Chapter 448
Lacey’s face shifted from pale white to a furious red as she listened to her eldest son’s deranged conspiracy theory. But Ethan wasn’t done.
“Once your biological daughter was back, you finally showed your true colors,” Ethan spat, pacing the floor like a caged predator. “The three of you became a pack of wolves. And your first target was Mira. Mara is the exact same age, but Mira outshined her in every conceivable way. Mara was suffocating from jealousy, constantly plotting to destroy her. And you and Dad enabled every second of it p>
His voice cracked slightly, heavy with self-loathing. “You manipulated us. You brainwashed me, Julian, and Lucas into becoming your accomplices. Looking back, I can’t believe how hopelessly stupid we were. We bought your lies, and because of that, Mira will never forgive us. And we deserve it p>
He stopped and looked at the ceiling, a bitter smile crossing his lips. “Thank God Mira was smart enough to see through your toxic masks and cut ties when she did. She’s thriving on her own now. If she had stayed, you monsters would have killed her. Even after she left, you tried to ruin her time and time again, but she was always one step ahead p>
He dropped his gaze back to Lacey. “Isn’t that right, you homewrecker p>
Lacey, completely paralyzed by the onslaught of accusations, blinked and subconsciously responded, “Huh p>
“See?!” Ethan shouted, pointing directly at her face. “You admit it p>
Even Mara, who had been listening to this insane soap opera in stunned silence, dropped her jaw. “Mom… are you actually a mistress p>
“A mistress?! He’s out of his mind! How could I be a mistress?!” Lacey shrieked.
“Then why did you answer him when he called you one?” Mara asked, genuinely confused.
“I… I was just so shocked by his psychotic rambling I didn’t know what else to say!” Lacey was on the verge of a total breakdown. She just wanted to collapse and scream. But in Ethan’s eyes, her hesitation was absolute proof of her guilt.
“You don’t need to say anything. Your subconscious reaction gave you away,” Ethan sneered. He turned his predatory gaze back to Mara. “Now. Are you going to hand over the rest of the drugs, or am I calling the police to tear your room apart p>
Mara trembled violently. “I… I don’t have any more… Ethan p>
“Don’t call me that,” he snapped. “A bastard child of a mistress has no right to call me brother p>
“Ethan, stop this insanity right now!” Lacey pleaded, her maternal instincts overriding her shock as she tried to shield Mara.
“Call me Mr. Mercer,” Ethan commanded, his eyes dead. “And I’m warning you, don’t ever use my first name again p>
He looked at Lacey with utter disgust. As if a mistress had the right to speak to him so casually.
“Ethan, please!” Lacey sobbed, finally breaking down. “I’m not a mistress! I’m your mother! How could you believe this p>
“My mother? Drop the act. No real
mother would ever do what y
did
to Mira.” Ethan brushed past her, entirely uninterested in her tears. He glared at Mara. “The drugs. Now p>
Mara looked at Lacey, but Lacey was too busy weeping into her hands to offer a defense. Terrified that Ethan would actually call the cops and send her back to a cold jail cell, Mara crawled toward a decorative vase in the hallway and pulled out a small, sealedbag. She held it up with a shaking hand.
“That’s it? You’re sure?” Ethan demanded, his eyes boring into hers. “Because if I
bring the police in with chemical sniffers and they find more p>
“No!” Mara yelled instinctively. With a trembling sigh, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a second bag.
“Is that everything p>
“Yes! I swear, even if you call the police, there’s nothing left p>
Just then, the heavy oak doors swung open. Adrian, leaning heavily on Norman, walked in, Lucas, who had finished his shift at the hospital was right behind them.
Lucas immediately sensed the suffocating tension. “Ethan, what’s going on p>
Ethan pointed a rigid finger at Mara. “She spiked my soup with Oblivion Drops p>