Chapter 305

Cassandra scoffed, her voice dripping with disdain. "Better this than letting that gold-digging witch and her parasitic family bleed us dry."

Victoria Sterling and Nathan Blackwood never had an official engagement party—just a cold, calculated announcement. Severing ties wouldn't be difficult.

"Shut your mouth and eat!" Penelope Whitmore snapped, shooting her daughter a venomous glare. Cassandra's lack of tact was infuriating.

Leonard Blackwood's expression darkened further.

Another miscalculation by Penelope. Another disaster for the Blackwood name.

At least Victoria's sordid past had been exposed in time. If not, her illegitimate child and scandal would have turned Nathan and the Blackwoods into a laughingstock.

"Madam!"

The butler rushed in, his face strained. "Ms. Sterling is at the gates. She insists on speaking with you."

Penelope's blood ran cold. Every nerve in her body screamed danger.

"Let her in. She is your niece, after all." Leonard's voice was ice, his gaze fixed on his untouched wine.

Penelope knew Victoria wouldn't leave without a confrontation. Jaw clenched, she strode toward the foyer.

"Aunt Penelope!"

Victoria lunged forward, nails digging into Penelope's arm. "You have to help my mother! She's your sister—your own flesh and blood!"

"Help her?" Penelope hissed, barely restraining her fury. "Your mother is a fool. Only an idiot would hire a hitman to kill a child when she could have just paid to make the problem disappear. Did she think murder was easy?"

"But what choice did we have? Evelyn already knew about my past in Silvercrest! She was going to ruin me! With her resources, she'd have found the girl eventually!"

"Pathetic." Penelope's lips curled. "Evelyn played you. She barely lifted a finger, and you handed her victory. Now your reputation is in tatters, your child is exposed, and you dare ask me to clean up your mess?"

Years of careful planning—destroyed in one move. The rage simmered, but Penelope wouldn't repeat her sister's mistakes. She needed to cut ties. Now.

"Aunt Penelope, you can't abandon us!" Victoria's voice cracked. "The creditors are hunting me! My father's in a coma—I can't even afford his hospital bills!"

She trembled, recalling the threats. "Just lend me enough to settle the debts. I'll pay you back once the company recovers!"

Penelope laughed, cold and sharp. "Recover? Your brother's in prison. Your father's a vegetable. The Sterling empire is dust. Even if I sold you piece by piece, it wouldn't cover what you owe." She leaned in, venomous. "Run. Take whatever's left and disappear in Silvercrest. Isn't that where all your loyal friends are?"

She tried to shake Victoria off, but the younger woman's grip tightened.

Victoria's tear-filled eyes hardened. "After everything I've done for you? All the schemes, the lies—the way you used me to manipulate Nathan, to torment him until his mother killed herself?" Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Help me, or I swear, I'll tell Leonard everything."

Penelope froze.

Victoria smiled, slow and vicious. "I have nothing left to lose."