the tension began to ease, Eloisa’s gaze locked onto Lance with pure fury, her body coiled like a spring.


    Before Eloisa could move, Ruben stepped in. With surprising speed, he swung his cane and struck Lance hard across the back. “You arrogant brat!” he snapped. “On your knees. Now!”


    Eloisa halted, stunned.


    Lance didn’t protest. Without a word, he dropped to his knees, embarrassment and fear written all over his face.


    Ruben turned to Eloisa, his voice low and remorseful. “I’ve been soft on this kid. He has no respect and no manners. I’m sorry, Eloisa. He crossed the line. Please just let this go.”


    But Eloisa said nothing. Her lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes cold and unreadable. Inside, her fury was far from settled. Ruben’s apology was like tossing a ss of water on a raging fire.


    Lance’s cruel words hadn’t only hurt Eloisa. They’d lit a fire in Gatlin and Charles, too—the kind that didn’t burn out quickly.


    A thick silence settled over the room.


    Trinity, worried the mess might drag up her past of joining Irene in uttering those harsh words against Eloisa, edged to the back of the crowd, trying to fade from view.


    Everyone stood frozen, unsure of what to say. One wrong word could set Eloisa off all over again.


    Finally, Bertram stepped forward. As Jeff’s father, he couldn’t stay silent anymore. He said carefully, “My son caused this mess. Whatever you need—whatever you want—I’ll take full responsibility. Just name it.”


    Eloisa let out a bitter, humorlessugh. “Oh, you want to know what I want?” Her voice cracked as she reached for a fruit knife on the table. Her hand trembled, but her anger was unwavering. “Fine. Here it is! I don’t want your money! No amount of it will bring Barbara back! And it sure won’t fix Charles’s legs! And don’t worry—I’m not taking you to court either. You people own Ublento. Who could possibly win against you in a courtroom?”


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    Eloisa’s smile twisted into something dark and chilling. Her entire presence shifted—cold, unstable, and terrifying. “I want Jeff to pay for what he did to my daughter with his life!” she said, her voice low and chilling. “And anyone who stands in my way will fall with him!”


    Without warning, she lunged at Jeff, the knife in her hand shing under the lights.


    Jeff, frozen in fear on the floor, screamed in panic, “No—no! Somebody help me!”


    The Evans family had never imagined she’d actually attack. Panic erupted as they scrambled to stop her, but Eloisa was beyond reason now, shing wildly at anyone who dared to get close. The room exploded into chaos—shouting, gasps, the scrape of chairs, the thud of feet.


    Ruben stood frozen, unable to bring himself to call for security. He just exhaled deeply and shook his head, overwhelmed.


    Then, cutting through the madness, Elliana stepped forward with quiet focus. She grabbed Eloisa’s wrist, steady and firm. “Please stop. Barbara’s not gone forever.”


    The room went still. Everyone blinked, unsure if they’d heard her right. Eloisa froze mid-swing, staring at Elliana like she’d just spoken anothernguage. “What did you just say?”


    Elliana met her gaze, calm and clear. “I said Barbara can still be saved.”


    Silence gripped the room. All eyes turned to Elliana—even Jeff, still trembling on the floor, looked up at her in disbelief.


    Gatlin stepped closer, his voice unsteady. “What do you mean?”


    Charles rolled forward in his wheelchair, his voice quiet but firm. “Please don’t mess with us or give us false hope. My mom’s barely holding it together.”


    Trinity saw a chance to knock Elliana down a peg and jumped in.


    “Elliana, even top doctors couldn’t save Barbara. You’re not a surgeon. I get it—you want Cole to notice you—but don’t spread lies.”


    Irene, pale and rattled, held Jeff tightly. “What is this, Elliana? Are you trying to make things worse?”


    “Enough!” Ruben’s voice boomed across the room. He then turned to Elliana with firm eyes. “Keep going.”


    Elliana took a breath. “Barbara’s not truly gone. There’s still hope—Venacure.”


    Her words dropped like a stone in water.


    Ruben’s face lit up. “Venacure? Yes—yes! That’s a miracle. It brought Cole back from near death as a child. If anything can save Barbara, it’s Venacure.”


    For the first time since the chaos began, Eloisa’s wild gaze softened.


    Her eyes shimmered with fragile hope.


    Gatlin and Charles shared a quick, hopeful look.


    But just as quickly, Charles’s face fell. “But Venacure disappeared over ten years ago. No one’s seen or heard of it since.”


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