Victor had never been one to y by the rules.


    The Fitzgeralds died young, and Dorian raised him with the kind of elite education reserved for heirs to the Fitzgerald Group. It shaped Victor into someone fierce, arrogant, and utterly cold-blooded.


    If it hadn''t been for that little girl years ago who somehow reached him-he would have grown uppletely heartless.


    Victor never pulled his punches.


    Just the thought of Prescottying a hand on Isadora made Victor want to kick the man straight into the ground.


    Eleanor, watching Prescott get beaten, was so desperate she burst into tears, forgetting all about Victor''s intimidating status.


    "Mr. Fitzgerald, this is a family matter. Don''t we have the right to discipline our own daughter? Today, Isadora pushed Pearl out the window. As their mother, I have every right to handle this fairly."


    Victor nced at Prescott, whose face was now a mess, and finally let him go.


    He stood, grabbed a towel from the side table, and wiped his hands with slow, deliberate care—every motion elegant, almost regal.


    It was as if the brutal man from a moment ago had vanished, reced by someone impossibly refined.


    He cast a cool, expressionless look at Eleanor. "Are you sure Isadora did it?" Isadora paused for a few seconds, her face falling. "I didn''t do it."


    Victor''s expression was still icy, but when he looked at her, his gaze softened, a sly,zy note in his voice.


    "Heh. Even if you did push her, so what? I''d rather you be the one pushing than the one getting pushed. If she ends up hurt, I''ll handle it. But if you get hurt- who''s going to pay that price for me?"


    Everyone in the room: "..."


    What kind of twisted logic was that?


    Eleanor nearly fainted at his outrageous and domineering words.


    "Mr. Fitzgerald, I know youe from a high and mighty background, but Isadora and Pearl are my daughters—this is my family''s business. Aren''t you the least bit worried that throwing your weight around like this will make you aughingstock if word gets out?"


    Victor nced at Isadora''s tense face, an amused glint in his eyes.


    "This one''s got thin skin. She''ll probably brood about this all night and give me hell for itter. Let''s just settle it here and now."


    Isadora stared at him, speechless.


    As if she''d make a scene...


    Richard stepped in. “There aren''t any cameras in the bedrooms at Vaughan Manor, only in the halls. The staff already showed me the footage. Pearl went into the room first, then Isadora. When Prescott entered, Pearl had already fallen-so he''s the only eyewitness."


    "Is that so?"


    Victor pulled out his phone. "Get me the rooftop surveince footage from Starlight Tower."


    Starlight Tower stood right across from the old Vaughan family home.


    Pearl felt as if a cold hand had clenched her heart in the dark.


    She tried to reassure herself. Even if the cameras from across the street caught something, it was too far away for anyone to see clearly.


    Still, unease gnawed at her.


    Victor reached out, gently brushing the hair from Isadora''s forehead, his touch tender and careful.


    A faint, mischievous smile yed on his lips. "Well, looks like tonight''s surprise fireworks show for you just got ruined."


    For Isadora''s birthday, Victor had arranged fireworks to light up the whole city.


    To make sure nothing ruined the disy, security staff kept a close watch all night.


    As for the high-definition video recording-he''d ordered it ahead of time, knowing how women love to capture memories on special days.


    Isadora''s heart skipped a beat.


    A thousand emotions shot straight through her like arrows.


    Her clear, luminous eyes misted over as she stared at him, stunned.


    This man was refined, self-possessed, and always seemed to be in control-like nothing ever escaped him.


    Victor''s dark eyes lingered on her, the corner of his mouth quirking. "Careful now. Don''t go seducing me in front of everyone."