Chapter 190

"So what if I bully her? Just breathing the same air makes me sick! I've lost my appetite!"

Victoria Sinclair rose abruptly, her chair scraping against the marble floor. As she swept past Grace Monroe, she halted, her glacial stare piercing through the trembling woman. "Pathetic whore."

The words dripped with venom before she stormed out, the dining room door slamming behind her. Gregory and Celeste scrambled after her without a backward glance.

Silence swallowed the room. Only Victor Sterling, Grace, and a petrified maid remained. The maid kept her gaze fixed on the floor, as if wishing to vanish.

Grace's composure shattered. Tears spilled freely down her cheeks, her fingers clutching the edge of the table for support.

Victor hesitated, then pulled her into his arms. "Grace, I'm sorry. This shouldn't have happened. Victoria had no right—"

Grace wrenched away, her voice raw. "She's right. I am despicable. I destroyed your family. This is all my fault."

"Grace—"

She shook her head violently, covering her face as she fled the room.

"Grace!" Victor called, but she was already gone.

His expression darkened. This time, Victoria had gone too far.

Grand Hills General Hospital

Evelyn Hartley frowned at her buzzing phone. "Beatrice? What's wrong?"

Beatrice Whitmore, a longtime maid of the Sterling household, had been one of Evelyn's few allies during her time there.

"You need to know what happened today," Beatrice said gravely.

Evelyn's grip tightened. "Tell me."

"Your mother came for lunch. Victoria ambushed her."

At the mention of her aunt, Evelyn's blood ran cold. "Details. Now."

Beatrice recounted the scene—Victoria's calculated cruelty, Grace's quiet dignity crumbling under the assault.

"Your mother left in tears," Beatrice murmured. "Victoria was vicious. Deliberately so."

Evelyn's nails bit into her palm. "And Victor?"

"He defended her immediately. Demanded an apology. But you know Victoria—she'd rather die than admit fault."

A beat of silence. Then Evelyn asked quietly, "Victoria wanted her to pressure me, didn't she? Did my mother refuse?"

"Flat out," Beatrice confirmed. "Said she'd never manipulate you, no matter what. That's what set Victoria off."

Evelyn exhaled slowly. The line between loyalty and recklessness had just been crossed.