Chapter 463

The moment the phone call disconnected, Beatrice froze with her fork halfway to her mouth, her sharp gaze locking onto Vivian. "What's happened? I caught something about Serena transferring money to your housekeeper's son. Explain."

Decades of experience as the Blackwood matriarch allowed Beatrice to instantly grasp the gravity of the situation.

Meanwhile, just beyond the gates of Seabreeze Villa, a sleek Mercedes sedan idled by the curb. Inside, Julian Montclair ended his call and absently tapped his phone screen against his palm.

Shadows veiled his usually charming features, leaving only an uncharacteristic coldness in his posture.

His associate Donovan shifted beside him. "Mr. Montclair, you never warned Ms. Hartley beforehand. Why contact her now? With Adrian's grandparents present, they'll undoubtedly take his side."

A humorless smirk curled Julian's lips. "Ignorance keeps them off-balance. They need to understand the full picture before they inevitably defend Adrian again." His fingers swiped across his phone, pausing at an unflattering photo of Vivian retching on set. "This way, when everything collapses, Vivian will have nowhere to hide behind family loyalty."

Donovan frowned. "But they just reconciled."

"Perfect timing for another fallout, don't you think?"

Julian's meaningful silence spoke volumes as he continued scrolling through his phone.

Back at the villa, Vivian laid out the scheme for the stunned elderly couple - how Serena had not only bribed the housekeeper to spy but also hired Vincent Lockwood to orchestrate an online smear campaign.

Beatrice gasped, her fork clattering against her plate. "I knew Serena was unpleasant, but this is downright villainous!"

Leonard remained silent, his expression thunderous.

Noticing their hesitation to defend Adrian, Vivian reassured them. "It's handled. The housekeeper has been dismissed."

Leonard added sternly, "And I'll ensure her family relocates far from Crestwood permanently."

The front door swung open as Adrian strode in. His gaze swept over the tense gathering at the dining table. "No one waited for me? How rude."

Leonard fixed him with a steely glare. "You still expect to join us for dinner?"

Adrian slipped off his shoes, accepting slippers from a maid. "What crime have I committed to warrant starvation?"

Beatrice set down her wine glass with deliberate precision. "When exactly do you plan to send Serena away?"

Approaching the table, Adrian shrugged. "As I explained last night, her heart condition requires special care." His tone suggested he'd expected his grandparents to show more compassion.

The sharp clink of Beatrice's fork against her plate punctuated her icy words. "Her health isn't your responsibility. You should be more concerned about your wife - unless you've abandoned all thoughts of starting a family?"