Chapter 61

The woman beneath Roland thrashed violently, her screams piercing the air. "Get off me! Someone help!"

Victoria's heart soared. This was the exact scenario she'd envisioned.

She immediately cried out, "Harrison! So this is how you betray Nathaniel with another man! I'm utterly disgusted!"

The crowd behind her erupted in shocked whispers. "Is that really Harrison from the countryside? How disgraceful!"

Frederick and Cassandra pushed forward eagerly, their faces twisted with contempt as they glared at Harrison like she was vermin.

"Mother, Harrison is nothing but a stain on the Whitmore name. We must cut ties immediately!" Frederick spat, his voice dripping with venom.

Margaret nodded in agreement.

Suddenly, the struggling woman turned her face toward them. "Mother! Father! It's me! Help!" she wailed.

Frederick and Cassandra froze. Their blood ran cold when they recognized their daughter Penelope beneath the man.

"Oh god! Penelope!" Cassandra shrieked, lunging forward to grab Roland. "Release my daughter this instant!"

Frederick reacted immediately, delivering a brutal kick that sent Roland crashing to the floor. The impact shook the room.

Penelope's dress was torn, her pale skin exposed. She trembled uncontrollably, her face drained of color.

Cassandra quickly wrapped her coat around Penelope's shoulders. "Darling, what happened? Explain this!"

Margaret stood rooted to the spot, barely whispering, "Penelope... what are you doing here?"

Victoria's jaw dropped. Penelope?! Where was Harrison? Where had she gone?

Isabella tugged at Victoria's sleeve, her expression horrified. "Mother, how could this happen?"

Victoria floundered, unable to form words.

The murmurs grew louder. "It's not Harrison - it's Penelope!"

"My god! Penelope was caught with a man!"

Cassandra shielded her daughter protectively. "Stop these vile accusations! Penelope doesn't even date! She would never!"

Frederick was beside himself. "Penelope, tell us what occurred!"

Sobbing, Penelope collapsed into her mother's arms. "I don't know! A maid spilled something on my gown, so I went upstairs to change. This... this monster attacked me when I entered the room. He forced me onto the bed and tried to... to..."

Penelope's virtue meant everything to Frederick and Cassandra. They'd dreamed of her marrying someone like Nathaniel. Now, before Willowbrook's elite, their daughter had been publicly violated. The thought made them shake with rage.

Frederick stormed toward Roland, delivering another vicious kick. "Who the hell are you? Explain yourself!"

Roland's eyes were glazed from the aphrodisiac he'd inhaled earlier. Seeing Penelope, he'd lost all control.

Now writhing in pain, Roland gritted his teeth and cried out, "Aunt Victoria! Aunt Victoria, help me!"

"Aunt Victoria?" Cassandra whirled on Victoria, her eyes blazing. "Victoria, is this animal your nephew?"

Victoria's face went deathly pale as realization dawned.

"Victoria! Why would you bring your nephew to Mother's birthday without telling anyone? What game are you playing?" Frederick roared, his entire body trembling with fury.

Cassandra flew at Victoria, delivering a stinging slap that echoed through the room. The sharp crack left everyone stunned.

Victoria clutched her reddening cheek. "Cassandra, have you lost your mind? How dare you strike me?"

"You planned this!" Cassandra seethed, her voice shaking with rage. "You wanted your nephew to ruin Penelope at this party! How could you be so heartless?"