Chapter 204

Nathan Blackwood had never believed in coincidences.

Yet for Victoria Sterling's sake, he desperately wished this was merely happenstance.

"Mr. Blackwood!"

Oliver Sinclair rushed over breathlessly, handing Nathan his phone. "I've reviewed all surveillance footage of Madam Whitmore, Ms. Cassandra, and Ms. Sterling's movements tonight. You should see this."

"Impressive work, and so quickly!" Julian Montgomery paused mid-stride, turning back to observe.

Nathan's gaze dropped to the screen, his breathing growing shallow as he studied the footage.

"The video clearly shows Ms. Sterling interacting closely with Madam Whitmore and Ms. Cassandra. What's more concerning—" Oliver's voice darkened, "I found no evidence of Ms. Sterling near the room where Mr. Kingsley and Ms. Kingsley were located."

"How fascinating." Julian chuckled darkly. "If she was never there, how could she possibly have witnessed them entering together?"

Nathan's brow furrowed deeply. A buzzing filled his ears as if he'd been slapped.

The Blackwood family had gathered in the grand foyer, with Victoria among them.

Cassandra's face was ghostly pale. She claimed illness, but fear from tonight's events truly shook her.

Fortunately, Leonard believed his daughter unconditionally. With Penelope's support, Cassandra avoided suspicion.

Now Cassandra glared at Evelyn Kingsley's innocent expression, fingers itching to claw that deceptive face.

"Who would have imagined we'd allow such a fraud to marry Nathan?" Penelope wrapped a protective arm around Cassandra's shoulders, seething at how Evelyn had stolen the spotlight.

"Indeed! She concealed her true identity while living with Nathan for three years. It's terrifying when you think about it—doesn't this constitute fraud?" Victoria feigned concern.

"What an impressive performance!" Reginald Blackwood scoffed. "Why don't you two clowns take the stage for my birthday celebration?"

Penelope and Victoria froze mid-breath.

Nathan approached with stormy eyes, having heard every word.

"You keep accusing Ms. Kingsley of fraud. What exactly did she take? Money? Shares? Property?" Reginald's voice cut like steel. "She fulfilled every wifely duty—respectful to elders, kind to Cassandra, devoted to Eleanor. When Nathan divorced her, she left without a penny. Where's the fraud in that?"

Though aged, Reginald's mind remained razor-sharp. "For three years you tormented that girl. Don't think I didn't know what happened behind closed doors just because I didn't live here!"

"Father, we simply voiced concerns about her character," Leonard interjected through gritted teeth.

"Concerns that miraculously vanished when you discovered she's Harrison Kingsley's daughter, no?" Reginald leaned back with disdain. "Too late for regrets now. You rejected a billionaire heiress for this bankrupt family's daughter. Leonard, wouldn't your business in Fairhaven have flourished with Evelyn Kingsley as your daughter-in-law? Doesn't that sting?"

Leonard's jaw clenched, humiliation burning his cheeks.

Even Penelope recognized her husband's regret over choosing Victoria over Evelyn, her frustration mounting.

Evelyn was elite royalty—Harrison's only child from his first marriage. The Sterlings paled in comparison to the Kingsley empire. No wonder Leonard seethed.

Nathan's pale lips parted, but Victoria exploded first. "Grandfather, you've always despised my family! But love isn't measured in wealth! So what if the Kingsleys are rich? Nathan and I share true love—childhood sweethearts who survived his darkest trauma together! Nothing can replace that!"

She rushed to Nathan, clutching his sleeve desperately. "Nathan, tell them!"

Nathan's lowered gaze met hers with unfamiliar coldness.

In that moment, he strained to recall cherished childhood memories with this woman.

His mind came up empty.

Those treasured fragments had dissolved into nothingness.

Finally, the light in his eyes extinguished. His hoarse voice carried utter exhaustion.

"Victoria... let's postpone the wedding."