Chapter 154

Julian couldn't shake the image of Evelyn from his mind.

Evelyn was overseas, so the woman he'd glimpsed couldn't possibly be her.

After dropping Jennifer off that evening, Julian returned to the ancestral estate in high spirits.

Beatrice noticed her son's unusually cheerful demeanor and inquired with a knowing smile, "Did your date go well today?"

"It's practically settled. She mentioned children and suggested our firstborn should carry the Winslow name. Naturally, I agreed."

Seeing his mother's expression shift, Julian quickly added, "Don't worry, Mother. Once we're married, I'll ensure she's completely devoted to me. She'll willingly transfer all the Winslow assets to us!"

Beatrice visibly relaxed before offering her counsel. "I have faith in you, Julian. To accomplish great things, one must learn to overlook such trivial matters!"

"Consider it done!" Julian declared confidently.

At precisely 10 p.m., Gregory's phone shattered the evening's peace.

The furious voice of Jennifer's father exploded through the receiver. "Gregory! What kind of monster have you raised?! How dare your son send those obscene photos to my daughter? My precious girl is so traumatized she's been crying nonstop! The engagement is off!"

Gregory stood frozen.

"What photos are you referring to?"

"Explicit nudes! Is your son mentally disturbed? I might have excused it as some bizarre kink if he had anything worth showing, but he's pathetically inadequate! The sheer audacity to share such humiliation!"

Gregory's face burned crimson as his lips twisted in disgust.

While he couldn't confirm his son's... endowments, sending such photos to a respectable young woman was beyond reprehensible!

How could Julian behave so indecently with someone he'd only recently met?

Clutching his phone with white-knuckled fury, Gregory stormed to Julian's bedroom, kicking the door open with a thunderous crash. "You disgraceful worm! You've destroyed everything! Explain yourself - why would you send Jennifer Winslow nude photographs?!"

Julian, mid-game on his phone, gaped at the accusations. His face paled before flushing scarlet.

Scrambling from bed, he confronted his father with frantic gestures. "Father! These are baseless accusations! I would never send such filth! I've never shared inappropriate photos with any woman!"

Gregory shoved his phone in Julian's face. "Mr. Winslow called me personally! Are you calling him a liar? The truth is plain - you've failed this family! I'm disgusted by your behavior!"

With that, Gregory stormed out, leaving Julian standing shell-shocked.

Trembling with rage, Julian exited his game and pulled up his message history with Jennifer.

"Look, Mother! The only texts I sent were to arrange today's meeting! There's nothing inappropriate here!"

Beatrice glanced at the screen but remained unconvinced. "You could have deleted the evidence. It's over, Julian. Reflect on your disgraceful actions!"

She too departed, leaving Julian seething.

Why was his own family accusing him of crimes he didn't commit?

Moreover, Jennifer had kissed him goodbye that very evening.

Logically, she wouldn't fabricate such claims.

Where had everything gone wrong?

Meanwhile, in the nursery of Mooncrest Manor, Lily and Henry were whispering beneath their blankets.

"Do you think the heiress will dump that scoundrel now?" Lily murmured.

"Undoubtedly," Henry replied.

"Was it too cruel, Henry? He is technically our father."

"Not unless I acknowledge him as such."

Lily sighed. "By the way, where did you find those... revealing photos?"

"His private cloud storage."

"I see... Why won't you let me see them?"

Henry's expression darkened. "They'd scar your retinas."

"But you saw them!" Lily pouted. "I'm a boy! You're a girl - you shouldn't be looking at such things!"

"Fine!"

After a brief sulk, Lily snuggled closer to her brother. "You're brilliant, Henry! Who needs a father when I have you protecting me?"