Who Orchestrated The...

Julian Blackwood’s hands were useless, shattered. He had to push himself up on his elbows, a picture of utter humiliation and pain.

Alexander Blackwood watched him, his eyes cold and detached. There was no warmth there, no pity.

Under that piercing stare, one of Alexander’s men stepped forward. His voice was quiet but firm. "We can let you go. But only if you answer Mr. Blackwood’s questions. Truthfully. Lie to us, and you’ll regret it."

A flicker of hope crossed Julian’s bruised face. "Yes! Anything! I'll tell you everything!"

The subordinate didn’t hesitate. "Who was behind the kidnapping of Mrs. Blackwood?"

The brief hope on Julian’s face vanished, replaced by tense wariness.

His eyes shifted nervously as he remembered. It was Harrison Blackwood, the ambitious second son. Harrison had come to him with a proposition. He offered Julian a chance to have Evelyn, and a fortune to go with it.

Harrison had designed the whole vile plan. He would create a scandalous video. He would spread rumors that would destroy both Alexander and Evelyn’s reputations across Crestwood and beyond. The story would be that Alexander’s wife, married to a cripple, was desperate for a real man.

The offer was irresistible. Wealth beyond measure, and the woman he had always wanted. He took the bait without a second thought.

For years, he had craved her. Now he could have her and be paid for the privilege. He wasn't going to let this chance slip away.

What Julian never expected was for Alexander to show up and save Evelyn. Even more shocking was the discovery that Alexander was not crippled at all.

As Julian assessed his desperate situation, one thought dominated. Even if Alexander had miraculously recovered, the vast Blackwood empire would eventually fall into Harrison’s cunning hands.

Telling the truth now would mean his death. Harrison would never let him live.

Weighed down by this knowledge, he straightened as best he could and stammered, "It... it was all my idea..."

Alexander cut him off with a scornful laugh. His voice was ice. "Keep lying. You can rot here for all I care. You're useless to me now."

Panic surged through Julian, his heart hammering. He looked up to see Alexander and his men already turning away, their footsteps echoing in the hollow room.

Adrenaline jolted him into action. His mind raced. If he didn't get out now, what future did he have? It was better to come clean. Once free, he could grab his family and disappear forever.

"I'll talk! I'll talk!" Julian’s voice cracked with desperation as he yelled after Alexander. "I swear, it was all Harrison’s idea! He forced me into this!"

Alexander stopped dead. The air crackled with tension. Slowly, he turned back, his expression darkening into a storm. He fixed Julian with a steely glare. "Continue."

Julian drew a sharp breath, his voice trembling. "A few days ago, Harrison found me. He ordered me to kidnap Evelyn. Then... then he told me to make a video and leak it online. You know how the internet feasts on elite scandals. With a little push, the rumor of Evelyn’s infidelity would spread like wildfire, completely out of control."

He paused, his gaze flickering with fear. "His goal was always to destroy you and Evelyn. To ruin your reputations completely."

As Alexander processed this, his face hardened into a mask of cold fury.

For years, he had endured the underhanded schemes of Harrison and Margaret without retaliating.

But dragging Evelyn into their games was a line they should never have crossed.

Seeing the dangerous storm in Alexander’s eyes, Julian shuddered. His words tumbled out in a frantic rush.

"Alexander, please, you have to believe me! It was all Harrison’s manipulation! How could I, a nobody, defy the Blackwood family? I was powerless!"

He clasped his broken hands together in a pathetic plea. "If anyone is to blame, it's your ruthless family. I promise, I'll stay away from Evelyn. Just... just let me go, and I'll forget any of this ever happened."

Alexander’s laughter echoed low and menacing through the room, freezing the blood in Julian’s veins.

"Stay away from her?" Alexander’s voice was a deadly whisper. "Trust me. You will never have the opportunity to even look in her direction again."

Julian froze, a cold dread creeping down his spine. "What do you mean by that?" he blurted out.