Chapter 36
Everyone’s attention was glued to the scandalous photos, while Vincent let out a wild, manic laugh.
Only Blanche, amid the swirl of risqué images, managed to catch glimpses of Eddy’s face between the flashes.
Eddy showed no trace of panic or regret, none of the guilt of a man caught in an affair. His dark eyes were fathomless, a flash of ruthless determination passing through them. In a heartbeat, he lunged, grabbing Vincent’s arm and forcing the knife away from Blanche’s throat. Before Vincent could react, Eddy kicked him several feet across the room, then caught Blanche as she collapsed, steadying her in his arms.
Vincent landed hard among twisted scrap metal. Security guards swarmed him instantly, pinning him to the ground.
Still, Vincent thrashed wildly, his cheeks hollow with rage, shouting like a madman, “Hedwig, look! This is your precious big brother.”
“He’s been hiding his filth longer than anyone else in the Novandria Circle. Everyone knows the kind of disgraceful things he’s done.”
Hedwig stared in shock at the scattered, obscene photos, her gaze darting from Eddy to Blanche and back again.
How could her brother betray his wife? He adored Blanche-he would have given his life for her.
But there was no denying it: the man in those photos was unmistakably her brother.
Blanche felt faint, her head spinning, and slumped weakly into Eddy’s embrace. The knife slipped from Eddy’s palm, blood spilling over his hand in a crimson rush, staining his skin almost instantly.
Blanche’s eyes fell on Eddy’s bleeding hand, and long-buried memories surged to the surface.
He had once risked his life to save her-she’d fallen for him because of
that.
But now, his heroics didn’t move her heart, not even a fraction.
Just twenty-four days left.
Twenty-four days, and she could finally leave him.
“My love, you scared me to death,” Eddy whispered, pressing a kiss to Blanche’s forehead, then soothing her with gentle kisses to her brow and eyes. His relief at having her safe was overwhelming. Ignoring his injured hand, he scooped her up and strode toward the exit. “I’m taking you to the hospital. Now.”
On his way out, Eddy shot the security detail a frosty command. “Call the police. Have him taken in.”
Hedwig snapped out of her daze just in time to see the guards silencing Vincent with a strip of tape and dragging him away.
She slowly crouched down, her hands trembling as she gathered up the scattered photos.
The brother she’d idolized since childhood-a cheater.
And her sister-in-law didn’t seem to care at all.
Loraine’s words echoed in her mind: What matters most for a woman is securing the family’s power, status, wealth-paving the way for her children, preserving the family’s legacy.
Had Blanche been taught the same thing?
Was that why Blanche turned a blind eye to her brother’s infidelity, but felt entitled to judge Hedwig’s own marriage?
She’d always believed Blanche truly cared for her.
With Blanche’s support, she’d dared to go against her own mother and file for divorce from Vincent.
Chapter 36
No, Blanche had always treated her well-she would never knowingly send her down a path to ruin.
Hedwig refused to believe what she’d seen. She sprang to her feet and hurried after the others.
Eddy’s Rolls-Royce had already vanished. The security team was shoving
Vincent into a car.
She rushed forward, tore the tape off Vincent’s mouth, and demanded, “You faked those pictures, didn’t you? Al or something? My brother would never betray Blanche. You’re lying-”
Vincent sneered, his voice dripping with scorn. “Eddy’s got women on both arms, living the high life.”
“Blanche-she’s the queen of the castle, married to the CEO of the Simmons Group.”
‘Their son, Healy, is growing up in a perfect family. He’ll inherit everything one day.”
‘And you? You ruined my company, The Yates Group, all for a woman. You destroyed me, yourself, and Tia’s future.”
At the mention of Tia, Hedwig’s chest ached as if someone had torn it open. “No. This is all your fault. You betrayed me.”
Vincent’s lips twisted bitterly. “No matter what I did, I made sure you had everything. Tia is still the heiress of The Yates Group. You’re the one who destroyed all of it.”
He gripped Hedwig’s hand, his gaze locking onto her desperate
expression. He knew this was his last chance. “I sent that woman away. She lost the baby.”
“We can go back to how things were, can’t we?”
“Hedwig, please-beg your brother to spare The Yates Group. Save me…”
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A heavy blow landed at the base of Vincent’s neck; he crumpled, unconscious.
The guard motioned for the others to drive away, then turned to Hedwig. “Miss Yates, he’s not worth your tears.”
“He dared to lay a hand on Mrs. Simmons. Prison would be the least of his worries.”
“Please think carefully, Miss. Don’t let him come between you and Mr. Simmons.”
A chill crept into Hedwig’s eyes, but her voice was coldly composed. “Of course. I wish he’d drop dead. Not only did he cheat on me, he had the nerve to kidnap my sister-in-law.”
“I just want my brother to make him pay.”
“Take me to the hospital. I want to see Blanche.”
The guard nodded and ushered Hedwig into the car.
Sitting in the back seat, Hedwig crushed the photos in her fist.
She pulled out her phone and made a call. “I want everything you can find on that woman.”
She needed to know the truth-she couldn’t just take Vincent’s word for any of this.
In the hospital room, Blanche had slipped into unconsciousness.
Eddy, oblivious to the pain in his injured hand, sat faithfully by her bedside, his eyes overflowing with love and worry.
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