Chapter 14

The polished silver cane gleamed under the chandelier's light as the butler approached. "Mr. Sterling," he announced, presenting it with a deferential bow.

Evelyn's breath hitched. The cane—solid, unyielding metal—was an instrument of torment she knew too well. Memories of searing pain flashed through her mind, and she took an involuntary step back.

Victor Sterling advanced, his grip tightening around the cane as he raised it high, his face twisted in fury. The air thickened with tension.

Then—

A hand shot out, intercepting Victor's wrist mid-swing.

Shock flickered across his face. He hadn’t expected Evelyn to fight back.

Before he could react, she wrenched the cane from his grasp.

The sound of metal striking marble cracked through the room like thunder as Evelyn slammed it against the floor, snapping it clean in two.

Silence.

Her chest heaved, but her expression remained unreadable. Inside, though, a storm raged—years of fear, finally shattered.

Victor gaped at the broken pieces, then at her, disbelief and fury warring in his gaze. "You—you dare defy your own family?" His hand twitched, ready to strike.

"Enough!"

A commanding voice cut through the tension.

Two figures descended the grand staircase.

Leading was Diana Prescott, Victor's wife, elegant in a sapphire gown that accentuated her timeless beauty. Despite her age, she carried herself with the grace of a woman who had never known defeat.

Behind her, Lila Sinclair glided down in a white dress, her delicate features the picture of innocence—the cherished daughter, the golden child.

"Victor," Diana chided softly, though her tone brooked no argument. "Must you always resort to violence?"

He bristled. "You don’t understand. This ungrateful girl—she stole—"

"Enough," Diana repeated, her voice cool. "The past is done. We don’t even know the full truth of what happened. And Evelyn is now Mrs. Black."

Her gaze flickered to Lila, who offered a small, forgiving smile. "Even if she did push Lila all those years ago, Lila has moved on. Why dredge up old wounds?"

Victor opened his mouth—then closed it, speechless.