Chapter 319

Had Marcus and his wife completely lost their senses? Was destroying two prominent families really worth it for a mere acquaintance?

What Edmund said next twisted the knife deeper into Giselle's heart.

His expression darkened as he spoke through gritted teeth. "How many times must I tell you to control that temper of yours? Normally I wouldn't care if you targeted nobodies. But Evelyn? The woman who's practically family to the Caldwells? You've never even exchanged words with her! What possible justification could you have?"

Giselle bit her lower lip until it turned white. "She was getting too close to Julian. He bought her desserts, they laughed together... That level of familiarity is unacceptable!"

Edmund's face flushed crimson with barely contained rage. "Julian? You've been throwing yourself at that man for years and he still treats you like wallpaper. You're a Sterling heiress - have some dignity!"

"I don't care!" Giselle shrieked, her voice cracking. "I love him! Any woman who dares come between us is my enemy!"

Her obsession had clearly crossed into dangerous territory.

"And what solution do you propose for this mess?" Edmund demanded.

"That's your problem to solve!" Giselle spat before storming toward the grand staircase.

"Giselle! Stop this instant!" Edmund bellowed, but his daughter didn't even glance back.

The news of the Caldwell family's retaliation against the Sterlings and Chamberlains spread through elite circles like wildfire. Society now understood that while Evelyn might be Victor Sterling's illegitimate daughter, she was utterly untouchable with the Caldwells' protection.

Moreover, everyone recognized Giselle and Daphne as the clear aggressors in this situation. The loss of lucrative partnerships was entirely their own doing.

Meanwhile, Lila Sinclair sat fuming in her penthouse, having taken an unplanned day off. The morning's revelations had shattered her good mood.

"That little bitch!" She hurled a crystal paperweight across the room. "Why does Olivia Caldwell dote on her so much? What makes Evelyn so damn special?"

Lila had orchestrated that banquet humiliation perfectly - exposing Evelyn's bastard status while framing her as a thief. Yet somehow, Evelyn emerged unscathed while Lila suffered the consequences.

"And now she's practically royalty while I'm the laughingstock."

The memory of Evelyn commanding the room, casually name-dropping the global art director of rema, made Lila's blood boil with envy. Why couldn't she have been the one to capture the Caldwells' attention first? She was every bit as talented - no, more talented - than that Hartley girl.

A dangerous idea began taking shape in Lila's mind. Her lips curled into a predatory smile as her eyes gleamed with malicious intent.

The following morning found Evelyn at the Caldwell estate. By afternoon, she sat in the sun-dappled garden, sharing tea and laughter with Olivia Sinclair.