Chapter 26

Evelyn Sullivan met Ethan Sullivan's gaze, a cold smile playing on her lips. "Shouldn't I doubt you? For the sake of your beloved, what wouldn't you do?"

Ethan's eyes darkened, his fingers clenching until they turned white. "In your eyes, am I really that despicable?"

The air froze between them.

A servant from the Jackson household hurried over, her tone sharp. "Miss Evelyn, the Madam demands an explanation from you."

"There's nothing to explain." Evelyn's voice was indifferent. "What you saw is the truth."

The servant stiffened. "The Madam was so angry she took heart medication. If you don't go—"

Before she could finish, Evelyn's wrist was seized.

Ethan dragged her forward with long strides.

"Ethan!" She struggled fiercely. "Let go!"

Isabella Jackson rushed to block their path, tears glistening in her eyes. "Ethan, explaining now will only make things worse. Let Evelyn leave first—"

Evelyn let out a cold laugh. "Stop pretending to be kind. If I find out you had anything to do with this—"

"Sister!" Isabella's voice trembled. "I was trying to help you. How could you—"

Victoria Farley stormed over, shielding Isabella as she snapped, "You shamelessly flirted with a male model, and now you're accusing Isabella? How could I have raised a daughter like you!"

Isabella feigned concern. "Mom, I don't mind, but Sister's reputation—"

"She deserves it!"

The mother-daughter duo's performance nearly made Evelyn laugh out loud.

Ethan pulled her onto the center of the stage.

The crowd erupted in murmurs.

Evelyn smirked mockingly. "What now? Not satisfied with humiliating me privately, so you want to do it publicly?"

Isabella hid a triumphant smile.

But the next moment, Ethan's words sent her crashing into an abyss.

"You want an explanation?" His icy gaze swept across the room. "Evelyn Sullivan is my wife. Can the Jackson family handle that explanation?"

The banquet hall exploded.

"What? Mr. Sullivan and Miss Evelyn are married?!"

"So Isabella is the homewrecker?"

"My God, he watched his wife feed fruit to a male model and stayed this calm?"

Isabella's face turned ashen, her entire body trembling.

She never expected Ethan to publicly acknowledge their marriage.