Chapter 271

What?

Alexander's words hit Victoria like a physical blow. Her knees buckled as if the air had been punched from her lungs.

She stumbled backward, grasping at the hospital bed for support.

Every vicious threat she'd hurled at Vivian Prescott moments earlier came rushing back with terrifying clarity. 'Let me tell you something, Vivian Prescott. This is exactly how I ruined Evelyn Sinclair's face all those years ago. Cross me again, and I'll make sure you experience that same agony!'

Victoria's already pale complexion turned ghostly white. Her pulse hammered violently in her throat.

She had indeed said those exact words.

Blinded by rage toward Vivian, she'd let her true nature slip - revealing her darkest secret.

Alexander studied the shifting emotions in Victoria's eyes. His voice dripped with bitter disappointment. "You told me it was your father William who arranged Evelyn's disfigurement. That was a lie. It was you all along."

"N-No! That's not—" Victoria clutched at Alexander's sleeve desperately. Tears welled in her eyes as she shook her head. "I would never hurt Evie! Never!"

"I can't stand the sight of blood! Why would I ever use a knife? It was Evie who harmed Ethan first! My father only hired someone to teach her a lesson in anger! I had nothing to do with it!"

"Alexander, please believe me. Please believe your Lillian..."

The mention of Lillian momentarily stayed Alexander's fury. Memories of their shared past surfaced.

Seeing his anger ebb, Victoria pressed closer, leaning against him with calculated vulnerability. "Alexander, you must believe me. I was provoked! I have no reason to do such horrible things. I only lost control because of Vivian! I was just trying to scare her—I'd never actually hurt her!"

She poured every ounce of false sincerity into her plea, but Alexander coldly pushed her away. His striking eyes had turned glacial.

"You're not the girl I once knew. I don't even recognize you anymore."

His deep voice vibrated with suppressed rage. Without another word, he turned to leave.

A bone-deep chill spread through Victoria. She lunged after him, grabbing his arm. "Alexander! Don't go! You can't leave me like this! Why are you doing this? What have I done wrong? I only act this way because I love you too much! And now you won't even look at me because of that Vivian Prescott!"

"My face is ruined because of you! I'll be scarred forever! Are you going to abandon me now? Don't you understand how important a woman's face is?"

A dark chuckle escaped Alexander at her hysterical words. "So you do understand how important a woman's face is?"

"..."

"Did you ever consider Evelyn's pain? Her terror when you destroyed her face?"

"..."

Victoria froze, gaping at the man interrogating her.

Evie.

He kept calling her Evie, yet hadn't used his pet name "Lillian" for her in years.

That bitch Evelyn still haunted his heart like some unshakable ghost.

That wretched bitch!

As Victoria stood paralyzed, she suddenly realized her hands were empty.

Alexander had pulled away without hesitation. He wouldn't even grant her a backward glance.

Margaret Dawson had been eavesdropping outside. When the door swung open to reveal Alexander's thunderous expression, she immediately lowered her gaze, not daring to speak. She could only watch helplessly as he stormed away before rushing back into the room.

"Lillian," she called anxiously to her daughter.

With a guttural scream, Victoria swept everything off the bedside table in a violent crash.

"Evelyn Sinclair! You're dead but still tormenting me from the grave!"

"First Evelyn, now Vivian Prescott! Bitches! They're all scheming bitches!"

Her eyes burned crimson as she shrieked at the empty air.

Margaret hurriedly closed the door, terrified someone might witness Victoria's unraveling.