Chapter 71

Evelyn's breath caught in her throat.

That bracelet had been a gift from Reginald. Her most treasured piece of jewelry, now shattered by Victoria's cruel hands.

White-hot fury surged through Evelyn's veins. She wanted to snap Victoria's bones just as mercilessly as her bracelet had been destroyed.

"Victoria Sterling!" Evelyn's voice thundered through the bathroom, her eyes burning with rage.

Victoria flinched but quickly regained her composure.

"What does it matter if I broke it, Evelyn? There's no witnesses here. Who do you think Nathan will believe when I tell him you attacked me?"

A sinister smile curled Victoria's lips as she picked up the broken jade fragments from the sink. She extended her wrist dramatically.

Evelyn's blood ran cold as realization struck. She lunged forward - too late.

A sharp cry pierced the air.

Helpless, Evelyn watched as Victoria dragged the jagged edge across her own wrist. The cut wasn't fatal but deep enough to send crimson rivulets cascading onto the marble tiles.

Trembling with fear yet committed to her performance, Victoria bolted from the bathroom, wailing hysterically.

Evelyn stood frozen, cradling the broken pieces in her palms. Her vision blurred with unshed tears.

As Evelyn finally stepped out, the stall door at the far end creaked open unnoticed.

Victoria's dramatic escape through the corridor turned heads as auction guests dispersed. Most recoiled from the bloodied, screaming woman rather than gawk.

"Nathan! Aunt Penelope! Someone help me!" Victoria's voice trembled with calculated hysteria.

This was exactly the spotlight she craved.

Let's see you come between me and Nathan now, Evelyn, Victoria thought viciously. I'll destroy your reputation and show everyone what a jealous monster you really are!

Penelope, Margaret, and Cassandra came running at the commotion, their shrieks adding to the spectacle.

"My precious girl! Who did this to you?" Margaret's horrified reaction was Oscar-worthy.

She knew exactly what her daughter had planned - and played her part flawlessly. Though privately, Margaret marveled at Victoria's uncharacteristic pain tolerance. The girl who used to sob over paper cuts now bore a self-inflicted wound without flinching.

Just like Penelope in her youth, Margaret thought proudly. Her sister-in-law had won Leonard's heart through similar theatrics, displacing Nathan's mother. History would repeat itself tonight.

That Evelyn Carter was becoming too problematic. She needed to be removed permanently.

Victoria intensified her sobs as phones emerged to capture her performance. The perfect victim.

Then Evelyn appeared - a radiant, furious goddess cutting through the chaos.

The crowd held its breath. Evelyn's glacial beauty burned with barely contained fury, promising retribution.

Fate intervened as Nathan and Julian arrived simultaneously.

"Nathan..." Victoria whimpered pathetically, catching sight of her target.

Nathan's expression darkened at the bloody wound. He strode forward urgently.

Margaret seized the moment, giving Victoria a forceful push into Nathan's arms.

"What happened?" Nathan demanded, his voice tight with concern.

"My wrist... it hurts so much... Am I going to die?" Victoria buried her face in his chest, trembling like a wounded dove.

"Don't be ridiculous," Nathan murmured, though his lashes lowered in concern.

Evelyn watched the scene unfold with icy detachment before bursting into bitter laughter.

The stage was set for her grand performance: "Evelyn Carter Exposes the Fraud."

Unnoticed in the crowd, someone discreetly activated their camera.

Julian moved swiftly, dispatching bodyguards to clear the area. "Victoria, Nathan's here now. No one can hurt you anymore," he declared protectively.