Chapter 268

"Vivian Prescott, how dare you scheme against me, you vile creature?" Victoria Lancaster snapped. The fragile, pitiful facade she'd shown in her video confession had completely vanished.

Her eyes burned with fury as she snatched a fruit knife from the bedside table. The blade glinted dangerously as she lunged toward Evelyn's face. Margaret Dawson made no move to stop her daughter, secretly hoping Victoria would teach this troublesome woman a proper lesson.

The approaching knife triggered Evelyn's memories - the two vicious scars Victoria had carved into her face years ago. The horrifying scene flashed through her mind like a recurring nightmare.

Snapping back to reality, Evelyn barely dodged the deadly blade in time.

"Stop running, you wretch!" Victoria's chest heaved with rage as she raised the knife again. "Let me show you, Vivian Prescott. This is exactly how I ruined Evelyn Sinclair's face. Cross me again, and you'll experience that same agony!"

Evelyn scrambled backward, but Margaret suddenly blocked her escape.

Victoria's lips twisted into a predator's grin, her eyes bloodshot with madness. In that moment, she resembled nothing so much as a demon thirsting for blood as she brought the knife down—

"Look out!"

At the critical moment, Evelyn heard a familiar voice shout in alarm.

Alexander Blackwood materialized like a storm, sweeping Evelyn into his protective embrace. With one arm shielding her, his other hand caught Victoria's wrist in an iron grip.

His piercing gaze locked onto Victoria's monstrous expression. "Have you lost your mind?" His voice held a glacial edge she'd never heard before.

Both women froze in shock. Neither had expected Alexander's sudden appearance.

"A-Alexander?" Victoria stammered. As she tried to explain, he shoved her away violently.

She stumbled backward, crashing into a cabinet. Reaching blindly for support, she forgot about the knife still clutched in her hand. The sharp blade sliced across her own cheek, immediately drawing blood.

Yet she barely noticed the wound, too stunned by the sight of Evelyn safely cradled in Alexander's arms.

It couldn't be.

This had to be an illusion!

Alexander despised that face - the face identical to Evelyn Sinclair's!

No matter its beauty, to him it represented the ugliest betrayal imaginable.

Evelyn herself was equally shocked by Alexander's timely intervention. His strong embrace radiated the warmth she'd once craved so desperately, now enveloping her completely.

"It's alright now. You're safe," Alexander murmured against her ear, sensing her trembling.

Evelyn stiffened at his unexpected gentleness. His warm breath brushed her cheek, his comforting words carrying a tenderness she'd never known from him before.

He seemed genuinely... concerned.

"Alexander!" Victoria's pained shriek shattered the moment.

"Alexander, how can you hold that woman? You promised I'd be the only woman you'd ever protect!" Her shrill voice bordered on hysteria, all pretense of elegance gone.

Alexander lifted his head coldly. As he opened his mouth to respond, his expression changed when he saw Victoria's face.

Thinking he'd noticed her injury, Victoria prepared to play victim—until Margaret pointed and screamed, "Victoria! Your face!"

Victoria touched her cheek in confusion. "What about my—" Her fingers came away wet with blood.