---- Chapter 11 Samuel's voice was deep and elegant, but it made Lucas feel as though he had been plunged into the depths of despair. Lucas finally snapped into reality and rushed forward to grab Eve's wrist. "Eve, what are you doing? This isn't funny!" Eve gently took back her hand, and her eyes turned cold. "Mr. Smith, please behave yourself," she said with a smile, but Lucas felt chilled, and the cold pierced Lucas. She had never seen him that way before. Eve remained calm and continued, "We were once in a relationship, but it is my wedding with Samuel. Mr. Smith, please behave yourself and don't cause a scene." Samuel stepped forward, and his towering figure shielded Eve. "Sir, you'd better understand that it is not only the wedding of me and Eve but also a significant day for the alliance between the Vittorine and Costa families." Samuel's tone was calm and authoritative. His words carried an implicit threat. "If you're not here to give us your blessing, please leave." Lucas stared intently at Eve and tried to see any hint that she was kidding in her eyes. ---- But her eyes held only indifference and mockery at that moment, although they had been filled with love for him before. "Why do you marry him? Samuel's reputation is terrible. He is tuthless and violent. You won't be happy after marrying him!" Lucas's voice was hoarse. "Moreover, you know that the Vittorine family and our Costa family are rivals. Who knows how the head of the Vittorine family might treat you after you're married into their family? The two families have been fighting against each other for over twenty years. Such deep- seated animosity can't be resolved with your marriage. Eve, don't let yourself be used as a pawn." Eve chuckled softly, and she gave a mocking smile. "Because Samuel and | are truly in love, and he would never betray me." She added meaningfully, "Unlike some guy who, for the sake of profit, would betray his fiancée. And besides, the Costa family is not yours. I'm telling you now that you've been expelled from the Costa family!" The guests began to whisper among themselves, and Lucas felt that all others looked at him, and their gazes were like daggers piercing him. "Eve..." Lucas was almost pleading. "Perhaps we need to talk, just the two of us." Eve tilted her head and gave a sweet yet ruthless expression. "What do you want to talk about? Do you want to talk about ---- how you and Alina planned to abandon me and get married while | was in jail? Or do you want to talk about how you tacitly allowed those guards and female prisoners to torture me?" Her voice was light, but each word cut him like a knife. Lucas couldn't refute Eve. He couldn't even find words when suddenly his phone rang. He answered it, and his subordinate said cautiously, fearing Lucas's anger would be directed at him, "Lucas, | went to the address you gave me to find the manor, but it's nothing but tuins. I've sent you the photos of it. Take a look." At the same time, Lucas received several photos. He clicked to view them. The familiar landscape was there, but without the manor that once stood there. The place full of love he and Eve had built together was now reduced to ashes. Lucas was trembling with anger. He showed his phone to Eve and asked furiously, "What's wrong with you? Eve, we were so in love. You agreed to marry me when | proposed to you. You even told me that you had prepared a big gift for me. Why has it come to this?" Eve laughed lightly. "I did prepare a big gift for you. | saw how much you liked Alina, so my gift to you is to give you freedom from our relationship." ---- Lucas felt as if he had been struck by lightning. Eve said with a smile, "l burned the manor, and you and | are over."