Chapter 486

The air in the Ashbourne mansion was thick with tension.

Jefferson and Marcus stood frozen, their faces mirroring identical expressions of shock.

"Evangeline, how could you?" Cassian's voice cracked as he stared at his younger sister, his heart twisting in agony.

As the eldest, he should have been the one to shield his siblings from this storm. He had planned to bear the brunt alone, to resolve everything quietly. But Evangeline had charged forward, her words like daggers aimed straight at the Chambers family.

"Impotent? Evangeline, what the hell are you implying?"

Marcus's aristocratic composure shattered. His face darkened with fury as he spat, "And you struck Byron? You actually laid hands on a Chambers? Who do you think you are?"

"Who do I think I am?" Evangeline's lips curled into a cold smirk. "Someone who doesn't tolerate cowards preying on the weak. He deserved worse than a beating. A man like Byron belongs behind bars, rotting with the filth he is."

The Ashbournes tensed. Myra swayed on her feet, her vision blurring.

"Nadia... Nadia!"

Myra clutched her chest, struggling to breathe.

"Myra!"

"Darling!"

Emeric caught her before she collapsed, his own pulse racing. "Stay with me. Don't panic. I'm here."

"I'm terrified, Emeric," Myra sobbed. "What if something happened to our girl?"

"Evangeline! How dare you say such things!"

Jefferson, still in denial, bristled defensively. "Byron is a gentleman! Your father and I have been friends for decades. He would never harm Nadia!"

"A gentleman?" Evangeline scoffed, her sharp gaze sweeping over the Chambers men before landing on Alistair. "Your family breeds nothing but disgrace. The men are predators, the women conniving fools. How disappointing."

Jefferson and Marcus turned ashen.

Alistair's fingers dug into his palms, the sting of her words sharper than any slap.

"Evangeline, Cassian," Emeric's voice was unsteady, "are you saying Byron assaulted Nadia?"

Cassian stepped forward, his jaw tight. "At the dinner, Byron drugged her and took her upstairs. He tried to—"

"What?!"

Emeric's vision swam with rage.

"We stopped him in time," Cassian said quickly. "Nadia is safe, but the trauma... it'll take her a while to recover."

"So Byron attempted to assault her but failed?" Emeric's hands trembled.

Evangeline nodded. "Yes. And thanks to his... condition, he couldn't complete the act."

She considered mentioning Thaddeus's role but held back. Now wasn't the time to drag him into this mess.

"Thank God," Emeric muttered, relief and fury warring within him.

"Impotent? My son is not—!" Jefferson's face purpled with rage.

"Cursing him?" Emeric's bitter laugh was laced with venom. "After what he did to my daughter, death would be mercy. If he weren't your son, Jefferson, I'd have ended him myself!"

The Chambers men recoiled. They had come demanding justice, only to be humiliated.

Alistair's lips bled where he'd bitten them. This disaster wasn't just about Byron—it threatened to sever ties between their families. And worse, it stood between him and Evangeline.

"Why?" Myra's voice broke.

She turned on Jefferson, her eyes burning. "Because Nadia is my daughter? Because she's weak like me, she's fair game?"

"Myra, don't say that!"

Suri rushed to embrace her. "Nadia is our princess, just as precious as Evangeline or Deborah!"

A soft voice cut through the tension. "Mom... don't cry."

They turned. Nadia stood at the top of the stairs, her face tear-streaked, her slender frame wrapped in a blanket.

"Nadia!"

Myra sprinted to her, pulling her into a desperate hug. "I'm so sorry. I failed you."

"I'm okay, Mom," Nadia whispered, soothing her mother despite her own shattered state.

Evangeline watched, her heart aching. If only her sister had even an ounce of her defiance, maybe this could have been avoided.

"Lies! Byron would never do this!" Marcus jabbed a finger at Evangeline and Cassian. "You set him up to sabotage our alliance!"

"Shut your mouth!"

Aaron stormed in, his expression thunderous. "Still playing the fool? Pathetic."

Behind him stood Julian.

"Julian..." Nadia's tears fell silently.

Julian's throat tightened. So close, yet an ocean between them.

"Chairman Ashbourne," Marcus sneered, "gathering your whole family to ambush us? Even if you're powerful, the Chambers aren't pushovers. Making enemies isn't wise."

Evangeline's fists clenched. She'd make him regret those words.

"Marcus, you're naive," Emeric said coldly. "Ask your father what happens to those who cross me."

Marcus paled but held his ground.

"I'm here as an officer." Aaron slapped an arrest warrant on the table. "Byron is being charged with attempted assault. Evidence is ironclad. Prepare for his trial."

Jefferson's face drained of color. This was real.

"Let's go," Jefferson muttered, grabbing Marcus. "We need to save Byron."

As they turned to leave, Emeric's voice rang out. "The engagement is off. And I will see justice served for what was done to my daughter!"

Jefferson shot Alistair a glare. "Alistair! We're leaving!"

Alistair hesitated, but the Ashbournes' icy stares left no room for argument.

His lingering glance at Evangeline made her stomach churn. But relief washed over her—the unwanted union was finally dead.

In the Chambers' Bentley, the atmosphere was glacial.

Marcus handed Jefferson his blood pressure medication. "Byron, that idiot! Of all women, why her?"

Alistair adjusted his glasses, his voice dark. "Already castrated and still hunting? He paid the price for his greed."

"Enough!" Jefferson snapped. "Alistair, you're to cut all ties with Evangeline. No more groveling to the Ashbournes!"

"Why should I suffer for Byron's mistakes?" Alistair's eyes gleamed with stubborn determination. "Marrying Evangeline would benefit us all."

Marcus laughed mockingly. "Delusional. Even if Thaddeus vanished tomorrow, she'd never choose you."

"There's always a way."

"Focus!" Jefferson barked. "Byron's situation is dire. We need to get him out of this!"