Chapter 134

Even when Vanessa called out to him, Ethan remained completely unresponsive.

Nathan had never seen Ethan in such a state before. With a smirk, he gave Ethan a playful smack on the back.

"Didn't you bring your wife here today to pay respects to the elders? Go on! Uncle Alexander and Aunt Evelyn are right there!"

Ethan didn’t budge.

Nathan's expression turned smug. "I was planning to slap myself earlier—thought I was pitiful enough. But seeing you like this suddenly made my day."

Nathan had once promised Evelyn that if she married Alexander, he would slap himself in front of everyone.

Now, watching Ethan so visibly miserable, the idea of humiliating himself didn’t seem so bad after all.

Provoked, Ethan swung and punched Nathan square in the eye.

Nathan hissed in pain. "You coward, only picking on someone weaker! Don’t think I’ll go easy on you at Whitmore Manor!"

With that, Nathan lunged at him, fists flying.

The confrontation escalated quickly, turning the elegant parlor into a battleground.

Ethan Caldwell wasn't holding back this time. His fists connected with Ryan Fletcher's jaw in rapid succession, the sickening crunch of bone against flesh echoing through the room.

"Ethan, have you lost your damn mind?" Ryan spat blood, struggling beneath his cousin's weight.

Grace Caldwell rushed forward. "Stop this instant!"

Vanessa Hart reached out to intervene, but Ethan shoved her aside with unexpected force.

Her body collided with the mahogany side table. A sharp pain exploded across her temple as warm blood trickled down her cheek.

Sophia Ellis gasped. "She's bleeding!"

Audrey Mills immediately pulled out her phone. "I'm calling an ambulance!"

Vanessa pressed a trembling hand to her wound. "No... I'm fine."

The thought terrified her more than the injury. Being carried out of Whitmore Manor bleeding would fuel Cresthaven's gossip mills for months.

The Whitmores hadn't even attended her wedding. If rumors spread about them assaulting her...

Her social standing would never recover.

"If I hate Evelyn, then I'll become the biggest laughingstock of them all!" Vanessa snapped, her voice trembling with barely contained fury.

Audrey Mills sighed, shaking her head. "Vanessa, darling, you really should calm down."

Vanessa forced a tight smile. "Aunt Audrey, I'm perfectly fine!"

Audrey's lips thinned. If Vanessa refused to listen, then she wouldn't waste her breath.

Across the room, Ethan Caldwell and Ryan Fletcher had finally stopped their brawl.

Ryan looked utterly disheveled, collapsing into a chair in front of Alexander Whitmore. "Uncle Alexander, look what your nephew did to me!" His voice was thick with indignation.

"You saw it yourself. I was only reminding his wife to pay her respects to you, and he attacked me like a wild animal!"

Normally, their petty squabbles happened outside the family gatherings, and Alexander could pretend not to notice.

But today was different.

Alexander arched a brow, his gaze icy. "Ethan, do you understand the consequences of starting a fight here?"

Ethan stood rigid, unmoving, as if the words weren’t directed at him at all.

Grace Caldwell rushed forward, panic lacing her voice. "Ethan, apologize to Uncle Alexander now! Do you want to face the family’s punishment?"

"What?" Ethan finally responded, his tone flat.

The tension in the room thickened, every breath held in anticipation of what would come next.

Vanessa had a shallow cut on her forehead, though it wasn’t deep. She blinked at Grace in confusion. "What do you mean by family rules?"

"Fifty lashes!"

Vanessa nearly collapsed.

Her mind raced. Ethan Caldwell is one of the most respected men in Cresthaven. If he’s publicly whipped, the humiliation will be unbearable. How will the staff at Whitmore Manor ever look at him the same way again?

Without hesitation, Vanessa stepped forward. "Alexander, Ethan was just in a terrible mood when he fought Ryan! Let me apologize on his behalf! Ryan, I’m so sorry!"

Ryan tilted his chin up, his expression cold. "My injuries don’t matter. But the way you two are carrying on, anyone would think you despise Aunt Evelyn."

The air in the room turned icy.

Grace crossed her arms, her sharp gaze flickering between them. "Funny how you’re suddenly so concerned about appearances, Vanessa. Where was this consideration when Ethan threw the first punch?"

Vanessa’s fingers curled into fists.

Alexander’s voice cut through the tension like steel. "Enough. The rules are clear. Ethan, you know the consequences."

Ethan’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t argue.

Vanessa’s heart pounded. This can’t be happening.

Then, from the doorway, a soft but firm voice spoke.

"Wait."

Everyone turned.

Evelyn stood there, her expression unreadable.

The room held its breath.

What would she say?

What would she do?

The answer would change everything.