Chapter 397

Nathan picked up the porcelain teacup, taking a deliberate sip before letting out a dark chuckle. "You truly don't know?"

He set the cup down with a sharp clink. "Simple. Because both Shane and this man are corpses now—conveniently unable to testify against you, isn't that right?"

Rosalind's fingers twitched violently.

Nathan turned to Harrison with a curt nod. "Bring him in."

"That man? Who—"

Rosalind's breath hitched, her face draining of color like parchment.

After a tense silence, Harrison returned with Instructor Lancaster, his frame still weakened from injury.

The moment Rosalind saw him, her composure shattered.

'He survived! Shane failed!'

Nathan's gaze pinned Lancaster. "Speak."

The instructor hesitated briefly, but the news of his brother's death burned through his loyalty. "Mr. Goldmann... Elder Master Goldmann... Ms. Summers orchestrated everything. After Winifred's death, she blackmailed me using my brother's life." His voice turned venomous. "That's how I learned she ordered Shane to release the viper targeting Ms. Vanderbilt."

"Lies!" Rosalind's shrill protest cut through the room. Lancaster ignored her. "You know the truth. Did my brother die for any reason other than your need to silence him? Shane confessed everything during his assassination attempt—you eliminate anyone who knows your crimes."

A bitter laugh escaped him. "I'd be dead too if Mr. Boucher hadn't intervened."

Theodore's expression hardened into glacial disappointment as he stared at his granddaughter.

Rosalind shook her head wildly. "This is Shane's doing! I'm innocent!"

Lancaster produced a recorder with trembling hands. "My brother sent this before his death. A failsafe—in case you turned on me."

The playback began—a damning exchange between Shane and Rosalind:

[Shane: Ms. Summers, please, keep my brother out of this.]

[Rosalind: If you value his pulse, you'll make him cooperate. Or shall I arrange his funeral now?]

[Rosalind: After all these years, you still underestimate me. Useless pawns get discarded. Push me again, and I'll have his throat slit before dawn.]

[Shane: ...What do you require?]

[Rosalind: Since that Vanderbilt whore survived the viper, we'll frame her for Winifred's murder instead.]

Silence swallowed the room when the recording ended.

Rosalind swayed, her manicured nails digging into her palms.

'That traitor recorded us!'

Seeing Theodore's stormy expression, she lunged forward. "Grandfather, let me expl—"

The slap echoed like a gunshot.

Rosalind staggered, her cheek flaming. Theodore's voice trembled with fury. "You've disgraced our name."

"Grandfather, please!" She collapsed to her knees, clutching his trousers. "I was blinded by love! Nathan belongs with me—I only wanted to scare Evelyn away!"

Tears streaked her makeup as she groveled. "I'll atone! Just don't cast me out!"

Theodore wrenched his leg free, turning to Nathan with weary resolve. "Handle this... as you see fit."