Chapter 167 Anyone but Him
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Gloria continued her furious ranting. Just a few days ago, she had been the kind elder who looked after Calist. But now, she had undergone a complete transformation.
Philip noticed Lucian’s intensely gloomy expression and broke into a cold sweat.
“Alright, let’s not talk about it anymore.”
He nudged Gloria.
“Why are you being such a pushover?”
Gloria couldn’t stand her husband’s submissive attitude and angrily shook off his hand.
ur father’s grave here
“Consider it for a moment. How’s your business been since we relocated two years ago? Could you afford a Mercedes, or is a tractor within your budget?”
Finally unleashing his anger, Lucian shot back.
“I can’t speak to how your last two years have gone, but if you keep pushing my buttons, I can guarantee the rest of your life won’t be a walk in the park.”
His statement sent shivers down everyone’s spine, although his tone remained calm and composed. It immediately calmed Gloria’s agitated emotions like a bucket of ice–cold water
washed over her.
“He might even appreciate the peace. Changing his resting place could risk upsetting him,” Gloria
argued, mentioning Calista’s grandfather to avoid stirring Lucian’s anger further.
Lucian chuckled, “Gloria, you’re right. So, please talk to Mr. Everhart Senior. Tell him to contact
me through a psychic or some other means if he has any objections.”
Gloria was left speechless. Was Lucian treating her like someone who could communicate with
spirits, or worse, like she could be a psychic herself?
After leaving the cemetery, the group gathered their belongings at Philips’s house. Inside,
Nicholas was engrossed in a video game, his attention fully captured by the screen.
However, the sight of them hauling suitcases caught his eye, prompting him to hastily set aside
his controller and toss his phone onto the couch.
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“Hey, Lucian and Paul, are you both heading back to Capeton? Not planning to stick around until after the New Year? Wait for me, guys! I haven’t packed my stuff yet,” Nicholas grumbled while hurriedly stuffing things into his suitcase.
“Why the rush? You didn’t even give me a heads–up. I had plans to play games with my
classmates during the New Year break.”
While packing, he heard the sounds of doors opening and closing outside.
Nicholas rushed out, only to find Calista and the others gone. In their place, his parents looked shocked and bewildered, as if they had just witnessed a supernatural event!
The matter of relocating her grandfather’s grave wouldn’t be resolved quickly, and Calista had her mind preoccupied with concerns.
She had no intention of extending her stay in Fort City, so she booked the earliest flight back to Capeton instead. Calista contacted Zachary as soon as she landed.
“Dad, where are you?”
Zachary had been living in fear of repaying debts for the past few days, and the shadow of those
high–interest loans had returned to haunt him. Calista’s call felt like a lifeline in his desperate
situation.
Nevertheless, there was still a hint of irritation as he replied, “If you don’t help set up Nikolette
and Lucian’s marriage, you can forget about calling me Dad. I’ll act like I don’t have a daughter like
you!”
Calista paused briefly and responded, “Alright then. May I ask where are you now, Mr. Everhart?”
After a moment of hesitation, Zachary finally responded, “Everhart Manor,” before abruptly ending
the call, clearly upset.
Calista made her way toward the taxi stand outside the airport.
Suddenly, Lucian gently took her hand and offered, “I’ll give you a ride.”
Jonathan had already arrived and waited for them in the underground parking lot.
Calista’s gaze drifted downward, focusing on Lucian’s elegantly sculpted hands. They possessed a
certain grace, with pronounced knuckles that added to their appeal.
Lucian’s presence exuded strength, and it was easy to lean on him, especially when her true
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The sudden revelation that Zachary might not be her biological father stirred her emotions
Calista longed for someone to be there for her in moments like these. She had once harbored the hope that this person would be Lucian, but circumstances had changed her perspective.
Now, she was open to anyone offering their support except Lucian. Calista shook her head firmly and gently removed Lucian’s hand from her wrist.
“It’s not necessary…”
Paul was about to speak, but Calista beat him to it, firmly stating, “This is a private matter, and I’d like to handle it on my own.”
Lucian stared at her in silence for a moment. Suddenly, his phone rang.
“Alright.”
He checked the caller ID, nodded, and headed to the lower–floor parking spot.
Paul raised a hand and gently patted Calista’s head.
“Stay safe. Call me if you need anything.”
The Everhart Manor stood alongside the artificial lake in Willowbrook. When Zachary couldn’t
meet his debts, the loan sharks seized this property first.
Calista hadn’t set foot here in three years, but she navigated the expansive villa community easily,
leading her to the Everhart Manor.
The roses were in full bloom in the garden, adorning the trellises with lush clusters of purple
petals that had gracefully descended and now blanketed the ground.
Calista walked up to the door and rang the bell without hesitation.
“Who are you looking for?”
A stranger answered, not recognizing her.
“Zachary. We had an appointment,” Calista replied.
Just then, Zachary emerged from inside.
“Not even bothered to call me Dad anymore? What happened to your manners?” his expression
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The servant quickly opened the door upon realizing the visitor was a member of the Everheart family.
Calista wasn’t particularly keen on stepping into the house, although it had once been her mother’s residence. She felt unsettled at the thought of revisiting this place.
Her stepmother had thrown away all her mother’s belongings and even redecorated the entire place. The house had been completely transformed, erasing all remnants of the past.
However, with her pressing questions, she decided to enter the house.
A servant prepared a cup of tea for her. Tea was Nikolette’s favorite, and while Calista preferred coffee, she said nothing as she watched the tea leaves unfurl in the hot water.
Zachary glanced at her and asked, “Have you asked Lucian?”
“I visited Fort City a couple of days ago,” Calista remarked while keeping her eyes fixed on Zachary.
Zachary furrowed his brow, a hint of disgust fleeting across his face, and asked in a perfunctory tone, “Are Philip and Gloria in good health?”
Calista couldn’t overlook the trace of disgust in Zachary’s expression and pondered what had happened to evoke such emotions about his hometown.
Calista had lived in Capeton for as long as she could remember. In all that time, she had never known Zachary to visit Fort City.
Her grandparents had always been in Cape Town, so Zachary’s absence from Fort City didn’t strike her as unusual.
In retrospect, why had he never visited Fort City despite the presence of her siblings, relatives,
and friends?
Calista cut to the chase and asked, “Dad, am I not your biological daughter?”
Zachary was caught off guard at the unexpected question. His mind was preoccupied with
arranging a marriage between Nikolette and Lucian.
He widened his eyes and retorted, “What nonsense are you talking about?”
