Chapter 483

Evelyn Carter finally breathed the sweet air of freedom after three agonizing days in police custody.

Lawrence Pembroke had ordered Leonard Blackwood to suppress all media coverage, but Nathan Blackwood discovered the truth immediately.

"How did Cassandra walk away unscathed?" Nathan's knuckles turned white against the car window. "I thought we had eyes on Vivian Prescott. Did Lawrence make contact?"

"Mr. Blackwood," his assistant hesitated, "the problem isn't Vivian. It's Julian Whitmore."

The explanation was obvious. Lawrence had undoubtedly uncovered compromising information about Julian and threatened his family's safety.

The ruthless attorney had no moral boundaries when it came to winning cases.

Nathan's jaw clenched violently. "Walter Pembroke's reputation as an impartial judge is being destroyed by his eldest son." His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "With Julian taking the fall, Vivian might be—"

A ringing phone cut through the tension.

"What now?" Nathan snapped.

After a brief conversation, his assistant turned pale. "Bad news, sir. The police just arrested Vivian for defamation and evidence tampering."

The expected outcome still sent Nathan into a rage.

Vivian had brought this upon herself.

Yet the injustice burned in Nathan's chest.

Meanwhile, tears streamed down Cassandra's face during the drive back to Cliffside Manor, overwhelmed by her narrow escape.

Penelope Whitmore rushed to embrace her daughter, their dramatic reunion playing out perfectly for Leonard and Reginald Blackwood.

Years ago, Penelope couldn't act to save her life. Now, performance was second nature to her.

"Mom! Dad!" Cassandra wailed. "You have to make them pay! Evelyn and Isabelle Montgomery destroyed me!"

Never missing an opportunity to slander Evelyn, Cassandra collapsed dramatically before Reginald's wheelchair. "Grandfather, Evelyn is trying to ruin our family. She's manipulative and cruel. If Mr. Pembroke hadn't intervened, you'd never see me again!"

Reginald's expression darkened with conflict.

He refused to believe his beloved "Anna" could be the monster Cassandra described. Yet the police reports confirmed Evelyn had filed charges against Cassandra.

Once again, Reginald found himself trapped between loyalty and truth.

The last time he'd faced such a dilemma was during Blackwood Industries' aggressive expansion twenty years earlier.

In their ruthless market domination, Reginald's sons Leonard and Gary became entangled in a bribery scandal. Due to Reginald's favoritism toward his frail eldest son, Gary took full blame and received a four-year sentence.

The family's shame became unbearable when Gary died of a heart attack in prison after just six months.

The tragedy destroyed Reginald's wife Deborah, who never recovered from the grief.

"Grandfather, I warned you about Evelyn's true nature," Cassandra sobbed against his knee. "Her kindness is just an act. She's probably scheming to steal your company shares!"

Penelope nodded vehemently. "She's right, Reginald."