Chapter 443

A Brutal Cut

"Mrs. Roscente? Mrs. Roscente!"

"...What?" Victoria Roscente jolted awake.

"It's time to be seated."

"Alright."

Victoria quickly took Amelia Roscente's hand and found their seats.

The attendant scratched his head, muttering to himself. Why are all the ladies acting so strange today?

...

The banquet concluded.

Upstairs, in the lounge—

"Mom, we should go," Sebastian Evans urged quietly.

"I'm not leaving! How dare they treat me like this? After all these years as father and daughter, mother and daughter, is this how they end it?"

"That's what I'd like to know," Sebastian's voice was heavy.

Irene Valdemar's eyes darted away.

"Still no answer from your father?"

"No."

Finally—

The old couple appeared.

Isabella Sullivan and her family had already left.

Florence Atlante looked coldly at Irene. "Sebastian said you wanted to see us."

"Mom—"

"Don't call me that. I don't deserve it."

The old woman's disgust was plain.

Irene took a deep breath. "Fine."

She was completely calm now.

"Sit. Let's talk."

Florence wanted to hear what excuses she could possibly offer.

The couple sat down.

Irene spoke first. "You know everything?"

The old woman scoffed. "Know what? Why don't you tell us yourself?"

Irene glanced around the room, her eyes settling back on Florence. "I don't know if this room is monitored, or if you're wearing a wire. Some things are better left unsaid. We all know the truth."

The old couple laughed in disbelief.

Sebastian frowned.

Irene's lips curved into a faint smile. "Since that's the case, I'll be direct. You humiliated me completely at the birthday banquet today. Have you considered the consequences?"

Florence shot back, "What consequences?"

"I am still Mrs. Valdemar. The link between our two families. Do you think this is appropriate?"

"Link?" The old woman laughed.

"Exactly! You can disown me, but you must keep up appearances, right? A rift between our families will affect stock prices, the company's reputation!"

"And so?"

Irene continued, "To the outside world, I am still a daughter of the Atlante family. Tomorrow, I need you to publicly clarify that today was just a misunderstanding."

Florence sneered. "So you can continue being Mrs. Valdemar? Maintain your noble status? Wei Furong, do you take us for fools?!"

Wei Furong. Irene's original name.

Florence had rescued her, not yet three years old, on the Yunnan-Myanmar border.

Her parents had died in a conflict. The child was destined for an orphanage.

The tiny girl had clung to Florence's leg, refusing to let go. Florence's heart had softened.

The next day, she discovered she was pregnant.

After years without children, it felt like a blessing from heaven.

Little Furong was her lucky star!

The couple decided to adopt her, renaming her Irene.

It meant to remember her origins, to be grateful.

They hoped she would never forget her roots.

But the opposite had happened—

Looking at the stranger her daughter had become, Florence's heart turned to ice.

Isaac Atlante steadied his wife, his voice cold. "We don't care about our relationship with the Valdemars. If it weren't for Sebastian's sake, my words today would have been far harsher!"

"Trying to negotiate? Show us your bargaining chips. The Valdemar name means nothing to us."

Irene shot to her feet. "You—"

Sebastian held her back. "Mom, stop."

"You're my son. Won't you even support me?"

Sebastian's dark eyes were intense. "I just have one question. Does Aunt Emilia's disappearance have anything to do with you?"

"Sebastian!"

"Yes, or no?"

"Sebastian Evans!"

"So it's yes."

"You—" Irene hadn't expected her son to turn against her.

Sebastian took a few steps back, lowering his gaze.

So that's how it is...

No wonder Grandma never liked Mother. No wonder his parents always argued. No wonder Irene was so full of resentment!

All the signs were there!

...

The night wind was sharp and bitingly cold.

After seeing Irene out, Sebastian was asked to stay by the old man.

Isaac said three things—

"You're a good kid. Thank you for looking after us all these years."

"We didn't tell you what we planned to say at the banquet today. First, we didn't know how to bring it up. Second, we wanted to see how you'd react."

"Sebastian, you didn't disappoint us. Will you still be our grandson?"

They rejected Irene, but they couldn't let go of Sebastian.

...

Down in the garden, Sebastian lit a cigarette.

Smoke curled around him as he stared blankly.

He forgot to smoke, letting it burn slowly.

His downcast eyes hid his emotions.

"What a coincidence."

A light, mocking sound came from the shadows.

Ethan Roscente stepped out, a half-smoked cigarette between his fingers.

A faint, sardonic smile played on his lips.

"Quite the performance. I almost bought it. But fakes can't become real. I never thought Sebastian Evans would stoop to such tricks."

Sebastian looked up coldly.

"Ethan Roscente."

"Not a coincidence. I was waiting for you."

"...Something on your mind?" He wasn't in the mood for a fight tonight.

Ethan raised an eyebrow, unusually calm.

Years of friendship meant they knew each other too well.

With the sibling revelation public, Sebastian's mood was understandable.

Ethan had deliberately provoked him outside Sophia Sullivan's place before. He never expected the backlash to hit himself.

"Congratulations on finding your sister. A cause for celebration," he added, twisting the knife.

Another brutal cut.

He showed no mercy.