Chapter 454
No.1
Mr. Kingsley's jaw dropped while Eleanor gasped audibly. Patriarch Kingsley clutched his chest, trembling.
Tears trickled down Madeline's wrinkled face.
She'd known this painful truth long ago - the very reason she'd turned against the girl she'd raised.
The Kingsley bloodline must continue...
"Lies!" Julian roared. "Evelyn and I have never—"
Mrs. Ashford jumped in. "My son has never even dated!"
William nodded vigorously. "Julian's schedules are meticulously documented!"
No.2
Patriarch Kingsley exhaled in relief before slamming the coffee table. "Call the police! Arrest this slanderer!"
Mrs. Wilson hastily produced a brown envelope. "I have proof!"
Photos and documents scattered across the floor.
Patriarch Kingsley grabbed several sheets before flinging them aside. "Fakes!"
Eleanor nearly fainted upon seeing the images - sixteen-year-old Evelyn intimately posing with Julian abroad, hotel receipts bearing Julian's name.
"Where..." Eleanor whispered shakily, "did these come from?"
Mrs. Wilson cowered. "F-from Lord Alex's study..."
No.3
All eyes swiveled to Alexander.
His glacial voice cut through the air. "You're lying."
But Mrs. Wilson suddenly became animated. "There's another set in Lord Alex's safe! He's known about her betrayal for years - that's why he's neglected her!"
She turned to Evelyn with undisguised contempt. "How dare this shameless harlot enter the Kingsley household?"
"Shut up!" Alexander Kingsley's voice seemed to emerge from the depths of hell.
His bloodshot eyes locked onto Mrs. Wilson, his knuckles turning white from the force of his grip.
Eleanor Kingsley was the first to rush forward and grab his arm. "Alex! Calm down!"
No.4
Alexander violently shook off his mother.
Eleanor stumbled back several steps, nearly falling.
"Have you lost your mind?" Mr. Kingsley steadied his wife and glared at his son.
"Stop him!" Eleanor pushed her husband away and shouted.
Alexander had already charged at Mrs. Wilson, yanking the lace trimming from the sofa.
"Hold him back!"
"Alex—"
No.5
Both Patriarch Kingsley and Madeline Kingsley cried out in alarm.
Mr. Kingsley lunged to pull his son away but was shoved back by Alexander's elbow.
The lace strip was already tightening around Mrs. Wilson's neck...
Julian Ashford and William Yearwood immediately leaped in to intervene.
Mr. Winslow joined the fray but took a punch to the nose from Alexander, tears streaming from the pain.
"Alex!" Madeline sobbed, supporting the patriarch who had just taken his heart medication. "Today is your grandfather's birthday!"
Isabella Winslow covered her mouth, unable to believe what she was witnessing.
No.6
Was Alexander really about to kill someone—for Evelyn Sinclair?
Mrs. Wilson collapsed to the floor, coughing violently, her eyes filled with terror.
The money... Remembering the enormous sum Isabella had promised her, she found her courage again.
"Alexander Kingsley!" Julian seized the moment to grab his collar. "Evelyn and I are completely innocent! If you don't believe me, at least believe her!"
He snatched the photos from the coffee table.
"Seven years ago, we did go abroad, but not for the reasons they claim! If there had been anything between us, you would never have had a chance!"
Alexander's gaze turned deadly.
No.7
"Say that again," he growled, his hand closing around Julian's throat.
Julian broke free and pulled out his phone.
"You want proof?" He flipped to a photo. "This shows the separate room Evelyn booked under her alias! You can verify it yourself!"
The room fell silent.
Julian's forthrightness eased the tension for everyone—except Mrs. Winslow, who muttered snidely, "Who knows if it's just a cover-up..."
"I trust Evelyn," Eleanor cut her off firmly.
"So do I," Patriarch Kingsley declared. "Alex despises deceit. If Evelyn had lied, he would have known long ago."