Chapter 320

"You ungrateful brat! I'm your father—how dare you speak to me like that?" Nathan roared, his face turning crimson with rage.

If it weren't for the crowd of guests surrounding them, he would’ve slapped the insolence out of his son right then and there. In his generation, discipline was meted out with force—only the weak needed words. And this defiant little devil? He deserved to be stripped bare and whipped raw.

"If you show my mother the respect she deserves, I might pretend you're still my father. But if you keep insulting her, I won’t hold back."

Sebastian laughed, his lips curling into a mocking smile, but his eyes remained cold and hollow.

It was a laugh devoid of warmth, sharp as a blade—so chilling that even Nathan felt a shiver crawl down his spine.

The two men stood on the balcony, the night air thick with tension.

The winter chill was nothing compared to the frost between them.

"What the hell do you want?" Nathan demanded, his voice like ice.

"I didn’t realize my gift to Evelyn would overshadow yours. If you feel humiliated, then I apologize." Sebastian shrugged, feigning indifference. "Ignorance is bliss, isn’t it?"

"This isn’t about the damn gift!"

Nathan took a step forward, his knuckles white. "Why did you bring her here? To provoke me? To shame me in front of everyone?"

Sebastian burst into laughter, tears glistening in his eyes. "Oh, I thought this was serious. Turns out it’s just your fragile ego."

"Sebastian!" Nathan’s fists trembled.

"My mother—the woman you once vowed to love in sickness and health, till death do you part. Now, she’s nothing but an embarrassment to you?" Sebastian’s voice cracked with fury. "You abandoned her in Helgen for fifteen years without a second thought. Now that I can finally give her the life she deserves, all you do is sneer at her. I’ve tolerated your disrespect long enough."

"You insolent—!"

Nathan’s palm struck Sebastian’s cheek with a sharp crack.

A red mark bloomed across Sebastian’s pale skin, but his lips still curled into a smirk. "You’ve gotten weaker, Father. Are they not feeding you well?"

"Shut your mouth!"

Nathan’s finger shook as he pointed at his son. "Take her and leave. Now. Or I’ll have her dragged back to Helgen myself."

"Try it."

Sebastian’s hands clenched, veins bulging at his temples—a far cry from the composed gentleman he’d been moments ago. "Touch my mother tonight, and I’ll kill whoever lays a finger on her."

Nathan’s breath hitched.

The murderous glint in his son’s eyes was unmistakable.

"Every member of the Prescott family is welcome here—including my mother. And let’s not forget, Evelyn herself invited us. If you throw us out, you’re slapping her in the face. And if you offend her, good luck salvaging whatever deal you’re scheming for."

Sebastian turned to leave.

"I never wronged your mother! She betrayed me first!" Nathan exploded, his face red with fury. "If she hadn’t been unfaithful, if she hadn’t lost that child—she could’ve been the respected wife of Prescott Group’s chairman instead of a laughingstock!"

"My mother loved you. She would never have betrayed you."

Sebastian’s voice was raw with grief, his shoulders shaking. "I’ve told you a thousand times—it was Adrian, Harrison, and Margaret who framed her! You never investigated. You never listened. You just threw her away like trash. Marrying you was the worst mistake of her life!"

"I saw it with my own eyes! What more proof did I need?" Nathan snarled.

Every time he remembered that night, he wanted to strangle her.

And this bastard standing before him.

"Fool."

Sebastian scoffed and walked away.

He hadn’t meant to bring it up again—it only reopened his mother’s wounds. But the rage had boiled over.

He no longer expected Nathan to see the truth.

Because soon, the ones who’d orchestrated it would pay.

One by one.

In the dimly lit suite, the air was thick with tension.

Isabella struggled against the arms wrapped around her, her breath coming in short gasps. The heat of his body against hers was suffocating.

"Let go, or I swear I’ll hit you!"

Even her anger sounded breathless, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Isabella, would you really hurt me?" Alexander murmured against her neck, his voice rough with desire.

"You’re not mine. Why wouldn’t I?"

Her reply was cold, but the way her body trembled betrayed her.

Alexander’s grip tightened. "After everything I’ve done for you?"

Her chest burned.

He didn’t know—she had once saved him too.

When she didn’t respond, panic flickered in his eyes. "I’m sorry. I’m nothing but your dog. Your loyal, devoted dog."

Isabella bit her lip, fighting a laugh. Alexander Kingsley, the untouchable heir of Elmsworth, calling himself her dog? The women of this city would riot if they heard.

"Prove it," she challenged. "Bark for me."

It was cruel. But she didn’t care.

"Woof."

She froze.

He did it again, his cheeks flushed with humiliation.

If it made her happy, he’d bark all night.

"Alexander, have you lost your mind?"

"I don’t want to die," he whispered. "Because then I’d never see you again."

He turned her to face him, his dark eyes burning with emotion.

"Alexander—"

Before she could finish, he pulled off his tie and held it out to her.

"Take me home."

She stared at the silk in his hand, stunned.

His gaze dropped to her lips as he leaned in—

Her phone rang.

She shoved him away and answered.

"Daniel? What’s wrong?"

"Miss Isabella, where are you?" His voice was frantic.

"At the hotel. What happened?"

"It’s Evelyn. Something terrible—"

"Tell me!"

Alexander tensed at the name.

"Old scandals about Evelyn just exploded online. Photos, videos—everything. It’s everywhere!"

Her stomach dropped. "How bad is the backlash?"

"Out of control!"

"Does Evelyn know?"

"Of course! And so does every reporter in the city. They’re swarming the hotel!"

Daniel was nearly shouting now. "Chairman Reginald is sending Evelyn and Ms. Eleanor home. He wants you to escort them to Skyrim. He and Mr. Harrison will stay to handle the fallout. If we all leave, it’ll look like we’re running."

"I’ll find them now. Track down who leaked this!"

When she saw the photos, her hands shook with rage.

"Isabella, what’s—?"

"Stay out of it!" she snapped.