Chapter 215

Lillian was prepared to face Harrison's full wrath, as long as Evelyn and Arabella remained undiscovered.

Harrison's voice thundered through the room. "Then why didn't you tell me?! You of all people should have known better! You watched Evelyn grow up! Did it not tear you apart to see her suffer in that wretched place?!" His fury was directed at his second wife.

"It's all my fault, Harrison."

Lillian rose slowly, her usual aristocratic poise replaced by quiet humility. "Please don't blame Evelyn. If you must direct your anger at someone, let it be me. I failed in my duty to protect her."

Evelyn's chest tightened. Just as she opened her mouth to defend Lillian, Sophia—always the most impulsive—sprang up from the sofa. "Harrison, don't take this out on Lillian! I'm just as guilty. I knew about Evelyn's marriage too!"

Harrison's eyes nearly bulged from their sockets.

"What?!"

Camille raised a timid hand. "I... I also knew for a long time."

"Camille!" Harrison clutched his chest dramatically. "Even you betrayed me?! When did my obedient wife start keeping secrets from me?"

Evelyn's eyes stung with unshed tears.

Harrison couldn’t possibly unleash his temper on everyone now.

"Father, please calm down," Dominic interjected smoothly, stepping forward as the mediator. He handed his father an ornate teacup, his expression the picture of appeasement.

"Get lost!"

Harrison, usually the epitome of refinement, was so incensed that he swore outright.

"Wait—don’t tell me you two knew as well?!"

Sebastian and Dominic exchanged glances before clearing their throats.

Harrison thought bitterly, Look at this family of performers! Every single one of them is a masterful actor, and I was the only fool left in the dark!

A man who had spent his life outmaneuvering rivals in business had been thoroughly outplayed by his own family.

With a final enraged shout, he stormed upstairs without another word.

"Harrison, aren’t you joining us for dinner?" Camille called after him, but received no reply.

"Camille, perhaps you should go up and comfort him? He’s always softened by you," Lillian suggested wearily.

"I... I don’t dare. I’ll just set aside his favorite dishes and bring them to him later." Camille, ever the timid soul, shrank back.

"Harrison usually retreats to his collection room when he’s upset. Oh no—what if he—" Sophia paled mid-sentence.

A bloodcurdling scream echoed from upstairs.

"Call the police! My antique rosewood chair worth 100 million dor is gone!"

The Kingsleys finished dinner in record time.

Had Sebastian and Dominic not physically restrained Harrison, he would have driven to Crestview that very night to reclaim the chair Evelyn and Sebastian had gifted to Reginald.

Harrison grew more eccentric with age. Collectors of rare antiques were notoriously shameless in their pursuits, and Harrison had become particularly volatile in recent years.

An elderly Harrison was a force to be reckoned with—wealthy men no longer had women fawning over them, so he channeled his passions elsewhere.

That evening, Evelyn and Arabella stayed up late chatting. They indulged in a joint skincare routine, massaging each other’s hands with luxurious creams.

"By the way, did you like the birthday gift I made for you?" Arabella asked, propping her chin on her hands as she lounged on the bed.

"I adored it so much that I had it framed and hung in my Crestview villa’s study. The day I put it up, Theodore thought I’d commissioned a 3D-printed portrait—it was that lifelike! And you know how sparing he is with compliments. He couldn’t stop praising your talent."

Evelyn gazed at her sister fondly, stroking Arabella’s delicate fingers. "Arabella, your artistry deserves royal recognition. Should we insure your hands? You’re the pride of the Kingsley family!"