Chapter 34

Nathan couldn't form a response.

His entire life, he'd blindly taken Vanessa and Eleanor's side, never once truly hearing what Evelyn had to say.

Had that been the final straw that drove her to divorce him?

A wave of remorse crashed over him at the realization.

"Apologize," he commanded Vanessa with a thunderous glare. She lowered her gaze but kept her lips sealed.

Dominic moved protectively beside Evelyn, his expression dark with barely contained fury.

"Do you think a simple sorry can erase three years of humiliation and the slander you spread after the divorce?"

After witnessing how the Sterlings had tormented Evelyn, the mere sight of them turned his stomach.

When his gaze landed on Isabella, he added, "I've already identified who leaked those fabricated stories about my company executive."

Isabella's fingers twisted nervously in her dress under Dominic's icy stare.

It wasn't possible. They couldn't know it was her.

She'd sent those photos anonymously. There was no trail leading back to her.

"That article contained nothing but malicious lies designed to tarnish an executive of Kingsley Industries' reputation."

"The police will be arriving shortly. You'll need to cooperate fully with their investigation, Ms. Delaney," Dominic stated.

Isabella's face drained of color, her heart hammering against her ribs.

She stumbled backward, shaking her head frantically at Nathan's questioning look.

Tears welled up on cue as she pleaded, "You have to believe me, Nathan! I would never do something so vile!"

Nathan pulled Isabella behind him, his voice flat. "Surely there's been some mistake, Mr. Kingsley?"

"What mistake?" Eleanor exploded. "These two are clearly trying to frame my daughter-in-law!"

"She's carrying your child! You're going to scare her into losing the baby! Who'll take responsibility then?"

Evelyn's laugh was sharp as broken glass. "If you're so concerned, you're welcome to join her at the police station."

Vanessa's temper flared at Evelyn's words. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Have you forgotten your own crimes? We haven't even discussed you trashing my boutique yet!"

"H-how did you—" Vanessa's voice cracked with disbelief.

Still smarting from her boutique humiliation, she'd hired thugs to vandalize the place.

After days passed without consequence, she'd assumed she'd gotten away with it.

"I tracked down your hired goons. They've already confessed everything to the police," Evelyn said coolly. It had been almost too easy.

Her gaze swept over them like a blade. "Property destruction, defamation through false rumors... I'm holding you all accountable."

Vanessa's knees threatened to buckle. What now? As the mastermind, she'd be the first one arrested.

Her only hope was clutching Nathan's sleeve, sobbing, "Help me, Nathan! I can't go to jail!"

Isabella chose that moment to collapse dramatically in his arms, still protesting, "I'm innocent, Nathan! I swear!"

Nathan seethed internally. He wanted to shake Vanessa for her stupidity. But she was family.

Taking a steadying breath, he forced calm into his voice. "Ms. Kingsley, I acknowledge Vanessa's wrongdoing. Can't we settle this privately?"