Chapter 363

Alexander's piercing gaze locked onto Evelyn as she stood unharmed before him.

Relief flooded his striking features, though he remained silent.

"Vivian Prescott!" Eleanor Kingsley's shrill voice cut through the tension. She jabbed a manicured finger at Evelyn. "After all the wicked things you've done, you dare show your face here? What fresh scheme are you plotting against my daughter now?"

Evelyn's crystalline eyes gleamed with quiet amusement. "Do you truly wish me dead, Mrs. Kingsley?" Her lips curved into a chilling smile. "I fear you'd lose sleep if I were gone."

"Don't flatter yourself," Eleanor sneered. "A woman like you would rot forgotten. Why should I care?" Her glare turned venomous. "Stop this madness, Vivian. Evil always consumes itself."

"Save that wisdom for your precious Victoria," Evelyn countered, shoving her captive forward. The man stumbled and collapsed at Victoria Lancaster's feet with a pained groan.

As he scrambled to escape, Alexander's polished shoe shot out, effortlessly blocking his path.

"Alexander, don't let him run," Evelyn instructed coolly.

The man whimpered, clutching his injured leg. "Please! I won't run! Just let me go!"

Evelyn loomed over him, gesturing toward Ethan. "Tell them what you did to this child earlier."

The scrawny man's eyes darted between Ethan and the surrounding faces. When they met Alexander's glacial stare, he shuddered violently.

"I—I kidnapped the boy," he stammered.

"Why?" Evelyn pressed.

"S-Someone paid me... to kill him."

Eleanor's face contorted in outrage. "Who dared order such a thing? Speak!"

Victoria's nails dug into her palms as she glared daggers at the trembling man.

The kidnapper hesitated, his gaze flickering toward Victoria.

A dangerous glint flashed in Victoria's eyes. "You monster!" She lunged forward, raining blows on him while hissing under her breath.

Evelyn observed the theatrics with detached interest. "Enough, Victoria. We all know you hired him. Ethan never went missing—you orchestrated this."

"Lies!" Victoria whirled around, eyes blazing with false indignation. "The truth will out! Go on—tell them who really hired you!"

The man swallowed hard before suddenly pointing at Evelyn. "It was her! She paid me to frame this woman!" He flung a thick envelope at Evelyn's feet. "Take your blood money back!"

Evelyn arched a brow at the unexpected twist but remained composed.

"Vivian Prescott!" Eleanor's voice trembled with fury. "You vile creature! I'm calling the police—you'll rot in prison for this!"

"Alexander," Victoria purred, sidling closer. "Even her hired thug couldn't stomach her cruelty. Surely you see the truth now?"

Alexander's icy chuckle sent chills down her spine. "Do I?"

Victoria faltered. "You still doubt me?"

"With good reason," Evelyn murmured.

"You're still denying it?" Eleanor shrieked.

Evelyn ignored her, focusing on the quivering man. "You claim I gave you this money?" She nudged the envelope with her toe. "And ordered you to kill Ethan?"

"Yes!" the man declared dramatically. "But the boy was too innocent! I couldn't do it! And now you want me to betray an innocent woman? Never!"

"How noble," Victoria mocked. "Yet you took the money to begin with."

Evelyn's lips curled into a knowing smile as she reached into her coat pocket. "Let's settle this properly."