Chapter 104

The press conference had spectacularly imploded in their faces.

Victoria's voice trembled as she reached for Harrison. "Darling, please forgive me. I didn't understand the situation earlier. Let me explain—"

Harrison cut her off with a piercing gaze. "Are you certain about that?"

A police officer stepped forward, his badge glinting under the harsh lights. "Victoria Whitmore, you knowingly harbored Vincent during his escape. We have reasonable grounds to consider you an accomplice. You'll need to come with us."

Strong hands clamped around Victoria's arms.

Her mind reeled. She remembered that night clearly—the way she'd hidden Vincent, given him money, helped him disappear.

Victoria's eyes widened in horrified realization. "You planned this?" she hissed at Harrison.

Harrison had orchestrated everything—Dominic's release of Vincent, knowing full well the predator would seek out the Whitmore family.

Innocent confusion painted Harrison's features as a slow, knowing smile curved her lips. "I'm afraid I don't follow. Mother, save your explanations for the authorities."

Victoria's mouth worked soundlessly. "You vicious little—"

Vincent's desperate wail cut through the room as officers dragged him away. "I can't go back to prison! Mrs. Whitmore! Help me, please!"

All eyes swiveled to Victoria as murmurs erupted through the crowd.

Her carefully cultivated image of maternal perfection was crumbling before everyone's eyes.

Victoria's face turned ashen. "Silence him! Someone shut him up!"

The reporters' whispers grew louder. "That monster Vincent was imprisoned for child molestation a decade ago. How could Mrs. Whitmore not know?"

"She knew and still associated with the man who hurt her own daughter... What kind of mother does that?"

"I heard Mrs. Whitmore's just a desperate old woman, chasing after Theodore first, then Isabella."

Victoria's face twisted in fury. She despised these labels—loathed them with every fiber of her being.

"Lies! All lies!"

Her protests were cut short as officers seized her arms, dragging her toward the exit. Isabella stood frozen, mind racing. This wasn't supposed to happen. What was she supposed to do now? Their carefully planned ambush had backfired spectacularly—instead of destroying Harrison, they'd annihilated their own reputations.

"Mother!"

Isabella's cry died in her throat as hundreds of eyes turned toward her. She immediately fell silent.

The most bewildered person in the room was Sebastian. His mind struggled to process the rapid developments.

Then he noticed a pair of sharp, intelligent eyes studying him—Harrison's.

Truthfully, Sebastian felt a twinge of guilt. He'd been unaware of what Harrison had endured.

At that moment, Harrison approached him, her tone deceptively light. "Mr. Willowbrook, are you hungry?"

Sebastian blinked. "What?"

Harrison's smile didn't reach her eyes. "If you're thirsty, perhaps try some walnuts. Excellent for brain function."

With that, she turned on her heel and walked away.

Gabrielle muffled a laugh before following Harrison.

Sebastian's momentary guilt evaporated as anger surged through him. Walnuts for his brain? Did she truly think him that much of a fool?

"Harrison! Get back here and explain yourself!" he roared.

Isabella seized the moment to approach him. She couldn't afford to lose Sebastian now. "Sebastian," she whispered tearfully, "I had no idea Vincent was such a monster."

Sebastian's expression darkened with disgust. "Don't speak of that filth. He'll rot in prison where he belongs. Isabella, this isn't your fault—you're too kind, too trusting. He deceived us all."