Chapter 79: The Return

Austin had expected the question the moment Cora turned to him.

He answered calmly, “Laura’s father—the Dev family’s second son—lost a great deal gambling. He even staked this apartment and lost it. The buyer came today to reclaim the property. Gary tried to resist, but the property management confirmed the contract was genuine. The place was never actually his.”

Cora’s lips curved into a cold, satisfied smile. “Julian’s doing, isn’t it?”

Austin froze, unsure how to respond.

“Good,” she said, voice hard. “They’ve been bleeding us dry for years like leeches. Let them choke on their own greed for once.”

“Cora,” Zoy murmured in disapproval. “That’s still your uncle.”

“Mom,” she said tightly, “when have they ever treated me like family? Remember when you begged my aunt for money for my college tuition and she slammed the door in your face? I haven’t forgotten. I never will.”

Zoy went silent. Gary was a wound she no longer had strength to touch.

Cora turned back to Austin. “So? What happened after that?”

Austin’s polite smile returned. “Gary and his wife didn’t move out. They signed a rental contract with the new owner, so they’re still living there—but now they’re tenants, not homeowners.”

Cora let out a sharp laugh. “Perfect. Poetic justice.”

She was still grinning when she went to her room. Without even thinking, she texted Julian to share the news. Somehow, anything involving the Devs felt right to tell him first.

Then it hit her—he was halfway across the world. It had to be the middle of the night there.

She quickly added another line:

Forgot the time difference. Rest well, we’ll talk when you wake.

On the other side of the planet, Julian sat in a quiet hotel room, the glow of his phone lighting his face. He couldn’t stop smiling.

Finally showing some heart, little mole.

Austin had already briefed him in full, but hearing from her—first, directly—was a different kind of satisfaction.

—

Early the next morning, Cora was still brushing her hair when the doorbell exploded into a relentless ding-dong, ding-dong, ding-dong.

“Who the hell—?” she muttered.

The housekeeper checked the monitor. “Mrs. Watson, it’s a Miss Laura.”

Cora groaned. “Don’t answer it.”

The last thing she wanted was another Dev mess on her doorstep.

At first, Laura just pressed the bell. Then she started pounding the door with both fists. “Cora! Get out here! You coward—come out and face me!”

Her shouting drew curious neighbors into the hall.

Zoy appeared, brows drawn. “She’ll wake the whole building. Maybe let her in before it gets worse.”

Of course. Living next to Gary meant peace was never permanent.

Cora sighed. “Fine. Let her in.”

The housekeeper cracked the door—and Laura immediately shoved it open, dragging a suitcase behind her.

She barely made it two steps before Austin blocked her path like a wall.

Laura threw down the suitcase, plopped onto the floor, and declared, “This is all your fault! I’m not leaving!”

Cora didn’t even look at her. She walked straight to the dining table, sat down, and began her breakfast as the maid served her.

Laura watched, fuming, as Cora delicately sipped imported tea, a servant placing dishes within reach. Everything about the scene screamed untouchable.

“You’ve got some nerve, eating so calmly after what you did!” Laura shouted.

Cora finished her meal, dabbed her lips with a napkin, and finally spoke—her voice smooth as glass. “Do you have proof I did anything wrong?”

Laura blinked. “Proof? Do I even need proof? If it weren’t for you, my house wouldn’t have been taken! You were mad Grandma used your money to buy me that place, so you had someone lure my dad into gambling!”

Cora’s smile was ice. “So, no proof. Then shut up and stop wasting oxygen. If you really believe that, go file a report. Otherwise, keep your tail between your legs.”

Laura froze, stunned by the calm ruthlessness in Cora’s tone. This wasn’t the timid cousin she remembered.

“Austin,” Cora said lazily, “call the police. Report an intruder.”

“Yes, Mrs. Watson.” Austin’s lips twitched upward. She was finally learning from her husband.

Laura’s composure cracked. “You can’t kick me out!”

She broke into tears, her voice rising to a wail. “I have nowhere else to go! Please, Cora, I’m begging you!”

Cora didn’t blink. “You have a home—the Dev house.”

Laura shook her head, sobbing harder. “Not anymore! Dad gambled everything away. Mom’s divorcing him, Grandma moved in with Uncle, and there’s no space for me. I have no money, no place to stay—please, I’ll sleep on the floor, just don’t throw me out!”

The room went still.

Zoy, who’d been silent till then, looked stricken. “The Devs are… completely ruined?”

Cora turned to her mother. “Mom—”

Zoy just sighed, eyes clouded, and quietly walked back to her room.

Cora pulled a few bills from her wallet and tossed them onto the table. “This place isn’t big enough for another person. Take it and find somewhere else to stay. I’ve got nothing to do with your family anymore.”

Laura reached out to plead again—but before she could, the doorbell rang once more.

Austin went to open it.

A gust of air rushed in as someone stepped through the doorway—and before Cora could even react, strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her tight against a solid chest that smelled faintly of leather and jet fuel.

“I’m home,” came the low, familiar voice above her head.

Cora froze. Julian.

He wasn’t supposed to land until afternoon.

The second he saw her, something in him snapped. All the exhaustion, the sleepless nights, the endless business dinners—gone. He’d wanted this. Her.

Without thinking, he crushed her closer.

Cora’s pulse stuttered. “You—” She meant to demand what he was doing, but when she looked up and saw his bloodshot eyes, the question died on her lips.

How long has he not slept?

Instead, what came out was a soft, ridiculous whisper. “Have you eaten?”

Julian’s lips curved, and for the first time in days, he actually smiled.