Chapter 198

Victor Sterling's expression turned to stone, his voice icy with determination. "The situation with Grace and Evelyn are entirely different matters. Victoria, you were in the wrong regarding Grace. You owe her an apology."

Victoria Sinclair crossed her arms defiantly, her chin jutting forward. "In your dreams! I will never apologize to that shameless homewrecker!"

"You—!" Victor's temper flared, his voice rising before he caught himself, fists clenched at his sides.

Victoria ignored his fury, standing her ground unshaken. The air between them thickened, heavy with unyielding tension as neither backed down.

After a long silence, a flicker of thought crossed Victoria's face. She turned to Victor, curiosity lacing her tone. "Victor, tell me—what exactly happened to Dylan's family after he crossed Evelyn?"

Victor's eyes widened slightly, caught off guard. For a moment, he seemed stunned, but then realization dawned. His lips pressed into a thin line as he weighed his response.

His tone sharpened, probing. "What are you implying? What exactly do you want to know?"

Victoria exhaled dramatically, rolling her eyes. "How should I know? Evelyn told me to ask you," she snapped impatiently.

Victor tilted his head slightly, nodding as if pieces were falling into place. "So it's about that incident," he murmured. "During one dinner, Dylan..."

He recounted the events in a measured tone, factual and devoid of embellishment, ensuring Victoria understood every detail.

As his words sank in, Victoria's face paled. Her breath hitched, coming in uneven gasps before she whispered, voice trembling, "No... that can't be true! Absolutely impossible!"

Her wide, disbelieving eyes locked onto Victor's as she continued, desperation creeping into her voice. "Victor, you're lying to me! You and your daughter are conspiring just to force me to apologize to Grace!"

Victor's expression remained unshaken. He met her gaze steadily. "If you don't believe me, ask around yourself. This has been the talk of the town—plenty of people know."

Victoria was momentarily speechless. Her throat worked as she swallowed hard, her internal struggle plain. Deep down, she knew Victor wouldn't fabricate something like this just for an apology. But accepting the truth was another matter.

If what Victor said was true, and considering how much the Caldwell family valued Evelyn, it wasn't far-fetched that they would cut ties with her family—or worse, sabotage existing partnerships.

The realization hit Victoria like a physical blow. Her throat went dry, even swallowing an effort under the weight of her thoughts.

Beside her, Celeste stood frozen, shock mirroring her mother's. She was at a loss for words, processing the revelation. Who would have thought Evelyn wielded such power now?

After a brief glance at them, Victor stood, straightening his jacket. His tone was calm but firm. "I've said what I needed to say. What you do next is up to you. But don't wait until Evelyn takes matters into her own hands before realizing your mistakes. By then, it might be too late to apologize or make amends."