Chapter 440

Olivia's head was still throbbing from the drug's aftereffects when she realized Oliver had disappeared. Though curious about his sudden absence, she didn't bother asking - he hadn't exactly been kind to her during their forced interaction.

Spotting Oliver standing protectively beside Eleanor, Olivia exhaled in quiet relief. Their body language suggested a long-standing familiarity.

Victor practically tripped over himself in his eagerness to reach Eleanor. "You must be the illustrious Eleanor Blackwood," he fawned, thrusting out his hand. "Even more radiant in person than on those magazine covers. I'm Victor Blackwood, head of the Blackwood family. We've corresponded online."

Eleanor paused, her piercing gaze sweeping over Victor with detached amusement. A polite but frosty smile touched her lips as she deliberately ignored his outstretched hand. "Mr. Blackwood," she acknowledged coolly.

Without another word, Eleanor brushed past the stunned man, leaving him standing there with his hand hanging awkwardly in the air, his face flushing with humiliation.

Victor's smile flickered momentarily before he recovered, his voice booming across the room. "Miss Blackwood, you should know there's an impostor here claiming to be your brother and his companion. Not only are they deceiving everyone, but they're also attempting to evade murder charges! I'd hate for your family's reputation to suffer when this scandal breaks."

Eleanor moved to stand beside Liam, giving him an unreadable look that sent murmurs rippling through the crowd.

Gasps and whispers erupted like wildfire.

"Could he really be a fraud?"

"I heard that's actually Liam - the one who murdered his own mother years ago!"

"Someone like that belongs behind bars. Why haven't the authorities arrested him yet?"

"Perfect match for Olivia - two cold-blooded killers."

Victor basked in the accusations, his chin lifted triumphantly as he glared at Liam.

"Liam," he sneered, "if you get on your knees and beg for mercy now, I might consider letting this go. I kept quiet before hoping you'd reform, not parade around impersonating someone and scamming people."

Liam met Victor's gaze with icy defiance. "First, I'm not the Liam you're accusing. Second, you think you have the right to demand I kneel? You overestimate your authority."

Victor gaped, momentarily speechless.

Eleanor took a deep breath before casually linking arms with Liam, her voice laced with concern. "Why didn't you tell me you were back and in trouble? If Oliver hadn't mentioned it, I'd still be in the dark." Her gaze swept the room disdainfully. "How dare these people question your identity. Someone's clearly trying to turn me against you. I wonder what their true motives are."

Her loaded statement hung heavily in the air.

Victor's smirk vanished. "He can't possibly be your brother! Look at him!" Even with the mask covering half his face, Liam appeared to be in his late twenties - nowhere near the forty-something he should be.

Eleanor's cold gaze silenced the murmurs. "I owe none of you an explanation," she stated calmly. "This is my brother, Mr. Jack. Shall we conduct a DNA test right here to settle this?"