[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":10},["ShallowReactive",2],{"viewer-data-260322E1C3D0-273":3},{"id":4,"number":5,"name":6,"content":7,"isLocked":8,"price":9,"hasRead":8},273,59,"Chapter 59: The Ceramic Shard in His Thigh","\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">They both ditched their restrictive business suits today, opting for matching cashmere coats.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Evangeline Montgomery stood with him in front of the mirror, studying their reflection before giving an approving nod. \"Perfect. We look like a power couple.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Marcellus Alexander wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, resting his chin on the top of her head as he smiled at the sweet image in the glass. \"Truly a match made in heaven.\" He pressed a lingering kiss to her hair and took her hand. \"Let’s go.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The Alexander family manor was already buzzing with guests. Marcellus’s second and third uncles had arrived with their wives for the annual New Year’s Eve dinner.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Honestly, Dad,\" one uncle sneered, \"it’s New Year's Eve and the eldest son hasn’t even shown his face. It’s disgraceful.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Second brother, it’s a holiday. Don’t bring up such toxic topics and ruin Father’s mood,\" the third uncle chimed in, though his smirk betrayed his intent.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I’m just concerned about him! Who knows how he’s even spending the year all by himself?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Exactly. What kind of grudge could he possibly hold against his own family to refuse a visit on New Year’s?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The two uncles sang in perfect, manipulative harmony, their barbs making the elder’s face darken with rage.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"If you two can’t keep your mouths shut, then get out!\" the patriarch roared, his voice trembling with fury.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Dad, don’t get so worked up. It’s bad for your health,\" the second uncle said, leaning back on the sofa with a wicked grin, calmly sipping his tea.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Second Uncle.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The cold, lethal command cut through the room. The second uncle, Malcolm, dropped his teacup and straightened his posture immediately. He offered an awkward, stammering greeting. \"Ah, Marcellus. You’re back.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Marcellus ignored him entirely, turning his focus toward the head of the table. \"Grandfather, we’re here.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The patriarch’s face softened instantly. \"Marcellus, Evangeline, come sit by me.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Malcolm’s wife, Fiona, feigned warmth as she turned to Evangeline. \"Oh, so this is Marcellus’s wife? She’s certainly a looker.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Evangeline glanced at the man beside her. Seeing that Marcellus had no intention of introducing them, she understood his stance perfectly. She offered a polite, distant nod to Fiona and stayed silent. Fiona’s jaw tightened, her forced smile crumbling as she retreated to her seat.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Beside her, the third aunt, Lorelei, stepped in with a frantic, awkward attempt at damage control. \"Niece-in-law, I’m your third aunt, this is your third uncle, those are your second uncle and aunt, and over there is—\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">After the circle of introductions, Evangeline looked at them with a cool smile. \"Nice to meet you all. I’m Evangeline Montgomery, Marcellus’s wife.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Marcellus pulled her into the seat beside him.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Marcellus,\" the third uncle piped up, \"you’ve been married for ages now. When are you planning on holding the wedding?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Marcellus raised an eyebrow, his tone glacial. \"Do you have so much free time that you’ve started managing my life, Third Uncle?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Look at this boy,\" Lorelei quickly interjected. \"Your uncle is just concerned. Why the sharp tongue?\" She then turned to Evangeline. \"I heard you’re running a small company, Evangeline. Honestly, a woman should avoid being in the limelight so much. Giving birth to an heir is the only thing that truly matters!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Evangeline felt a bubble of laughter rise in her throat, though she was furious. *What a bizarre, toxic family. No wonder Marcellus turned out so cold—if I lived here, I’d be insane, too!*\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The patriarch slammed his hand down. \"Enough! Mind your own business!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Who’s upsetting the patriarch now?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">A woman’s voice rang out from the entrance. The room filled with expressions of disdain as Greta Palmer entered, followed by Benedict Alexander, who offered a brief nod to the patriarch.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Grandfather.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Benedict,\" the patriarch sighed. \"Your features are growing more like your brother’s every day.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Fiona scoffed, \"Looking like him is one thing, but he doesn't have his luck.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Get out if you’re going to keep spewing that bile!\" The patriarch pounded his cane against the floor, the exertion triggering a fit of harsh, rattling coughs. The butler rushed over to steady him.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Grandfather, don’t be angry,\" Marcellus said, his voice dropping an octave. \"Dogs that don't bite are the ones that bark the loudest.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Marcellus, you!\" Fiona gripped Malcolm’s hand, shaking her head to keep him from lashing out.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The Alexander family was a massive, sprawling mess of competing interests. Without Marcellus’s iron-fisted rule, the entire house would have crumbled long ago.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"From now on, the next person to utter a single word will regret it,\" Marcellus warned. The room fell into a terrified, suffocating silence.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">At the dinner table, they kept up a facade of harmony, eating and drinking as if they were a loving family. Greta kept casting subtle, coded glances at a server nearby. The servant, receiving the signal, began pouring drinks for everyone with calculated precision.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Benedict stared at the glass in front of him for a long moment before downing it in one go.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The excruciating dinner finally ended. The patriarch, finished with the petty digs of his relatives, stood up and summoned Marcellus. \"Come to the study. We need to talk.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Evangeline squeezed Marcellus’s hand. \"I’ll wait here. Go on.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">By now, Benedict was struggling. Beads of sweat were erupting on his forehead, and he stumbled toward the adjacent lounge, trying to hide his distress. Evangeline, cornered by relatives asking invasive questions, felt a migraine building. Just then, a servant approached her.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Madam, the young master says he needs to discuss something important with you in the lounge.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Benedict?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Yes, ma'am.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Evangeline frowned, sensing something off. She hesitated at the lounge door for a moment, her instincts screaming, but after a quick tap on her phone, she gripped the handle.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Get out!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The moment she stepped inside, a guttural, strained roar hit her. Benedict was slumped against the wall, his face flushed a violent, alarming crimson, sweat soaking his clothes.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Evangeline wasn't a fool. She realized the situation instantly. She spun around to leave, but the door clicked shut—it had been locked from the outside.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Benedict, are you okay?\" she asked, leaning against the door for safety.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Benedict forced himself to maintain some shred of control. \"Evangeline... get back. I don't want to hurt you.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">His eyes darted around the room, settling on a porcelain vase. With a trembling hand, he snatched it up and smashed it against the floor. Without a flicker of hesitation, he plunged a jagged, broken shard into his own thigh.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"No!\" Evangeline screamed.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Benedict! I’m calling for help, just hang on!\" She fumbled for her phone, but the screen remained dead. She was on the verge of tears. \"Why isn't it working? There’s no signal!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"They must have installed a jammer...\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Don’t be afraid, I’ll get us out!\" Evangeline grabbed a heavy stool and started slamming it against the door lock. Again and again, she struck it until her arms burned and she reached the point of total exhaustion.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Suddenly, the door swung open from the outside.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Evangeline lunged, grabbing the newcomer’s hand. \"Quick! Save him! He’s losing so much blood!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Get a doctor!\" Marcellus roared at the servant behind him, his eyes scanning Evangeline with frantic intensity. \"Are you hurt?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Evangeline collapsed into his chest, her hands shaking. \"I'm fine... I'm fine.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The doctor arrived within seconds, administering a sedative. \"The wound on his leg is manageable, but the effects of the drug... he’ll need constant observation.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Marcellus ordered, \"Get him to the guest room!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Yes, sir!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Once Benedict was carried away, Marcellus turned his lethal gaze toward the silent, trembling crowd. \"Nobody leaves this room.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Greta, who had been trying to slink away, was dragged back by the security team and unceremoniously dumped at Marcellus’s feet. The servant who had lured Evangeline into the room was already on her knees, sobbing uncontrollably.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Young master, it was... it was the Madam! She made me do it!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Greta lunged forward, grabbing the servant’s hair, her voice shrieking like a ghost’s. \"You bitch! After all I’ve done for you, you betray me?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Help me, young master, please!\" the servant wailed, clawing at Marcellus’s trousers.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Marcellus idly spun the ring on his finger, his expression chillingly detached. \"Was it just the two of you, or was there anyone else?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The relatives scurried backward, hands raised in frantic protest. \"We had nothing to do with this!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Greta,\" Marcellus drawled, a mocking, serpentine smile curling his lips. \"You’re using such bottom-of-the-barrel tactics on your own son?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"It’s your fault! You stole everything from him!\" Greta hissed, her eyes wild. \"Evangeline and Benedict were childhood sweethearts. You were the one who forced your way in!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Oh? And you think Benedict is that stupid?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Marcellus leaned down, his laughter ringing out through the hall—sharp, hollow, and terrifying. The crowd shivered, paralyzed by the sound. Just as abruptly as it began, the laughter stopped. His face turned into a mask of ice.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Don't go anywhere,\" he said softly, his voice dripping with malice. \"The grand finale tomorrow—mother against son—is going to be a show you won’t want to miss.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He pulled Evangeline into his arms and, under the horrified gaze of the entire family, walked upstairs.\u003C/p>",false,0,1774272913433]