Chapter 26 Chapter Twenty-Five

An unknown fire burned in Eve's chest, very strong but unstoppable.It's not just the fire of lust, that's just a small part of it.It is an ambition in life to do everything and enjoy all status.Life is a lover, and Eve wants to possess desperately.She is jealous of everyone.She went to the ballet, but she hated the ballet dancers because she couldn't express herself by dancing on the stage to win the applause of the audience.She wants to be a scientist, a singer, a surgeon, a pilot, an actress.She's going to do it all, and do it better than anyone else, she needs it all, and she can't wait any longer.

Across the valley from Fernwood College is a military school full of lads.When Eve was seventeen, almost every student and half of the instructors in that school had an affair with her.She flirted with them for fun, but now she took precautions because she didn't want to have to go through the trouble of getting pregnant again.She likes to enjoy the fun of sex, but what she likes is not sex itself, but the power gained from it.She is the controller.She loved seeing the poor faces of the boys from the military school humbly begging to have sex with her, she loved teasing them and watching their fires rise.She loved to hear their false love stories to possess her, but she was most proud of her power over men's bodies.She could set them aflame with a kiss and dull them with a word.She doesn't need them, and they can't live without her.She's got a tight grip on them, and it feels great.In minutes she could gauge a man's strengths and weaknesses, and she thought men were fools, all men.

Eve is beautiful, smart, and at the same time the heir to a huge fortune in the world.She had more than a dozen formal proposals of which she had no interest.Alexandra was attracted to the boys she liked. At a school dance one weekend, Alexandra meets a well-mannered French student named Rene Marlotte.He is not beautiful, but intelligent and sensitive.Alexandra thought he was excellent.They agreed to meet in town next Saturday. "Seven o'clock," Rene said. "I'm waiting for you." Back at the house that night, Alexandra told Eve about her new friend, "He's not like the other lads. He's very shy and cute. We're going to the theater on Saturday."

"You like him very much, don't you? Little sister," Eve said mockingly. Alexandra blushed. "I just saw him, but he seemed to be—well, you know." Eve lay on the bed with her hands behind her head, "No, I don't know, tell me, does he want to sleep with you?" "Eve! He's definitely not that kind of person. As I said...he—he's shy." "There, there, my little sister is in love." "Of course not! I...I really regret telling you." "But you tell me, I'm very happy." Eve said sincerely. On Saturday Alexandra arrived in front of the appointed theater, but there was no sign of Rene. She waited on the corner for more than an hour, ignoring the stares of passers-by. She felt like a fool.In the end, I just had a hasty dinner in a small restaurant alone, and went back to school dejectedly.Eve was not in the house.Alexandra opened the book and read until it was time to strike the lights-out clock, then turned off the lights and fell asleep.It was 2 o'clock in the morning when Alexandra heard Eve sneak into the house.

"I'm worrying about you," whispered Alexandra. "I ran into some old friends. How's the evening going, isn't it wonderful?" "Too bad, I didn't even see his shadow!" "That's a pity," Eve said sympathetically, "You should learn never to trust men." "Do you think something happened?" "No, Alex. I think he might have found someone better than you." Of course he would.Alexandra thought.She wasn't surprised.She hadn't realized how beautiful she was, how admirable she was.She has always lived in the shadow of her twin sister.She adores her sister.For Alexandra, everyone is attracted to Eve for granted, and she feels that she is inferior to Eve, but she never realizes that as a child, her sister began to carefully cultivate this psychology.

※※※ Alexandra went on several unsuccessful dates.The guy she likes seems interested in her, but they don't show up anymore.She ran into Rene by chance one weekend on the streets of Lausanne, and he ran up and said, "What's the matter? Didn't you agree to call me?" "Call? What did you say?" He took a few steps back and suddenly became wary: "Eve...?" "No, Alexandra." He blushed, "I...I, I'm sorry, I have to go." He couldn't wait to leave, leaving Alexandra standing there looking at his back inexplicably. When Alexandra told Eve about it that night, Eve shrugged and said, "He must be drunk, you're better off without him, Alex."

※※※ Although Eve has studied men, she failed to realize a weakness in men, which led to her failure.Throughout the ages, men have loved to boast about their conquests to others, and those boys in military schools are certainly no exception.They talk about Eve behind their backs with admiration and awe. "When she finished with me, I couldn't move..." "I never thought I could touch such a wonderful butt." "Where she can talk to you..." "My gosh, she's a tigress in bed!" Because there were at least two dozen boys and five or six teachers talking about Eve's "slutty genius," and it soon became a well-known secret in the military school.An instructor told the rumor to a teacher at Fernwood College, who in turn reported it to the Headmaster, Mrs. Collins.So a careful investigation began.The result is a public showdown between the principal and Eve.

"I think for the sake of the school's reputation, you'd better leave now." Eve stared at Mrs. Collins, as if the headmaster had gone mad: "What are you talking about?" "I'm talking about you sexting almost half the people at that military school and the other half waiting in line for you!" "I've never heard such a terrible lie in my life," Eve's voice shook with indignation, "don't you think I wouldn't tell my grandma if she listened—" "I can save you this trouble," interrupted the headmaster, "I hope Fernwood Academy will not be in an embarrassing situation, but if you don't want to leave the school quietly, I have a list here for you. grandmother."

"Show me that list!" Mrs. Collins handed the list to Eve without saying a word.It was a long list, and Eve looked at it carefully and noticed that there were at least seven more names left.She sat, thinking quietly. Finally, she looked up and said haughtily: "This is clearly a trap set for my family. Someone wants to humiliate my grandmother by slandering me. Rather than let them have their way, I'd better leave." "A very sensible decision," said Mrs. Collins icily. "The bus will take you to the airport tomorrow morning, and I'll wire your grandmother to tell you you'll be coming home. You're fired."

Eve turned and walked towards the door, and suddenly remembered something: "What about my sister?" "Alexandra can stay at school." ※※※ After the last class, Alexandra returned to the dormitory and saw Eve packing her luggage, so she asked, "What are you doing?" "I'm going home." "Going home? Going home in midterm?" Eve turned to face her sister: "Alex, don't you think it's a waste of time to stay in this school? We can't learn anything, we're just passing the time." Alexandra listened in amazement, then replied, "I didn't know you felt that way, Eve."

"I feel damned every single day of this unlucky year. It's only because of you that I keep going, and you seem to be having a good day every day." "Yes, but—" "I'm sorry, Alex, I can't stay any longer, I'm going back to New York. I want to go back to the home that belongs to us." "Have you spoken to Mrs. Collins?" "A few minutes ago." "What did she say?" "What can you expect her to say? She was very distressed that it would give her school a bad name, and she begged me to stay." Alexandra sat on the bed and said, "I really don't know what to say." "Don't say anything, it has nothing to do with you." "It's about me, of course, and if you're not happy here—" she broke off, "you're probably right, it's a real waste of time, and who needs those Latin verb declensions?" "Yeah, who wants to know about that and his damn brother?" Alexandra went to the closet, took out the suitcase and put it on the bed. Eve smiled and said, "I don't want you and me to get out of here, Alex, but I'm so glad we can go home together." Alexandra shook her sister's hand and said: "I'm happy too." "Let's say," Eve said casually, "I'll pack my luggage, you call grandma, we're flying home tomorrow, and just say we can't stand this place. You go do it, okay?" "Well," Alexandra hesitated, "I don't think she'll be happy." "You don't have to worry about the old lady." Eve said confidently, "I'll deal with her." Alexandra had no reason to doubt that Eve could make Granny do as many things as she could think of.And who can refuse any request from Eve. She went to make a phone call. ※※※ Kate Blackwell had friends, enemies, and high-ranking business partners.In recent months, some disturbing rumors have reached her ears from time to time.At first, she dismissed it out of jealousy, but the rumors kept coming that Eve dated a lot of boys at the military school in Switzerland, that Eve had an abortion, that Eve was having social problems. So it was a certain relief for Kate to know that her granddaughters were coming home.She wanted to find out what the hell was going on with these dastardly rumors. ※※※ On the day the two granddaughters arrived, Kate was waiting at home.She called Eve into the sitting room next to her bedroom. "I've heard some disturbing rumors," she said, "and I want to know why you were kicked out of school." Her eyes were fixed on Eve's. "We didn't get kicked out," Eve said. "Alex and I made the decision to get out of there." "Because of the boys?" "Please...Grandma," Eve said, "I don't want to talk about those things." "I'm afraid you'll have to talk, what exactly have you done?" "I didn't do anything, it was Alex who—" She paused. "Alex, what's wrong with her?" Kate was not at all relaxed. "Please don't blame her," Eve said hastily. "I think she must be unable to control herself. She often likes to pretend to be me and play such childish games. Until the girls at school started talking about her, I Never thought she'd end up in this situation. People say she's been with a lot of guys—dating—" Eve broke off in embarrassment. "Pretending to be you?" Kate was confused. "Why don't you try to dissuade her?" "I persuaded," said Eve pitifully, "that she threatened me with suicide. Ah, Grandma, I think Alexandra was a little"—she forced herself to say the word—"emotionally unstable." , if you talk a little of these things about her, I'm afraid she'll do something terrible." There was an expression of anguish in the child's tear-filled eyes. Kate's mood also became extremely heavy due to Eve's pain, "Eve, don't do this, don't cry, my dear, I will not mention anything about it to Alexandra, as long as the two of us know." "I—I didn't want you to know, oh, Granny," she whimpered, "how it would break your heart!" ※※※ Later, over tea, Kate watches Alexandra.She was so beautiful on the outside and so depraved on the inside that it was bad enough getting involved in the nasty stuff herself, and Kate was appalled by the notoriety she had passed on to her sister. ※※※ Over the next two years, as Eve and Alexandra continued their studies at Porter High, Eve became much more cautious.She was terrified by that questioning and must not destroy the relationship between her and grandma.The old lady will not live long, she is seventy-nine years old.Eve now has to make sure she is her grandmother's heir. ※※※ For the sisters' 21st birthdays, Kate took the granddaughters to Paris and bought them wardrobes of new clothes at the Chanel boutique. At a small dinner party in a small Bedouin, Eve and Alexandra meet Count Alfred Morrill and his wife.The Earl was in his fifties, a handsome man with iron-gray hair and the build of a well-trained athlete.The Countess is a lovely woman with the title of International Lady.If it hadn't been for hearing people's praise of the Earl and his wife by chance, Eve wouldn't have any special interest in them. "I'm so jealous of you and Alfred, you're the happiest couple I've ever known. How long have you been married? Twenty-five years?" "Twenty-six years next month," Alfred replied, "I may be the only French man in history who has never been unfaithful to his wife." Everyone except Eve laughed.During the rest of the dinner, Eve kept looking at Earl Morrill and his wife.Eve couldn't imagine how the Earl looked at his middle-aged wife with loose muscles and a wrinkled neck.The Earl of Morrill probably never knew what true bedtime pleasure was.His boasting is downright stupid.For Eve, Earl Morrill is a challenge. ※※※ The next day, Eve called Morrill's office, "I'm Eve Blackwell, you may not remember me, but—" "How could I forget you? Son, you are one of my friend Kate's two beautiful granddaughters." "I'm very glad you remember me, Earl. Forgive me for bothering you. But I heard you're an expert wine connoisseur, and I'm going to secretly throw a dinner party for Grandma." She smiled self-deprecatingly. Prepare some dishes, but I don't know anything about wine, and I wonder if you can give me some advice." "I'd love to," he said cheerfully, "depending on what you're going to serve. If you're serving fish, use a good quality light Chablis—" "Well, I'm afraid I can't remember that much. Can I speak to you? Are you free at lunch today?" "For old friends, I can arrange it." "That's great." Eve slowly put down the phone, and the Earl will remember this lunch forever for the rest of his life. ※※※ They met at the Russell Hotel.The discussion about wine was very short. Eve patiently listened to Morrill's dull introduction for a while, then interrupted him and said, "I love you, Alfred." The count stopped the introduction in surprise, and asked, "What did you say?" "I said I love you." He took a sip of his wine. "Good wine," he said, then patted Eve's hand and smiled, "Good friends should love each other." "I'm not talking about that kind of love, Alfred." The count understood from Eve's eyes what kind of love she was referring to.This made him very uneasy.The girl was only twenty-one years old, and he was over fifty, a happily married man.He simply couldn't understand what was going on with young girls these days.Sitting in front of her and hearing her talk made him uncomfortable, and it made him feel even more overwhelmed that she was the most beautiful and attractive young woman he had ever seen in his life.She was wearing a light brown pleated skirt and a light green sweater that framed her full breasts.She was braless and he could see the protruding nipples.He looked at her pure and young face and didn't know what to say. "You—you don't know me." "I've dreamed of you a lot since I was a kid. I've always pictured a man in shining armor, tall and handsome, and—" "I think my armor is rusted, I—" "Please don't be kidding," Eve begged, "when I saw you at the dinner party that night, I couldn't take my eyes off of you. I couldn't think about anything but you. I couldn't sleep. My mind couldn't leave You, even a minute and a second." This is almost true. "I—I don't know what to say to you, Eve, I'm a happily married man, and I—" "Oh, I cannot express how envious I am of your lady! She is the luckiest woman in the world. I doubt she realizes it, Alfred." "Of course she knows, I always tell her that." He smiled uneasily, considering how to change the subject. "Does she really appreciate you? Does she know how affectionate you are? Does she have your happiness in mind? I do." The earl was becoming more and more uneasy. "You are a beautiful girl," he said, "and some day you will find your knight in shining armor without rust, and—" "I've found him and want to sleep with him." He looked around, lest someone might hear, "Eve, please don't do this!" She leaned forward: "That's all I asked for. It's a beautiful memory that will stay with me for the rest of my life." The count said firmly: "This is impossible. You are putting me in the most embarrassing situation. Young girls should not flirt with strangers." Eve's eyes gradually filled with tears. "Is that how you picture me? I'm casual—I've only had one boyfriend, and we're engaged," she continued, despite tears welling up in her eyes. "He was sweet and gentle, but he died in a climbing accident. It was horrific for me to see him die." The count put his hand on hers: "I'm so sorry." "You remind me of him again, and when I see you, it seems Bill is in front of me again, and if you will give me just one more chance, just for an hour, I will never bother you again. You will never Never see me again. Please, Alfred!" The count looked at Eve for a long time, thinking about his decision. After all, he is a Frenchman. ※※※ They spent the afternoon in a small hotel on the Rue Santa Ana that day.He had never seen a woman like Eve in his premarital affairs.She is a storm, a wanton young woman, a devil.She knows too much.By the end of that afternoon, Earl Morrill was exhausted. While getting dressed, Eve asked, "When will we meet again, honey?" "I'll call you," Yulier replied. He didn't want to see this woman again, there was something terrible about her--it was almost evil.She was what Americans call the source of evil, and he didn't want to entangle with her any longer. If no one saw them walking out of the hotel together, that would be the end of the matter.Alicia van der Ryk worked with Kate Blackwell in a charity last year, and Mrs. van der Ryk is a climber, and there is a heaven-sent ladder in front of her.She had seen photographs of the Earl and Lady Morrill in the papers, and of the twin sisters of the Blackwell family.She didn't know which of the twins it was, but it didn't matter, she knew what to do now.She dug out her personal phone book and found Kate Blackwell's number. The butler answered the phone. "Hello," said the butler in French. "I want to speak to Mrs. Blackwell, please look for it." "Can I tell her who's calling?" "Mrs. Van der Leyck, this is a private matter." A few minutes later, Kate Blackwell answered the phone, "Which one?" "I'm Alicia van der Leyck, Mrs Blackwell, I don't think you remember me, we worked together on a charity committee last year and—" "If it's about donations, please contact me—" "No, no," said Mrs. Van der Leyck anxiously, "it's a private matter, about your granddaughter." Kate Blackwell would invite her to tea and talk about it in a woman-to-woman way, and that would be the beginning of a close friendship. But Kate Blackwell asked immediately, "What's the matter with her?" Mrs. Van Derek hadn't intended to talk about it on the phone, but Kate Blackwell's unfriendly tone forced her to. "Well, I think it's my duty to tell you that I saw her sneaking out of an inn with Count Alfred a few minutes ago. It was obviously a tryst." Kate's voice was very flat, "I think it's hard to believe, which one?" Mrs. Van Derek smiled resignedly and said: "I—I don't know, I can't tell them apart, but no one can, can they? It's—" "Thank you for calling." Kate hung up the phone. She stood there, thinking about what she had just heard.They just had dinner together last night.Kate had known Earl Alfred for fifteen years, and it was unbelievable that what she had just heard was so far removed from what the Earl was usually like.However, men are also fickle. If Alexandra seduces Alfred... Kate picked up the phone and said to the operator, "Pick me up to La Fernwood Women's Institute in Lausanne, Switzerland." ※※※ When Eve came home after that day, she was thrilled with contentment, not because she had enjoyed intercourse with Earl Morrill, but because she had won over him.If I could get hold of him so easily, Eve thought, then I could beat anyone, I could win the whole world.She went into the study and saw Kate there. "Hello Grandma, how are you doing today?" Kate stood in the room and looked at her lovely granddaughter. "Not so good, how are you doing?" "Oh, I looked around the store and didn't see anything I really wanted, and you bought me everything, and you always—" "Close the door, Eve." Kate's voice made Eve feel a danger signal.She closed the oak door. "sit down." "What's the matter, Grandma?" "That's what you need to tell me. I was going to have Alfred Morrill here, but I decided not to disgrace us all." Eve's mind started to spin, this is impossible!No one would find her and Morrill, with whom she had parted only an hour ago. "I—I don't understand what you're talking about." "Let me be blunt, you slept with the Earl of Morrill this afternoon." Tears welled up in Eve's eyes, "I—I hoped you wouldn't find out what he did to me, because he's your friend." She tried to keep her voice from shaking, "It's terrible, what he did to me I called to invite me to lunch and got me drunk—" "Shut up!" Kate yelled like a whip, her eyes filled with disgust, "You're so nasty." This is the most painful moment in Kate's life, and she is now really getting to know her granddaughter.The headmistress' voice was still ringing in her ears, "Mrs. Blackwell, young girls are young girls after all, and if they're careful, it's none of my business. But Eve has no choice but no scruples." It's going to ruin the name of the school..." And Eve actually framed Alexandra. Kate began to recall the past.Alexandra was almost burned to death, and Alexandra fell off the cliff; when Eve was driving a boat, Alexandra was swept into the water and almost drowned; What happened to the teacher's "rape": Mr. Parkinson said he wanted to talk to me about my English homework.He asked me to come to his house one Sunday afternoon.When I entered the house, he was alone in the room.He said he had something to show me in the bedroom and I followed him upstairs and he put me on the bed and he... Kate remembered that in Briar Ridge, Eve was accused of selling marijuana, but the crime was laid on Alexandra.Instead of blaming Alexandra, Eve defends her.This is Eve's forte - the villain becomes the hero.Oh, she is so clever. Now, Kate looked at the beautiful devil with the face of an angel standing in front of her.I have planned my future for you and pinned all my hopes on you.It is you who will one day take over and master everything in Kruger-Brent Ltd.How much I love you and hurt you.Kate said: "I want you to leave this house, I never want to see you again." Eve's face became very pale. "You're a whore. I suppose that's bearable, but you're also a crooked, cunning, lying psychopath. I can't live with someone like that." All this came too fast for Eve.She said desperately, "Grandma, if Alexandra is lying—" "Alexandra doesn't know anything about it. I've just had a long conversation with Mrs. Collins." "That's it?" Eve tried to keep her voice relaxed, "Mrs. Collins hates me because—" A sense of exhaustion suddenly filled Kate's heart, "It's useless, Eve. No more. It's all over. I told my lawyer that you will lose your right to inherit the estate." Eve felt everything around her collapse: "You can't do this, I—how can I live?" "I'll give you a small living allowance. From now on, you can live your life and do what you want," Kate said forcefully, "but if I hear or see a scandal about you Words, if you tarnish the name of the Blackwell family in any way, I will stop giving you any allowances forever. Is that clear?" Eve looked into her grandmother's eyes and felt that this was irreversible.A lot of excuses and pretexts came to my lips, and I had to swallow them again. Kate stood up and said in a trembling voice, "My words may mean nothing to you, but this is—this is the most difficult decision of my life." With that, Kate turned and walked out of the room, her back straightened. ※※※ Kate sat alone in her dark bedroom, wondering why everything had gone so wrong. If David hadn't died and Tony had been able to see his father... If Tony doesn't want to be a painter... If Marian is still alive... If, these two words represent helplessness. The future is like clay that is being molded day by day, while the past is solid rock that will not change.Everyone I've ever loved has failed me, Kate thought, Tony, Marianne, Eve.Sartre said it well: "Hell is other people." She didn't know when the pain would disappear. If Kate was full of pain, Eve was full of anger.All I did was enjoy an hour or two of human pleasure in bed, and Granny thought I had committed a heinous crime.This brainless bitch!No, not just deadheaded, but old.That's right, she's old.Eve plans to find a good lawyer to make the new will a piece of paper that can be laughed off.Both dad and grandma are out of their minds.No one can deprive me of my right to inherit property.The Kruger-Brent estate is mine.Grandma has said more than once that one day all this will be mine.And Alexandra!She's been scheming against me and pouring God knows what gossip into Granny's ears, and Alexandra wants to keep the property all to herself.The scary thing is that she will be able to get it all.The afternoon was bad enough, but it was unbearable that Alexandra would control the entire family business.Never let her succeed.Eve thought, I have to stop her.She buttoned up her suitcase and ran out of the house to find her sister. Alexandra is reading a book in the garden.She looked up as Eve approached. "Alex, I've decided to go back to New York." Alexandra looked at her sister in surprise. "Now? Grandma is planning to sail to the Dalmatian coast next week, and you—" "Who cares about the Dalmatian seaside, I think a lot, now is the time for me to have my own house." She said with a smile, "I'm a big girl now, so I'm going to find the best one." Small suite. If you're good, I can occasionally let you spend the night there." The tone was just right, Eve thought, friendly but not overly enthusiastic.Don't let her feel that you are flattering her. Alexandra looked at her sister with concern, "Does Grandma know?" "I told her this afternoon. Of course she didn't like the idea, but she understood me. I was going to get a job, but she insisted on an allowance." Alexandra asked, "Would you like me to come with you?" Really bad, double-faced vixen!He kicked me out of the house first, and now he pretends that he wants to live with me.OK!It's not that easy to get rid of my little Eve!I'm going to show you that I'm going to have my own suite - I'm going to have the best decorator to furnish my house - and I'm going to be completely free.I'm going to invite men to my house for a sleepover.For the first time in my life I will be completely free.It's exciting. Thinking of this she replied, "It's very kind of you, Alex, but I'd like to live alone for a while." Alexandra looked at her sister with a deep sense of missing something.This is the first time they have separated! "Let's see each other often, okay?" "Of course," Eve replied, "more than you think."

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