Chapter 230

The pain hit me like a wave, crashing through every inch of my body. I bit back a groan, then kicked Eleanor away with everything I had and flipped Aiden over my shoulder, sending him crashing to the floor.

Then, as everyone watched in stunned silence, I pulled the knife out without a word, letting the blood soak through my clothes.

Everyone froze in horror. Henry looked like he'd turned to stone.

A second later, screams erupted from the crowd.

"Call an ambulance! Now!"

"Someone call the police!"

But this pain was nothing compared to what Chase's death had done to me. My eyes went dark as I locked them onto Eleanor.

Eleanor was terrified. She stumbled backward, shaking. "I... I didn't mean to. It's my dad's fault — he was the one who stopped you!"

Aiden had scrambled to his feet, looking rattled. "Charlotte... whatever this is, we can handle it privately. Please. Today is your sister's engagement party."

Before I could say a word, Rhea snapped, "After everything that's happened, you're still thinking about the engagement party? Forget it. The engagement between the Blackwood family and the Cavendish family is over. Done."

Aiden's jaw dropped. "Rhea! None of this is real! Technology these days can fake anything — you know that!"

"Shut your mouth, you animal!" Rhea's voice was shaking with fury. "You both just admitted everything, and now you want to take it back? You're all the same, the whole rotten lot of you. I saw through you a long time ago. I was willing to look the other way because of the two-billion-dollar building deal — and then it turns out you lied about that, too! You promised us half the value after the engagement. It was all a lie from the start!"

Just as I'd suspected. That was how Aiden had been buying people's loyalty.

Now, everyone could see exactly who Aiden really was, and the Cavendish family had become a complete disgrace.

Aiden had nothing left to say.

So he turned all his rage on me.

"Charlotte! Are you happy now?! You worked so hard to destroy the Cavendish family! How can you be so heartless!"

I laughed coldly. "A bunch of murderers talking to me about being heartless? You had your own father killed. When it comes to cruelty, who could top you?"

What made it even more sickening was that when I'd walked in and announced Chase's death, not one of them had looked surprised. Not one of them had even asked about it.

They were worse than animals.

"Chase should have died years ago! You were the one keeping him alive — making him suffer through it! I'm his son. I was setting my own father free!"

When those words left Aiden's mouth, I couldn't hold back anymore. My eyes burned red as I slapped him across the face as hard as I could.

He staggered back, nearly falling, and two teeth hit the floor.

The room went still for a moment — then broke into applause.

"That's what he deserves!"

"Someone should knock every tooth out of that animal's mouth!"

"Disgusting piece of trash!"

"I already called the police — they're on their way! These people need to go to prison!"

My gaze stayed fixed on Aiden like a blade, and that's when Edward walked in with a group of bodyguards and police officers.

The moment he saw that half my body was soaked in blood, something shifted in his eyes — dark and consuming, like he was about to swallow the whole room whole.

He crossed the room in a few quick strides. "Who did this?"

I glanced toward Eleanor. Edward's expression went ice cold. He turned to David immediately. "Cut her hand off."

"Yes, sir."

The room went dead silent — then exploded into gasps and cries of shock.

Eleanor stumbled backward in a panic. "Stay away from me! Don't come near me!"

Even with all of Edward's power, the chief of police stepped forward to intervene, then turned to Edward with a respectful tone. "Mr. Fairfax, there are certain things we're already handling quietly. There are a lot of people here."

Edward paused for a second, his face unreadable. "Bring them back to me when you're done."

"Of course."

Then I laid out each of their crimes one by one and handed the police a USB drive with all the evidence.

"Everything you need is on there. It's all documented clearly."

"The most serious charge against all three of them is murder."

The chief nodded respectfully. "You have my word, Ms. Clair. We will give you a satisfactory answer."

He signaled to his officers, and a wave of them moved onto the stage, taking the three into custody.

All three of them struggled. Victoria screamed and cursed like she'd lost her mind.

"Charlotte! I will never forgive you! You're nothing but trash! Just like that dead old man — worthless! You'll get a heart attack just like him! You'll die just like he did!"

"You little bitch! Let go of me! She just attacked all three of us! Why aren't you arresting her?!"

Edward raised a hand, and the officers paused. He looked out at the room. "Did anyone here see my fiancée hit anyone?"

Not a single person hesitated. Everyone shook their heads.

"Hit someone? When did that happen?"

"Exactly — if anything, those three were the ones going after Mrs. Fairfax."

"This is slander!"

The Cavendishes looked like they were losing their minds.

"Are you serious?! She knocked my teeth out — they're still on the floor right there!"

"You're all accomplices! You'll be held legally responsible!"

Then Edward turned his gaze to the Blackwood family, his voice flat and cold. "You three were up on that stage the whole time. Did my fiancée hit anyone?"

Henry's expression was complicated — a mix of conflict and resignation. The Blackwoods exchanged glances, clearly shaken. Then Rhea spoke first. "No."

"That's right. She didn't hit anyone."

Victoria exploded. "Henry! I'm your mother-in-law! And you two — we're family! How dare you turn on us like this! Your son is engaged to my daughter! Don't think you can just walk away from this!"

Rhea laughed sharply. "Don't try to guilt us. My son and Eleanor never got a marriage certificate. They were never married. The engagement party never even happened. What exactly makes us family?"

Henry's father added, "There is absolutely no way we are joining our family with yours. Not in this lifetime. You're murderers and fraudsters. Don't ever come near us again."

As the three of them screamed and cursed, the police forced them out.

At the same time, the medical team arrived — and I finally gave out, collapsing into Edward's arms.

When I came to, I was in a hospital. My shoulder had been bandaged up. Honestly, a wound like that wouldn't normally take me down — but since Chase died, the weight of everything had worn my body out, and I just didn't have anything left.

I heard Michael's voice nearby. "She's in good shape overall. The collapse was from blood loss combined with too much stress. She just needs rest and to keep the wound clean so it doesn't get infected."