Chapter 46

The morning sun had barely risen when Eleanor Caldwell received the devastating call. Her son Ethan had been brutally assaulted at Eclipse Lounge the previous night.

Her perfectly manicured hands trembled as she grabbed her coat and rushed out the door.

The car ride to the hospital was a blur of frantic phone calls. With each new detail, her pulse spiked—fury and fear warring inside her chest.

For days now, Eleanor had been locked in a silent battle with Ethan.

The reason for her rage was simple. At that press conference, he had shamelessly announced his engagement switch—from Evelyn Carter to Vanessa Hart—without so much as consulting her.

The mere thought of Vanessa taking Evelyn’s place made Eleanor’s stomach churn.

Evelyn, at least, had been devoted to Ethan. She had been predictable, malleable.

But Vanessa? A woman with no pedigree, no connections, no discernible past?

Eleanor’s lips curled in disgust.

This wasn’t just about the engagement. It was about respect. Control.

And now, with Ethan lying in a hospital bed, she had every intention of making her displeasure known.

Eleanor had been pushed aside as if Ethan no longer valued her input.

Her blood boiled with fury. She was prepared to confront Ethan and demand an apology for his blatant disrespect.

But before she could unleash her anger, devastating news reached her—Ethan had been attacked.

Without a second thought, she rushed to the hospital, her heart pounding with dread.

Yet, as whispers spread, the second and third branches of the family caught wind of the incident. Soon, the hospital room was crowded with relatives, their expressions ranging from concern to thinly veiled judgment.

Ethan lay in the hospital bed, his jaw tight as he surveyed the sudden gathering.

Eleanor’s face was stormy, her patience worn thin.

"Ethan! What in the world happened? You let a woman beat you up?" Her voice was sharp with disbelief. "And what about Evelyn? Wasn’t she the one who used to follow you around like a lovesick puppy? Now she’s turned into some kind of vengeful demon?"

Ethan didn’t respond. Instead, he reached for a cigarette, his fingers trembling slightly.

The memory of Evelyn’s cold, unflinching glare as she hurled the bottle at him replayed in his mind.

Her eyes had burned with a fury he’d never seen before.

And for the first time, Ethan Caldwell felt something unfamiliar—fear.

The air between them had turned icy, though Evelyn had always carried herself with effortless grace. Now, there was an invisible barrier, separating her from the rest.

Sophia Ellis, Alexander’s sister-in-law, seized the moment to intervene. "Eleanor, let’s not forget—Ethan was the one who betrayed Evelyn first. You can’t pin all the blame on her."

Sophia had never gotten along with Eleanor, and it was clear she was enjoying this opportunity to twist the knife.

Eleanor’s glare could have melted steel, but Sophia remained unbothered. "Just last week, Ethan was photographed leaving a hotel with another woman. Can you honestly blame Evelyn for reacting the way she did?"

She shrugged, feigning neutrality. "I’m not picking sides. I’m just stating facts."

"If you want someone to blame, look at your own son’s actions. Evelyn isn’t the villain here."

Eleanor’s face flushed with anger as she turned on Sophia. "Are you saying my son deserved what happened to him?"

Grace Caldwell, Ethan’s sister, stepped forward, her expression furious. "Of course not! I’m going to find Evelyn and make her answer for this!"

Just as Evelyn spun on her heel to leave, Ethan's voice cut through the tension. "Wait!"

"Ethan?" Grace turned, eyebrows raised in surprise.

"You want me to humiliate myself further?" Ethan snapped.

The scandal surrounding his messy breakup with Vanessa had already turned him into Cresthaven's favorite punchline.

After last night's disaster, the rumors were undeniable—Ethan had been caught red-handed.

If his family went after Vanessa now, it would only make things worse.

He'd go from a pitiful ex to a full-blown villain—not just a cheater, but a man who couldn't let go.

Grace's interference would ruin whatever dignity he had left.

The air in the room thickened.

Audrey Mills, Alexander's sister-in-law, tilted her head. "Ethan, where's Vanessa? Shouldn't she be here? You look like you've been dragged through hell, and your fiancée hasn't even bothered to check on you?"

Every head in the room turned toward the door.

The person who bore the most responsibility for Ethan's current situation was undoubtedly Vanessa.

Hadn't he distanced himself from Evelyn solely for her sake?

Wasn't this the very reason he now lay in such a pitiful state?

Just then, Vanessa stepped into the room, clutching a bouquet of white lilies. "Ethan, I came to check on you—ah!"

Before she could finish, Eleanor's hand lashed out, striking Vanessa hard across the cheek.

The flowers tumbled to the ground, petals scattering like broken promises.

The sharp edge of Eleanor’s diamond ring left a thin crimson line on Vanessa’s porcelain skin.

Staggering back from the force of the blow, Vanessa barely had time to register the pain before Eleanor struck again—this time with even greater fury.

"How dare you show your face here!" Eleanor snarled, her voice trembling with barely contained rage. "You scheming little witch! You’re the reason my son is in this state!"

Vanessa’s eyes widened in shock, her hand flying to her stinging cheek.

Eleanor wasn’t finished. "If it weren’t for you, Ethan would never have turned his back on Evelyn! Look at what you’ve done!"

The accusation hung heavy in the air, thick with blame.

Vanessa’s lips parted, but no words came out—only silence, and the faint metallic taste of blood where her teeth had cut into her lip.

Eleanor’s chest heaved with each furious breath, her manicured nails digging into her palms. "Get out," she hissed. "Before I make sure you regret ever crossing paths with my family."

Vanessa’s gaze flickered to Ethan—still unconscious, still oblivious to the storm raging around him.

Then, without another word, she turned and fled, leaving behind only the crushed petals and the weight of her guilt.