Chapter 190

"It doesn't matter."

Nathaniel remained silent.

Some truths must remain buried for everyone's safety.

"You only need to understand my relationship with Cassandra isn't what you imagine. There's no need to torment her out of petty jealousy."

Vivian burst into laughter.

She was laughing at his arrogance. His cruelty.

How could any man say something so shameless to his ex-wife?

Cassandra Delacroix was clearly the villain here, yet from the start of this conversation, Nathaniel had been defending her while painting Vivian as the unreasonable one!

"You're hilarious, Nathaniel. You actually think I'm sending Cassandra to prison because I'm still in love with you? Jealous she stole you away?"

"Isn't that obvious?"

Nathaniel's voice turned icy.

Though inexperienced in love, he'd encountered enough women to recognize their motives.

"Wrong. This has nothing to do with you." Vivian smirked. "I'm simply vindictive. Cassandra kept provoking me, so naturally I'll make her pay."

No saint. No martyr. When attacked, Vivian always struck back harder.

Nathaniel's expression darkened. "You weren't like this before."

"Because I was blind. Stupid. An excellent actress."

She no longer cared what he thought of her. "I'm done playing the perfect Blackwood daughter-in-law. Pretending to be gentle. Enduring your mother's cruelty. Suffocating in that prison of a mansion. Waiting like a pathetic puppy for you to come home!"

Those frozen, hollow days held no warmth. A past she'd rather forget.

"Let me be clear - I'm not kind. When my inner monster awakens, I might devour your precious mistress alive. Instead of wasting time here, you should hire better lawyers to shorten her sentence!"

Her words dripped with challenge.

She wanted to see how far Nathaniel would go to protect Cassandra.

His face hardened.

Before him stood an untamed leopard baring its claws. Uncontrollable. Infuriating.

"No room for negotiation?" His voice dropped dangerously.

"None whatsoever."

Vivian tilted her chin up. "I gave you a chance - one public apology on your knees. You refused. Now you'll see my true colors - petty, vicious, and ruthless."

She knew exactly how to handle snakes like Cassandra.

Show mercy now, and the viper would strike deadlier next time. Vivian wasn't that naive.

Nathaniel's shadow merged with hers on the floor. His voice turned lethal. "Then you'd better tell your lawyer to prepare your nanny's defense too. Murder carries heavier penalties than burglary."