Chapter 265

Margaret Winslow sneered at Liam Blackwood. "You're the guilty one here, trying to silence me. That car identification stunt was your doing. Once I recover, I'll expose your true monstrous nature!"

Liam studied Margaret, her eyes wild with desperation. The last flicker of hope within him extinguished. The truth was, he had known about Margaret and Richard's schemes for some time. Always vigilant, how could he have been drugged? It was Margaret, his own mother, who had slipped him the sedatives.

Being her son, Liam had suspected everyone else—even Sebastian Montgomery—but never her. He thought their disagreements were just familial tensions. Never did he imagine she'd go as far as drugging him, disregarding his well-being entirely.

When he caught Margaret administering the drugs, everything fell into place. Liam realized then that she had long chosen Richard over him, treating Richard as if he were her only child.

Liam exhaled heavily before asking, "Did my father have an illegitimate child years ago? What happened to that boy and his mother?"

Margaret's tirade halted abruptly. Her eyes darkened with something sinister. "What nonsense are you spouting? Your father and I had a perfect marriage. There was never any illegitimate child!"

Liam gave a bitter laugh. "Really? Wasn't that child's name Victor? From what I heard, my father adored him and wanted to raise him properly outside the family. But you found out and flew into a rage. You burned down their home in your fury. Victor's mother died on the spot, and half of his face was disfigured. Later, Victor confronted you, demanding an explanation. After all, my father's will explicitly disinherited him, stating his existence was irrelevant to our lives."

"Yet, you spun a tale that I wanted him and his mother gone, claiming you acted out of indulgence for me. In truth, you made me the scapegoat for your crimes."

"Believing your lies, Victor's hatred for me festered over the years, becoming his driving force. Have you seen him since that day? Not only is he alive, but he's thriving."

"I don't know how he managed it, but he's now a key associate to some depraved noble in Valtierra. His miserable existence is fueled solely by his hatred for me—and for you."

"It's too late to set things straight. His resentment has twisted him beyond reason. If he goes down, he'll drag me with him. The crisis I'm facing now is the direct result of your actions."

Liam's tone was detached, as if recounting someone else's tragedy.

Margaret's eyes widened in shock. "Is Richard involved in this?" she asked nervously. "Will Victor seek revenge against him?"

Liam scoffed. "Absolutely not."

He wasn't being entirely truthful. Victor hadn't targeted Richard only because Richard was merely a pawn in his grander scheme.

Liam saw no reason to intervene. The inevitable clash between these twisted individuals would be catastrophic.

Guilt gnawed at Margaret, but the irreparable rift between her and Liam made explanations pointless. She cleared her throat awkwardly. "If you're done, leave. I don't want to see you. Instead of interrogating me, focus on damage control. I'll reveal the truth eventually," she muttered.