Chapter 189

That night.

Rosewood City was buzzing with activity.

The Gonzaga Family erupted into the biggest internal war in their history.

That very evening, Austin sent Brenda back to the Whitaker Family!

And they agreed to meet at the courthouse first thing the next morning.

When Brenda was sent back to the Whitaker Family, the smell of alcohol still clung to her, and she was in a dazed, confused state.

Whatever Austin asked, she answered.

The surrogacy arrangement, the girl Claire had set up—she spilled everything herself.

"Brenda, we've been married for five years. I never once thought that our inability to have children would affect our relationship!"

"But look at what you've done!"

"Faking a pregnancy! Arranging for another woman to sleep with me!"

"Five years ago, when you heard you were supposed to marry me, your first instinct was to get Claire to take your place. Five years later, you pulled the same trick with surrogacy. What am I to you, exactly?"

"Have you ever loved me, even a little?"

Austin had always been gentle and courteous. This was the first time he'd ever lost his composure in front of others.

His emotions spilled out, raw and unfiltered.

"Honey, it's not like that."

"Please, forgive me just this once!"

"I didn't want you with another woman either, but your mother pressured me every single day about having a baby, making all those passive-aggressive comments. Then Claire told me her son Aaron was conceived this way, with someone else's help, and I just—I don't know what came over me. I believed her!"

Brenda was still disoriented, hearing his words but unable to see his face clearly.

She stumbled toward Austin. When she finally made out his features, the alcohol's fog lifted considerably.

Her pupils dilated. She grabbed his arm, refusing to let him leave.

She knew—this time, Austin was truly angry.

Five years ago, when he learned the Whitaker Family intended to have Claire marry in her place, he'd only smiled gently.

He'd never spoken harshly to her.

Apart from his blindness, he'd always been kind.

She was the one who'd hurt him!

"Mom pressured you to have 'my' child, but did she arrange another woman for me? Did she try to get someone else pregnant with my baby?"

"Brenda, you've disappointed me beyond words!"

"At first, Mom didn't like you, that's true. But over the years, seeing how much I cared for you, she accepted you in her heart. You only heard her complaints, but you never noticed the nutritional supplements she carefully prepared for you every morning and evening!"

"Tomorrow, we'll meet at the courthouse!"

"Brenda, let's get a divorce!"

Austin pulled his arm free from Brenda's grasp.

He left without looking back.

Watching Austin's driver help him into the car, watching them drive away into the distance.

Brenda stood there in a daze, slowly realizing—she'd truly lost her chance at happiness.

"You disgraceful daughter!"

"Look at what you've done!"

"You've humiliated the entire Whitaker Family!"

Keith stared at Brenda, dumped like trash in front of their villa. Furious and disappointed, he kicked her in the lower back.

Brenda looked up at her enraged father, knowing she'd become everyone's target.

She quickly crawled toward him.

"Dad, this is all Claire's fault!"

"If she hadn't egged me on, if she hadn't found that woman for me, Austin and I never would've gotten to the point of divorce!"

"She must be getting revenge on us!"

"Five years ago, we promised to come get her, then we went back on our word. She's held a grudge against us ever since!"

Brenda didn't know for certain whether Claire was taking revenge, but right now, she had to say it.

Only by finding a scapegoat could she secure her place in the Whitaker Family!

Otherwise, after the divorce, with no way back into the Gonzaga Family and the Whitaker Family rejecting her, she'd become a laughingstock in Rosewood City!

"Claire!"

"Her again!"

"Call Claire immediately and tell her to get back here!"

When Keith thought of Claire, he became convinced that Brenda's failed marriage was Claire's doing.

When Claire received the call from the Whitaker Family, she knew Brenda had been exposed—and that Brenda had named her as the mastermind.

She drove overnight from Suncrest City to Rosewood City, intending to apologize and take responsibility.

But before she even reached the Whitaker Family gates, Nora was already waiting for her.

"Nora, Brenda's situation—you're behind it, aren't you!"

Claire stepped out of her car. When she saw Nora standing beside another luxury vehicle, everything clicked into place.

Though she had no proof, Nora showing up here at this exact moment was too suspicious!

"Claire, did you really think your tricks could be replicated?"

"You deceived Frederick with a child that wasn't his, and now you tried the same scheme with Austin?"

"You have no respect for love at all!"

Nora had deliberately waited here for Claire because she felt Austin deserved better.

Austin was kind and faithful in love.

But why did the faithful always end up with the unfaithful?

She'd experienced it herself years ago.

Now Austin was going through the same thing!

"Love?"

"Does love even exist in this world? Isn't love just a luxury for you rich people?"

"When you can't even afford to eat, when you don't have a decent place to live, love doesn't mean a damn thing!"

Remembering everything she'd sacrificed, yet how little damage she'd done to Nora—

Looking at Nora standing before her, dressed impeccably, wearing earrings worth a fortune—Claire's hatred surged like a tidal wave.

"Nora, just you wait!"

"Let's see if you can finish me off."

"As long as I'm alive, this isn't over between us!"

Claire glared at Nora with burning resentment, then brushed past her.

The moment Claire stepped through the Whitaker Family gates—

Frederick's call came through to Nora.

"Nora, Grandma's not going to make it."

"Before she goes, she wants to see you one last time. Can you come?"

Frederick's voice was weary and hoarse.

Soaked through with grief.

"Which hospital? I'll come right now!"

Thinking of Evelyn, remembering that gentle, kind old woman from her memories, knowing she was about to leave this world—Nora's throat tightened.

"I'll send the address to your phone."

"When you get to Suncrest City, let me know. I'll send someone to pick you and Elise up."

Frederick specifically mentioned Elise, asking that she come along too.

Nora had wanted to refuse, to say she'd go alone and Elise didn't need to come.

But thinking that Evelyn had never met Elise, her heart softened. She said nothing.

"I'll go back with you!"

Jasper had a feeling something was off about Frederick's call.

But since it involved Evelyn's life and death, even though Jasper was suspicious, he didn't voice his concerns.

"Jasper, someone needs to stay and oversee Soft Verse Studios. This time, let me take Elise back on my own."

Nora didn't tell Jasper that she wanted to use this trip away from Rosewood City as a chance to really think about things between them.

All along, she knew she liked Jasper.

But she wasn't sure if it had to be him.

Maybe after five years of being together constantly, even Nora herself couldn't tell whether what she felt for Jasper was dependence or love.

Some time apart would help her think clearly.

"Alright."

"Since you want to go back alone, I'll wait for you here in Rosewood City."

Seeing Nora's firm attitude and decisive refusal, Jasper nodded.

He didn't push further.

The next day.

Nora, along with Elise and Fiona, set off for Suncrest City once again.