?Chapter 365:


    The other Evans family members circled Ruben, cloaked in the same uneasy hush.


    Bonnie dabbed at her eyes with a crumpled tissue, barely holding herself together. Beside her, Trinity sat with her shoulders trembling, eyes swollen and rimmed with red.


    Nearby, Norwood and Joslyn bowed their heads, desperation etched into every line of their faces.


    “Please, Mr. Evans,” Joslyn said to Ruben, her voice trembling. “You have to help us. Merlin ising at us full force—we can’t hold him off. If you don’t step in, the Craig family is finished.”


    Norwood and Joslyn had begged Ruben for help countless times.


    Ruben’s expression deepened with concern. The Evans n had a long history of shielding the Craigs, but even loyalty had its limits. The kely family, though not as influential as the Evans family, was still one of Ublento’s top four families. Picking a fight with them wouldn’t just be risky—it could be ruinous.


    Then, there was Cole’s friendship with Merlin, whichplicated everything even more. Ruben found it difficult to intervene, knowing that what Boris and his crew had done was far beyond eptable. Tricking a woman into giving up a kidney—how despicable! That wasn’t just immoral; it was vile. The Craigs were the architects of their own downfall.


    Ruben studied Norwood and Joslyn for a long moment before speaking. “That’s enough. I’ve already called Cole. He’s close with Merlin—maybe he can talk some sense into him and find a peaceful way out.”


    But Norwood and Joslyn weren’t ready to give up. They continued to plead. The likelihood of Cole refusing to challenge Merlin for the Craig family was high, and they needed to ensure the Evans family stepped in for the sake of their survival. Pride had long been left at the door.


    Seeing her son and daughter-inw falter, Bonnie stepped in. Her voice wavered as she lowered herself even further—both figuratively and literally. “Ruben, for the sake of the friendship I’ve shared with your wife all these years… please, you have to help us.”


    Diane—Ruben’s wife, and Bonnie’s best friend—was currently at a wellness retreat with their eldest son, Jarrett, focusing on recovery and rest. Ruben couldn’t help but feel relieved that Diane wasn’t here. If Bonnie had gone crying to Diane, she would have intervened without hesitation. Then, Ruben would have had no choice but to act, family politics be damned.


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    After Bonnie’s heartfelt plea, Ruben turned to her. His eyes lingered, heavy with unspoken conflict.


    On the sidelines, Trinity watched the scene unfold, her stomach in knots. There was a time—what felt like another lifetime—when she had been the Evans family’s crown jewel. Cherished for her talent and adored as one of the rare women in this world, she had once basked in the glow of admiration.


    But now, Trinity could barely hold her head up. The Craig name, once her pride and power, was crumbling. Merlin’s siege had reduced her family’s legacy to ashes, and with it, the ground beneath her future had copsed. It all traced back to Boris. Her hatred for him was blistering—poisonous and absolute.


    Just then, the front doors creaked open, and in walked Cole, hand-in-hand with Elliana.


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