Chapter 131

The press conference shattered the carefully crafted elite image Penelope had built for Cassandra over the years.

That evening, Cassandra collapsed in exhaustion. Servants had to carry her into Cliffside Manor.

"Mother! You must help me get revenge!" Cassandra sobbed uncontrollably, her face streaked with tears. "The entire internet is mocking me! I can't show my face in public anymore!"

Penelope's eyes flashed with fury. "And how exactly should I avenge you? Should I attack Nathan? Or force him to resign and hand his CEO position to an incompetent girl like you?"

She jabbed her finger at Cassandra's tear-stained face. "I specifically told you to memorize the statement I prepared! I ordered you to appear without makeup to show sincerity! But you threw my instructions out the window! Now you must face the consequences! What's the point of crying? Even your father won't intervene!"

Cassandra dropped to her knees, clutching Penelope's legs. "I was wrong, Mother! I should have listened! I'll never disobey you again!"

Her tears suddenly stopped as venom filled her voice. "Though Nathan shares some blame, that bitch Evelyn is the real culprit! If she hadn't forced me to apologize, none of this would have happened!"

Penelope's eyes narrowed dangerously. "We'll handle Evelyn soon enough. Your grandfather's birthday approaches. I've already arranged for Evelyn to humiliate herself while you reclaim your dignity."

"What's your plan, Mother?" Cassandra sniffed, her mood lifting at the prospect of revenge.

Penelope smirked coldly. "You'll see when the time comes."

A sudden notification chimed on Cassandra's phone. Her scream pierced the night, startling Penelope.

"Must you shriek like a banshee?" Penelope snapped.

"I'll kill that whore Evelyn!" Cassandra shrieked, her face contorted with rage.

Simultaneously, Penelope's phone rang. Victoria's worried voice came through. "Aunt Penelope, did you see the photo I sent Cassandra?"

"What photo?" Penelope grabbed Cassandra's phone, her eyes widening at the image.

Victoria continued, "I saw Evelyn with Julian Montgomery at Grandview Galleria today. They looked so intimate everyone assumed they were a couple. Julian even gave her an exquisite sapphire necklace - the same one Nathan wanted to buy for me!"

She sighed dramatically. "To me, it's just jewelry. But Cassandra's future is at stake. If Evelyn comes between her and Julian..."

"That scheming little tramp!" Penelope's grip tightened on the phone. "Can't she survive one day without seducing men? How dare she target my future son-in-law!"

Her lips curled into a vicious smile. "If she enjoys stealing men, I'll make sure she gets exactly what she deserves!"

Penelope thought darkly, Let Evelyn enjoy her brief moment of triumph. Reginald's birthday party will be her downfall!

Meanwhile, Nathan spent three days recovering in Kingsley Medical Center.

He kept his hospitalization secret, dismissing it as unnecessary trouble. When Victoria called, he invented excuses to avoid her visiting.

Each night, memories of forcibly kissing Evelyn haunted him.

The phantom sensation of her soft lips tormented him.

I must be losing my mind! Nathan cursed, Alcohol truly is the root of all evil!

He vowed never to kiss Evelyn again.

When she failed to visit by the fourth day, his anger flared.

What a cold-hearted woman!

Oliver entered with discharge papers and a tailored suit. "Mr. Blackwood, the doctor cleared you for release."

"Has Evelyn contacted you?" Nathan demanded coldly.

"No, sir."

Nathan's jaw clenched. "Her people nearly killed me, and she thinks she can ignore this?"

His expression darkened. "Did you retrieve my National Defense Academy graduation album?"

"Yes, sir." Oliver produced a navy-blue album from his briefcase.