Chapter 79

The room fell into shocked silence after the incident.

"Lila!" Victor Sterling sprang to his feet, rushing to her side with deep concern as he cradled her injured hand. "It hurts… it hurts so much! Dad, the pain is unbearable!" Lila sobbed, tears streaking down her flushed cheeks.

Seeing his daughter in agony, Victor's chest tightened with sorrow and fury.

Just then, the Sterling family butler hurried over. "Miss Sinclair, we need to cool the burn immediately with cold water."

"Yes, hurry! Help her now!" Victor barked, snapping into action as he motioned for the butler to assist Lila.

Once Lila had been tended to, Victor whirled around, his sharp gaze locking onto Evelyn Hartley with barely contained rage. His eyes burned with accusation, as if his glare alone could condemn her.

"Evelyn, how could you be so cruel? Lila was only trying to make amends by offering you soup, and you repaid her kindness by scalding her hand!"

The veins in Victor's temples pulsed visibly as his voice rose in fury.

By now, Evelyn had steadied herself. Her tone was icy as she countered, "I didn't burn her. She dropped the bowl herself."

"Enough!" Victor roared. "You're still lying and blaming Lila? I won't tolerate this! You need to be taught a lesson!"

He took a menacing step toward her, his fists clenched.

Just then—

"Victor, stop!" Grace Monroe pleaded desperately, grabbing his arm. "Please, it was an accident! A misunderstanding!"

"Let go of me!" Victor roughly shook her off. "This is your fault—your coddling has turned her into this!"

As he turned away, Grace suddenly collapsed to her knees with a heavy thud.

Her eyes brimmed with desperation as she looked up at him. "Victor, I'm begging you… please!"

Evelyn's jaw tightened, her lips pressing into a thin line. "Mom, get up!"

Grace turned tearful eyes to her daughter. "Evelyn, just apologize to your father. Please, say you're sorry."

Evelyn's expression darkened, her fists clenching at her sides.

Beside her, Nathan Black, who had remained silent until now, frowned deeply. Disdain flickered in his eyes at Grace's plea—she was too quick to demand submission from Evelyn without even hearing the truth.

Taking a sharp breath, Evelyn stepped forward and reached for Grace's arm. "Stand up."

But Grace resisted. "No, not until you—"

"I said stand up!" Evelyn snapped, her voice cutting through the tension as she yanked Grace to her feet.