Chapter 225

Alexander gazed down at Victoria, the woman he once vowed to protect forever, and a sardonic smirk twisted his lips.

"I never even located the driver."

Silence.

No one expected Alexander to drop this bombshell.

The air in the grand hall turned frigid. Evelyn's eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat.

She stared at Alexander's devastatingly handsome face—now etched with disdain and mockery.

He had played her.

Out of sheer terror, she had confessed to framing Evelyn with Dominic.

Evelyn sat quietly, but her heart was anything but calm.

Just yesterday, Alexander had instructed her to dress like her old self to trap Dominic—but that plan had failed.

She had assumed there was no evidence left to expose Victoria's crimes.

Yet here he was, manipulating Victoria into a confession.

Her pulse thundered.

She couldn’t decipher the storm of emotions inside her.

Sebastian reached over, his fingers gently entwining with hers.

Their eyes met. No words were needed.

"It was you!" Henry Blackwood's cane trembled as he pointed at Victoria, fury darkening his aged features. "You conspired with an outsider to kidnap your own child and pin it on Evelyn? You—you vile creature!"

His hands shook with rage. He raised his cane, ready to strike.

Eleanor rushed forward, blocking him. "Henry, stop! Victoria must have had her reasons!"

Reasons?

Evelyn's heart sank further.

She had once hoped that when the truth came out, she might soften—might yearn for her parents' embrace again.

But Eleanor's blind defense shattered that fragile hope.

Tears streamed down Victoria's face as she clutched Alexander's arm. "Alexander, I never wanted to hurt Ethan! He's my son—my flesh and blood! How could I?"

Her gaze flicked to Evelyn, venom lacing her next words. "It was Evelyn! She forced me!"

Evelyn's lips curled into a humorless smile.

Forced her?

She couldn’t fathom how.

Victoria sobbed dramatically. "Evelyn tormented me relentlessly—even hurt Ethan! I endured it, but she pushed me too far!"

Her voice cracked. "Every time I think of our first child—the one she murdered—my heart shatters all over again! Dominic preyed on my grief. He manipulated me!"

The hall was dead silent except for her wails.

"Victoria, darling, don’t cry." Eleanor embraced her, stroking her hair.

William stepped forward, patting her shoulder. "You all heard her. Evelyn drove her to this. If anyone’s to blame, it’s Evelyn!"

Each word was another dagger in Evelyn’s chest.

Her heart splintered, the shards cutting deeper with every breath.

Margaret Blackwood stood firmly beside Victoria. "Henry, she’s right. Evelyn brought this upon herself. She killed their first child—everything after was karma!"

"You’re all delusional!" Henry roared. "How can you defend her after what she’s done?"

Margaret scoffed. "A saint would snap if pushed too far! Evelyn tortured Victoria for years—this was self-defense!"

She turned to Alexander, her voice icy. "Alexander, Victoria isn’t at fault. Cancel the engagement? Don’t be absurd. All of Willowbrook witnessed your betrothal."

Victoria lifted tearful eyes to him. "Alexander, forgive me. Let’s move forward, please?"

Alexander’s voice was glacial. "I wasn’t joking."