Chapter 280

"What? You orchestrated this?" Margaret gasped before Leonard could speak.

After a weighted pause, she demanded, "But why?"

Evelyn answered coolly, "Dylan sent me those photos. He kept gloating about how Nathan doted on Serena, how inseparable they were. I ignored it at first, but his taunts made it seem like my silence was weakness. I warned Serena repeatedly to stay away from my husband. She ignored me—once, twice, until her audacity became unbearable. So I decided the world should see her for what she truly is."

Margaret’s disapproval sharpened. "You humiliated Serena, but Nathan got dragged into the scandal too."

Evelyn’s lips thinned briefly.

Before she could retort, Leonard cut in, voice like steel. "And why shouldn’t he be?"

He fixed Margaret with a piercing stare. "Tell me, is Nathan blameless? Wasn’t it him sneaking out at midnight to meet another woman? Wasn’t it him letting Serena cling to him? If he’d hesitated a second longer, wouldn’t her lips have been on his? How can you defend him?"

Margaret floundered, caught off guard. Leonard’s tone brooked no argument. "Evelyn did nothing wrong. The public outrage is justified. A married man has no business being that close to an ex."

Turning to Evelyn, his expression softened. "You have my full support in this."

Gratitude warmed Evelyn’s eyes. "Thank you, Leonard." She rose gracefully. "I’ll let you rest now."

"Get some sleep yourself," he urged.

"I will." With a nod, she left.

The door clicked shut. Margaret rounded on Leonard. "How could you side against our son? She’s practically a stranger!"

Leonard remained unshaken. "Evelyn is family. And tell me—did Nathan behave like a devoted husband?"

Margaret hesitated, then muttered, "Fine, he wasn’t perfect. But Evelyn should’ve considered his reputation!"

A dry laugh escaped Leonard. "Did Nathan consider hers when he crept out to meet Serena?" He patted her hand, gentler now. "Try seeing this through her eyes."

Margaret fell silent, chewing her lip.

Then Leonard added, eyes glinting, "What fascinates me is Nathan covering for Evelyn. Now that’s telling, don’t you think?"

Margaret blinked. "Maybe he doesn’t know she’s behind it?"

Leonard arched a brow. "You really underestimate our son."

Margaret had no answer to that.