Chapter 453

The Ashbourne family was boiling with rage, their fury barely contained. But one among them was seething even more violently.

Thaddeus's muscles coiled like a taut bowstring, his eyes bloodshot, his fists clenched in icy wrath, ready to lunge at Gary and teach him a brutal lesson. Just then, a delicate hand wrapped around his tensed knuckles at the perfect moment.

"Thaddeus, don't."

His breath hitched as he met Evadne's piercing gaze, bright as starlight. It was like plunging into a mountain spring—cool, refreshing, instantly soothing the storm inside him.

Evadne stepped forward, lips curling into a haughty smirk. "Gary, when Thaddeus acts, you can be sure of one thing—he never lets the guilty escape, nor does he wrong the innocent."

A direct jab at the Fairhavens.

"As for the Duke's accusations—that Thaddeus is merely my puppet, smearing your family's name—ha! In this age of surveillance, if I truly wanted to frame someone, wouldn't there be evidence? Would I just randomly pick one of your people as the culprit?" Her voice dripped with mockery. "You claim I hold a grudge against Edith Fairhaven. Then why wasn’t her horse injured? Why wasn’t she the one in danger? Should I have harmed myself to entertain your entire family?"

Her words were razor-sharp. The crowd murmured in agreement, even Mrs. Fairhaven faltered, her conviction wavering.

"You insolent girl!" Barry choked, his face contorted with rage.

Evadne's eyes were glacial, her smirk venomous. "Let me be blunt—if I truly wanted Edith Fairhaven dead, I wouldn’t have waited until today. I may lack virtues, but I’m known for my ruthlessness."

She leaned in, voice dropping to a lethal whisper. "Framing someone? Too boring. If it were me, whatever fate befell my horse, she’d suffer the exact same."

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Ms. Ashbourne was merciless.

"Evadne! How dare you—" Mrs. Fairhaven clutched her chest, gasping for air.

"Mom, don’t upset yourself!" Edith steadied her mother, her face a mask of distress—but her eyes burned with venom as they locked onto Evadne.

"Malicious?" Myra’s usually gentle voice turned icy. "Mrs. Fairhaven, you dare call her malicious?"

She stepped forward, regal and unyielding. "Evadne merely spoke hypothetically, but your daughter acted. Before the race even began, Edith tried to frame Evadne by faking a fall—footage still trending online. Who’s truly malicious here? Don’t pretend you don’t know."

The Fairhaven women paled, speechless.

Emeric watched Myra, stunned. After decades of quiet grace, seeing her stand so fiercely—it was breathtaking.

This was how an Ashbourne should be.

Gary, ever Barry’s snarling attack dog, sneered. "Eloquent as you are, Ms. Ashbourne, it doesn’t change the facts—you’ve slandered our family, tarnished our name, and we won’t let this slide!"

Barry’s lips twisted. "You’ve already won the race. What more do you want? Must you drag us through the mud just to secure your deal with William Morris?"

Evadne remained composed, but William’s conflicted expression betrayed his wavering trust.

Then—every phone in the room buzzed simultaneously.

Thaddeus’s chilling voice cut through the tension. "Ladies and gentlemen, curious about those notifications?"

Confused, everyone checked their screens. Evadne’s breath caught.

The video was damning.

Duke, sneaking into the stables. A switchblade flashing. A deep gash carved into Wind’s flank.

Caught red-handed.

Barry’s vision blurred. "W-What is this?!"

Edith’s phone clattered to the floor.

Gordon shoved the screen in Duke’s face. The man’s jaw dropped. "Impossible... there were no cameras—"

"Of course we had proof." Gordon smirked. "Mr. Abernathy never makes a move unless he’s certain."

Barry and Gary finally understood—Thaddeus had let them rant, let them humiliate themselves, just to crush them harder.

Evadne’s heart swelled. This was the man she loved—calculating, unshakable, brilliant.

Thaddeus gestured, and Gordon ushered in a jockey.

"I’m from L Group," the man explained. "Our boss installed micro-cameras on our horses’ headgear—high-definition, recording everything."

The crowd gaped. Horse dash cams? Evadne nearly laughed. She had to meet this genius.

Duke’s face drained of color. After a lifetime of crime, he’d been undone... by a horse.

"Duke," Evadne said coldly, "you understand the consequences. Attempted murder. Animal cruelty. A long prison sentence."

She leaned closer. "But confess who sent you, and I’ll request leniency."

Duke’s gaze flicked to Edith—only to find her eyes deadly, warning him to stay silent.

He laughed bitterly. "No one sent me. I acted alone. You deserved to die for stealing Miss Fairhaven’s man. Do your worst."

Evadne’s blood ran cold. She knew Edith was behind this.

Thaddeus’s lips curled. "Good. Your confession was just broadcast live to the nation. Your own words will convict you."

The room erupted.

Gary’s secretary shrieked. "Mr. Barry—it’s everywhere! The whole world just saw everything!"

The Fairhavens froze—their empire crumbling in real time.