Chapter 205

Nathan's words were spoken with chilling calmness, his heart already numb to the pain.

But for Victoria, those words struck like a detonated bomb. Her face burned as if she'd been slapped.

Dominic and Penelope stood frozen in shock. Only Cassandra couldn't suppress a dark smirk.

After tonight's events, Cassandra had seen Victoria's true nature. She had been used as a scapegoat, and now she refused to let this viper marry into their family.

The wedding was merely postponed—but if it were up to Cassandra, she'd cancel it entirely and make Victoria pay for her schemes.

"Nathan… you're really abandoning me?"

Victoria's voice trembled. She clutched his arm, tears streaming down her face. "Is it because Evelyn turned out to be Harrison Kingsley's daughter? Are you regretting divorcing her now?"

"Whether she's Evelyn Carter or Evelyn Kingsley changes nothing between us."

Nathan slowly, firmly, pried her fingers away. His striking eyes were ice-cold. "I warned you not to target her again. Yet you framed her, manipulated the situation, and pushed her into danger. I don’t understand this hatred of yours."

"No! Nathan, I just wanted you to see her for what she really is!" Victoria lunged forward in desperation, but he stepped back. She stumbled, nearly falling.

"She’s been lying to you from the start! And now you’re throwing away over a decade of love for a scheming woman like her? Don’t I deserve better?"

"She lied, but she never harmed anyone."

Nathan thought of Evelyn’s radiant smile—once reserved only for him—and regret twisted inside him. His voice was rough. "We need time apart. To think about whether this is what we truly want."

Victoria watched him walk away, her throat tightening as if invisible hands were choking her.

How did it come to this?

Her dream wedding had shattered in an instant. She refused to accept it. She would marry Nathan, no matter the cost.

After years of careful planning, she wouldn’t let that bitch Evelyn ruin everything.

"Hmph! My grandson is loyal, but he’s no fool." Reginald’s voice cut through the tension. "Ms. Sterling, I thought you’d at least wait until after the wedding to show your true colors. But you couldn’t even manage that."

His nose reddened with anger. "You brought this on yourself—twisting facts, spreading lies, bullying Evelyn!"

"Sir, the young madam’s name is Evelyn now, not Evelyn," Marcus corrected quietly.

"What does it matter? It’s the same person!" Reginald waved him off.

Victoria’s fingers twisted together, humiliation and fury burning through her.

Cassandra smirked, arms crossed. She was enjoying this.

"Marcus! Let’s go. I need a drink—and food!" Reginald declared.

"But sir, you’ve already had quite a bit tonight—"

"I’m happier now than I was at that damned party. Stop nagging!"

With that, Reginald stormed out, Marcus trailing behind.

The air in the room was thick with tension.

"Leonard! You have to talk sense into Nathan!" Penelope shrieked, shaking her husband’s arm. "Their engagement was announced publicly! Calling it off now would humiliate us all!"

Leonard, usually indulgent with his wife, felt irritation prickle under his skin. His tone turned cold. "You know Nathan. Once he decides something, he doesn’t change his mind."

Penelope’s face twisted. "Victoria waited for him all these years! He can’t just—"

"Enough." Leonard cut her off. "This isn’t about waiting. It’s about trust. And she broke it."

Victoria’s nails dug into her palms.

This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.