Chapter 733

Henry Lancaster's piercing gaze locked onto the two women before him. "Last night, someone slipped an aphrodisiac into my drink. I demand to know what happened."

His attention shifted sharply to Isabella. "It's coming back to me now. You prepared that coffee for me yesterday evening. Within minutes of drinking it, my body started reacting abnormally. You're responsible for this, aren't you?"

Isabella's complexion drained of color. Her lips parted but no words came out.

Harrison turned toward Eleanor with calculated precision. "Ms. Lancaster, after being drugged, Mr. Lancaster went to shower. When he emerged, he found you waiting in his bed. This was clearly a coordinated scheme between you two, correct?"

Before either woman could formulate a response, Harrison spun back to face Nathaniel with dramatic flair.

"There's no doubt they planned this together. Isabella drugged your drink while Eleanor positioned herself as the prize. A perfectly staged seduction."

Nathaniel's expression darkened like a gathering storm as he glared at both women. "I want the truth. Now!"

Isabella hesitated, then confessed in a trembling voice, "Y-You're right. I did drug you last night."

"Why would you do such a thing?" Harrison pressed relentlessly. "You drugged Mr. Lancaster so Eleanor could compromise him, didn't you? But why? Isabella is your actual mother. How could you betray her like this?"

Isabella shot Harrison a venomous look. "That's enough! Keep your mouth shut!"

The sharp crack of Nathaniel's palm striking Isabella's cheek echoed through the room. Her head snapped sideways from the force of the blow.

Clutching her stinging face, she stared at Nathaniel in wounded disbelief. "You hit me again? This is the second time!"

Nathaniel's fury erupted like a volcano. "You remember this is the second time I've struck you, yet you've clearly forgotten why! Isabella is your birth mother. What possible justification could you have for this treachery?"

As Isabella opened her mouth to respond, Eleanor suddenly stepped between them.

"If anyone should bear the blame for this, it's me. I—"

Eleanor attempted to shoulder responsibility as a human shield, but Harrison cut her off with surgical precision.

"Why would you drug Mr. Lancaster? I thought you claimed to have no romantic interest in him. After all these years by his side, were you simply biding your time? Waiting for an opportunity to seduce him and replace Isabella as Mrs. Lancaster? Are you secretly in love with him?"

Each question struck Eleanor like a well-aimed arrow, leaving her pale and speechless.

Rage flickered in her eyes, but she dared not voice it. Instead, she settled for shooting Harrison a murderous glare.

Harrison's lips curled into a knowing smirk. She'd seen this act before—the faux innocence, the calculated vulnerability. Eleanor's performance didn't fool her for a second.

Isabella came from old money and genuine high society breeding, which explained why she'd been outmaneuvered by Eleanor's underhanded tactics.

But Harrison? She could play this game better than anyone.

Nathaniel fixed Eleanor with an intense stare. "Do you truly have feelings for me? Years ago, you swore you only saw me as a brother. I've always considered you family. I'm married to Isabella—she's my wife in every sense."

At this pivotal moment, Eleanor decided to lay all her cards on the table. "Yes, I love you! With all my heart!"

Nathaniel recoiled as if struck, staring at Eleanor in stunned disbelief—he'd never imagined she harbored such feelings.

"I love you!" Eleanor declared passionately. "Do you know why I've remained unmarried all these years? Because I've been waiting for you. I've devoted my prime years to you. Isabella may be your wife, but she doesn't cherish you—not the way I do! I love you!" Her voice rang with desperate conviction.