Chapter 322

A ripple of muffled laughter spread through the gathered press corps.

Each venomous stare directed at Isabella carried its own poison—malice, mockery, disdain, loathing. The collective gaze felt like insects crawling under her skin, gnawing at her soul.

"Mom, don't be afraid. I've got you!"

Natalie wrapped her arms protectively around her mother, shielding her with her own body as she glared defiantly at the hostile crowd. The usually timid girl now stood fierce and unyielding. "No one's going to hurt you. Not on my watch!"

"It's alright... I'm alright," Isabella murmured dazedly, her once-bright eyes clouded with confusion.

Natalie's restraint finally broke. Tears spilled freely, soaking into her mother's hair.

"What did you just say? Repeat that!" Vanessa jabbed an accusatory finger at the male reporter, her face flushed with fury.

"Vanessa, this doesn't concern you. Why get so worked up?" another journalist sneered.

Sophia's brow furrowed. She saw their game clearly—these were planted troublemakers.

"Worked up? Isabella is family! Insulting her is insulting me!" Vanessa's chest heaved with barely contained rage, fingers itching to break the man's ribs.

"Family?" The reporter smirked knowingly. "Such a touching public display. But behind closed doors? We journalists know the truth. What woman wouldn't resent sharing a husband?"

Vanessa lunged, but Sophia clamped a hand over her mouth just in time.

As representatives of the Sinclair family, they couldn't afford impulsive actions that might embarrass Alexander and Sebastian.

"Vanessa, walk away. They're not worth it." Sophia steered her toward their waiting car.

The instigator smirked. "Running away? Just like Isabella fled the entertainment industry after that drug scandal? Some things never change—"

His words cut off as a blur streaked past.

Gasps erupted.

No one saw where Evelyn came from. Like lightning, she materialized before her family.

The reporter gaped at the Sinclair heiress's breathtaking beauty—an almost unnatural perfection that eclipsed every starlet he'd ever photographed.

Other women killed with their looks.

Evelyn was the weapon itself.

"Ten pounds of sewage couldn't make your breath smell worse."

Without waiting for a reply, Evelyn seized the man's collar with her left hand and delivered a stinging slap with her right.

The crisp sound silenced the crowd, including the Sinclairs.

"Evelyn..." Natalie stared in awe, admiration swelling.

"Hell yes, Evelyn!" Vanessa cheered, itching to join in.

Sophia barely restrained her.

"You—you assaulted me!" The reporter clutched his burning cheek in disbelief.

"A slap is just the beginning." Evelyn's voice remained ice-calm. "I'll sue you into oblivion for defaming my family. Being press doesn't give you license to slander. Think past victims' silence made you untouchable? Tonight, I'll show every gutter journalist what happens when you cross the Sinclairs."

Her commanding presence awed the crowd.

Even as the aggressor, her fearless beauty made it impossible to condemn her.

"Defamation?" The reporter scoffed. "That TV station scandal years ago—new reporters might not know, but we remember!"

"Memory isn't evidence." Evelyn's piercing gaze never wavered.

The man's confidence faltered.

"Cat got your tongue?" Evelyn glanced at his press badge. "Expect a lawsuit from Sinclair Holdings' legal team."

He paled visibly.

As Evelyn turned to leave, a sudden commotion erupted.

"Isabella! You whore, die!"

A masked figure burst from the crowd, crowbar raised.

Natalie screamed.

The bodyguards reacted instantly, but the attacker moved with military precision—straight for Isabella's head.

Evelyn spun, shielding her aunt with her own body.

"Evelyn!" Sophia and Vanessa shrieked in unison.

Evelyn braced for impact.

A sickening crack.

A pained grunt.

No pain came.

Instead, a familiar voice gasped in her ear, making her heart stop.

Nathaniel.

It was Nathaniel.

Evelyn turned slowly, eyes burning.

Nathaniel stood between her and danger, his strong frame absorbing the blow. His breathing grew labored.

"Evelyn... you okay?"

"Are you insane? I should be asking you!" Her throat tightened.

Despite his blurring vision, Nathaniel managed a weak smile. "If you're worried... then I'm fine."

Then darkness claimed him.

"Nathaniel!" Evelyn caught his collapsing form, voice raw.

Security subdued the attacker immediately, handing him to authorities.

Through tears, Evelyn lunged at the captive.

Sebastian restrained her. "Don't dirty your hands, Evelyn. Let the law handle this scum."

"I'll kill him! I swear I'll—"

The assailant smirked through the police car window as it drove away.

"Sebastian! Don't let him walk!"

Sebastian nodded grimly before following the officers.

Left trembling in the cold, Evelyn felt arms encircle her.

"Evelyn." Alexander pulled her close. "Nathaniel's at Sinclair Medical. Father's arranging our best specialists. He'll pull through."

"Through that?" Evelyn's voice broke. "That was a steel bar! He's lucky to be breathing!"

Oliver winced at his poor attempt at comfort.

"I know every doctor at that hospital. None are better than me." Evelyn pulled away. "If Nathaniel suffers any complications, that man won't live to see trial."

Watching her retreat, the brothers exchanged glances.

"Did I mess up?" Oliver asked sheepishly.

Alexander sighed. "Nathaniel just took a crowbar for Evelyn. Joking wasn't appropriate."

"I know! I just—" Oliver groaned. "Alexander, help me out here. Evelyn's scary when she's mad."

"She won't stay angry. But watch your words about Nathaniel from now on."

Meanwhile, on the Windsor Estates' second-floor balcony...

Adrian observed the chaos below through narrowed eyes, his secretary approaching cautiously.

"Mr. Vanderbilt... Ms. Evelyn was nearly attacked protecting Isabella. Nathaniel intercepted the blow—with his head."

Adrian's jaw tightened.

"Must have military training to survive that," the secretary mused before catching Adrian's murderous glare.

"Did he die?" Adrian's voice dripped ice.

"Critical condition."

"And Evelyn?"

"Gone with him to the hospital."

"Perfect." Adrian's sudden laugh chilled the air. "Play the hero all you want, Nathaniel. Soon, I'll erase every trace of you from Evelyn's heart."

At Sinclair Medical's ER, Nathaniel was rushed into surgery.

Alexander personally assisted Reginald Vanderbilt, Nathaniel's grandfather, as the elderly man nearly collapsed from distress.

"Reginald, our hospital has the finest specialists. I've summoned our top team. Nathaniel will recover!" William Sinclair assured, though worry lined his own face.

"How... how did this happen?" Reginald slumped into a chair, tears brimming. "My boy... hold on."

"Grandfather."

All turned.

Evelyn approached, dust-covered and pale, before kneeling before Reginald.

"My dear..." Reginald started at her bloodshot eyes.

"Grandfather, forgive me." Her voice cracked. "Nathaniel's condition... it's my fault."