Chapter 371

Evelyn's piercing gaze made Margaret and Richard recoil in shock.

"Vivian, what nonsense are you spouting now?" Margaret sneered, trying to regain her composure. "Do you honestly believe anyone here is foolish enough to fall for your lies?"

A cold smile curved Evelyn's lips. "If everyone here is so intelligent, then how do you expect them to believe your baseless accusations without proof?"

Margaret froze. Her own words had come back to haunt her.

"Vivian, you—"

"Silence!" Evelyn's command cut through the air like a whip.

Margaret trembled, the ice in Evelyn's stare sending chills down her spine.

"You claim to seek justice for your precious Victoria, but tell me—does that murderous wretch even deserve justice?"

"How dare you—"

"You accuse me of framing Victoria, of orchestrating her assault by those thugs. Where's your evidence? I have mine."

Margaret paled, her guilty conscience making her avert her eyes.

They both knew the truth. Everyone at Henry Blackwood's birthday gala had witnessed it firsthand.

"Shall I play that humiliating footage of you begging on your knees for me not to call the police?"

Margaret's face turned from red to purple with shame.

Evelyn's laugh was sharp. "You and Victoria conspired to have me kidnapped. When she refused to pay them, they turned on her. She reaped what she sowed, and you were her accomplice. How dare you stand here twisting the truth? Should I call the authorities right now to settle this matter properly?"

Margaret's lips twitched. Panic flashed across her features.

"Victoria sits in a detention cell because there's irrefutable evidence of her attempted murder," Evelyn continued calmly. "The law will punish a woman who could harm her own child."

Evelyn's knowing smirk pushed Margaret to the brink of hysteria.

"You're not here for justice. You're here to cement Victoria's crimes. No wonder she turned out this way—with a mother like you."

"Lies!" Margaret sputtered, finger shaking as she pointed at Evelyn. "Don't listen to this scheming harlot! My Victoria was framed!"

"Alexander has publicly stated he and Victoria were never involved. Our relationship is perfectly legitimate—none of your concern," Evelyn countered smoothly.

"Whereas your precious daughter inserted herself between Evelyn Sinclair and Alexander's marriage. Who's the real homewrecker here?"

Margaret gaped like a fish out of water.

Regret flooded her. Victoria had warned her about crossing Vivian, but she'd insisted. Now she'd walked straight into a trap.

"What a vile old crone! Does she think we're blind to the truth?"

"Victoria's always been fake—her social media is pure performance. Thank goodness my idol Alexander never married her!"

"I lost all respect when she broke up Evelyn's marriage. How does someone like her have fans?"

"And to think she's the Montgomerys' daughter! Such upstanding philanthropists, their reputation destroyed by that witch!"

As the crowd's jeers rained down, Margaret realized they were all directed at her, not Vivian.

She'd made a complete fool of herself!

Face burning, Margaret shoved through the crowd and fled.

Richard, ever the spineless coward who only bullied the weak, scurried after his wife.

The air instantly felt cleaner with them gone.