Chapter 199

All eyes in the room locked onto Cassandra Blackwood with laser focus.

"Cassandra! Did you actually do this?" Reginald Blackwood's voice trembled with disbelief.

Julian Montgomery's piercing gaze burned into the terrified Cassandra, his jaw clenched so tight it could shatter diamonds.

Had Evelyn not accidentally consumed that tainted wine, he would have been the one falling victim to this viper's scheme.

Evelyn Carter lowered her lashes, her expression unreadable. A faint smirk curled her crimson lips as if she'd already unraveled every twisted thread of this conspiracy.

"You! How dare you frame me?" Cassandra shrieked, lunging forward like a rabid animal before Penelope Whitmore intercepted her. "I'm the chairman's daughter! Think carefully about the consequences before dragging my name through the mud!"

Her bravado rang hollow - anyone could see the terror in her darting eyes.

She couldn't expose Victoria Sterling now. That would only prove her own involvement in the poisoning.

Cold sweat drenched Cassandra's back as realization struck - she'd been played like a fiddle by that cunning snake, Victoria.

"Such wickedness!" Penelope spat venomously. "Our household treats staff with kindness, yet you drugged these young masters and tried pinning it on my daughter? You vile creature! Last time, Cassandra merely corrected your behavior, and you sought revenge by dragging her down with you? Never!"

Penelope clutched Leonard Blackwood's arm desperately. "Leo! Call the authorities! Arrest this treacherous wretch for slandering our precious girl!"

Leonard, who would never believe his darling capable of such depravity, barked orders. "Security! Restrain her and notify the police immediately!"

"It wasn't me! It was Ms. Cassandra!" The maid's voice cracked with hysteria. "She promised me a fortune to complete this task! Enough to escape servitude forever! Ms. Cassandra, why won't you confess? You wanted to seduce Mr. Montgomery! Speak up!"

Penelope moved to gag the maid, signaling for her removal.

She knew the servant lacked concrete evidence. Otherwise, it would have surfaced already.

Evelyn had pieced together the puzzle but sensed something amiss.

Having lived with the Blackwoods for three years, she knew Cassandra's limited intellect couldn't orchestrate such a sophisticated scheme.

This reeked of Penelope's handiwork - except Penelope would never drug her own flesh and blood.

Which left only one mastermind: Victoria Sterling.

Evelyn's sharp eyes caught the fleeting smirk playing on Victoria's lips.

White-hot fury surged through her veins, but she schooled her features. Without proof, accusing Victoria would only make her seem paranoid. She wouldn't give that serpent an escape route.

"Chairman Kingsley," Leonard addressed Harrison Kingsley solemnly, "this incident reflects poorly on our household management. Please accept our deepest apologies for this oversight."

Harrison's smile didn't reach his eyes as he maintained stony silence.

Leonard's expression darkened. That old fox is deliberately humiliating me by refusing my apology!

Nathan Blackwood disagreed with this premature conclusion. His icy gaze cut through the tension. "No, this is clearly—"

"Father," Evelyn interjected smoothly, "since Chairman Blackwood has apologized and the culprit has been identified, perhaps we should let this matter rest tonight. No real harm was done, and both our families value our reputations in Crestview. Escalating this would only cause unnecessary scandal. Shall we be the bigger people here?"

Nathan studied her with visible surprise.

Something was off.

The old Evelyn might have swallowed this insult, but Evelyn Carter never backed down from a fight!

He remembered the feral glint in her eyes when Sebastian was poisoned - like a cornered panther ready to tear out throats. This sudden compliance? Impossible.

Was she planning a more devastating counterstrike?

When Julian heard Evelyn call Harrison "father," his shock nearly sent him reeling. He hadn't realized Evelyn had gained such powerful backing. The chasm between them kept widening.

"Leonard," Harrison's voice could freeze hell, "I'm only accepting this apology for my daughter's sake." His reluctance hung thick in the air.

Seeing the danger had passed, Cassandra collapsed into Penelope's embrace. Seizing the opportunity, Penelope whisked her daughter away like thieves in the night.