Chapter 164

The doorknob twisted violently in Sophia Durand's grip, screeching with metallic friction.

The heavy wooden door remained firmly locked.

Lily Savigny pounded her fists against the door, the thuds reverberating through the room. "Stella Valentine! What did you do?!"

"Want to leave?" Stella's voice drifted through the crack, icy and indifferent.

Lily trembled with rage. "When Victor gets here, you'll be begging on your knees!"

"Fine. I'll wait."

Victor Lefèvre's furious roar echoed through the villa as he arrived. "Stella Valentine! Open this door now!"

"Uncle, how punctual." Stella chuckled.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Taking back what's mine. Wasn't that always the plan?"

Victor sneered. "Dream on! The company is under my name now. Lily is marrying Adrian Roland soon. You think—"

A piercing scream cut him off.

Scalding water arced through the air. Lily barely dodged, but the hem of her nightgown caught the spray. Her fair skin instantly reddened and swelled.

"Lily!" Sophia slammed her palms against the door. "Stella, have you lost your mind?!"

"This is just the beginning." Stella tilted the kettle in her hand.

Lily clutched her scalded calf, tears streaming. "Mom! My face can't be ruined! The wedding is next week!"

Victor's face twisted with fury. "Stella! You won't leave here alive today!"

"Good. Then we'll go to hell together." Stella's voice was glacial. "I will ruin Lily's face."

"You wouldn't dare!"

Another shriek of pain.

Sophia yanked Victor back. "Victor! Her face matters more!"

"That ungrateful wretch!" Victor shook with rage. "After all I've done managing her father's company—"

Stella smirked and raised the kettle again.

Lily cowered in the corner, trapped.

"Ah! Mom! Help me!"

Sophia's voice trembled. "Stella, what do you want?"

"Make Victor shut up." Stella's tone was flat. "One more word, and I pour again."

Victor tensed to lash out, but Sophia gripped his arm. "Victor! Lily's marriage secures the company's future!"

"And whose fault is it she got into this mess?" Victor snapped.

Stella's voice cut in smoothly. "Uncle, Lily was only seventeen then. What did she know? Someone must have guided her."

Sophia paled.

Victor's gaze slowly turned toward her.

"Victor, don't listen to her lies—"

"Aunt Sophia," Stella interrupted, "should we ask William Rubenstein to confirm?"

"Which William?" Victor demanded.

Stella smiled. "Ask your wife."

Sophia's face went ashen. The seed of doubt had been planted.

"Not talking?" Stella stepped toward Lily, kettle raised. "Three... two..."

"I'll talk! I'll tell you everything!" Lily screamed, breaking.