Rebirth of Billionaire's Wife

[At the Breakfast Table]

"No wonder you were so quick to confirm it. But how did you get your hands on this, Dad?" Eveline asked, her eyes darting between the old blood report in her hands and Jonathan. The report clearly matched Gerald's and Jedrick's DNA, confirming that Jedrick was indeed Gerald's son.

Jonathan leaned back slightly, his expression unreadable. "Dad had a habit of getting us checked every year, and I was sure he did the same even when Jedrick was brought into the family. Fortunately, I managed to get my hands on the record and it helped clear my doubts."

Eveline was highly impressed by how quickly Jonathan had pieced everything together. His ability to articulate the situation and uncover the truth was remarkable. But despite this revelation, there was still no record of the woman who had given birth to Jedrick.

"But we still have no clue about the woman," Gabriel said, his voice carrying a hint of concern. He shared a meaningful glance with Eveline.

That small exchange of looks was all the confirmation she needed that he had her back. A warmth spread through her chest, filling her heart with immense love for him.

"That's the biggest mystery now," Jonathan said thoughtfully. "If we can find her, we might get a clearer idea of whether Jedrick knows the truth or not."

"And what if he does?" Erna suddenly spoke up, her voice laced with worry. "What if that's exactly why he's so determined to bring us down?"

The room fell into a heavy silence.

Every assumption they had made about Jedrick had been proven wrong. What they had once dismissed as mere resentment, his supposed revenge for Gerald's indifference, had turned out to be part of a much deeper scheme.

They had believed his obsession was with Erna, thinking he despised Gerald for accepting her relationship with Jonathan. But now, as they delved deeper into his life, a chilling realization settled over them.

They had never truly known him at all.

"Maybe he does, but that still doesn't justify his actions toward Aunt Mischelle and Ella," Eveline said, her jaw clenching. "He's threatening them, indirectly or not; it's still a threat."

She had yet to meet Ella, to be there for her after learning everything that had conspired behind their backs. The thought alone made her chest tighten with frustration.

"I'm sure he won't hurt them," Jonathan said, his voice measured. "After all, he needs Ella to continue his line."

He knew Jedrick far too well, knew that despite his cruelty, he wouldn't dare lay a hand on Ella. She was too important to him.

But what truly unsettled Jonathan was the revelation of just how deep Jedrick's manipulations ran. For years, he had played a game in the shadows, weaving lies to keep his truth hidden.

And worse, he had been after Eveline all along for the exact same reason.

After breakfast, Gabriel and Eveline drove to Ella's place. It wasn't surprising to find Stefan there since he had been looking after her since the night before.

"You worry too much, Eveline," Ella said with a small smile, attempting to hide her embarrassment. She wasn't used to being fussed over like this. Everyone was treating her like a child, and it was a little overwhelming.

"And you endure too much," Eveline countered, scooting closer to her on the couch. Thankfully, the boys had given them some space, allowing them to talk freely.

Ella sighed, casting Eveline a sideways glance before finally speaking.

"It's too much, Eve," she admitted, her voice laced with exhaustion. "But I know whatever I'm dealing with, it's nothing compared to what my mom is going through." Her gaze darkened with thought.

"I knew Aunt Mischelle wouldn't take such a drastic step unless Jedrick made it seem like she had no other choice," Eveline murmured, concern evident in her voice. "But her being there with him, it's not safe."

Ella hesitated before shaking her head. "No, he won't hurt her," she said with certainty. "But he will use her to control me."

Eveline was taken aback by how similar Ella's thoughts were to Jonathan's.

"Dad said the same thing," she admitted. "But still, I can't shake the feeling that with Jedrick, we can't trust anything."

The sisters continued talking until Eveline suddenly shifted the conversation.

"Dad confirmed our suspicions about Jedrick," she said carefully. "He really is our grandfather Gerald's biological son."

Ella's eyes widened in surprise. She had never met Gerald in person, but when Eveline had shown her an old photo, something about him had already sparked doubt in her mind.

Now, those doubts had turned into undeniable truth.

"But why would he target the Hayes and not the Millers, who are his actual enemies?" Eveline asked, struggling to make sense of Jedrick's sudden obsession with Stefan's family.

Ella frowned, contemplating the same thought. "I wonder that too," she murmured, agreeing with her sister.

Meanwhile, outside on the balcony, Gabriel and Stefan were engaged in a serious conversation.

"I just got word from the office," Stefan muttered, leaning against the railing. "Jedrick is trying to restructure every business strategy to fit his own rules. He's dead set on making our lives difficult now."

Gabriel exhaled sharply, his expression unreadable. "We all knew this was coming," he said. "Now that Uncle Marcus is no longer in a position to manage the company, Jedrick is going to take full advantage of his authority. And I highly doubt he'll listen to the CEO either."

Stefan sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "It wouldn't be a problem if he wasn't trying to push me out entirely. But thankfully, because of the deal Ella made him sign, I'm still one of the officials authorized to make company decisions. Even if he tries to object or manipulate the system, my approval is still required," he paused, giving a knowing look, " which means I can slow him down."

"Then let's make it difficult for him too," Gabriel said, giving Stefan a knowing look, who smirked before winking in response.

"Argh, that wink…" Gabriel muttered, his lips twitching in mild irritation.

Stefan burst into laughter at his reaction. "Come on, admit it—you love it," he teased.

Gabriel rolled his eyes but couldn't stop the small smirk that tugged at the corner of his lips.