Chapter 433
He really heard.
Rage burned in Theodore Valdemar's eyes.
He bit out each word with deliberate force.
"How dare you do this?"
Irene Valdemar's gaze darted away.
She quickly adopted an innocent expression.
"Honey, what are you talking about?"
The man let out a cold laugh.
"If you weren't guilty, would you still call me 'honey' after being slapped?"
"You should have started cursing me out by now."
A chill ran down Irene's spine.
Her fingertips trembled slightly.
"I thought you were drunk..."
"I haven't touched a drop tonight."
Theodore's voice was icy.
She swallowed with difficulty.
Her tone took on a wounded note.
"What exactly happened?"
"Was it worth treating me like this?"
Tears slid down.
They traced paths on her well-maintained face.
Her eyes and brows still held a fading charm.
"I was pampered and spoiled growing up too."
"You hit me just like that."
"Where does that leave my dignity?"
Her voice grew softer.
Her head bowed lower.
She resembled a bullied young wife.
Her complaints held a coquettish note.
Even a hint of seduction.
Theodore remained unmoved.
He watched her coldly.
From head to toe.
From toe to head.
A mocking smile suddenly touched his lips.
"I never knew you were such a good actress before."
"Or that you had such nerve."
"What 'pampered and spoiled'?"
"But in the Atlante Gardens..."
"You weren't saying that."
He heard!
Irene's soul trembled.
Her eyes shifted from confused to terrified.
Finally, only panic remained.
"Honey, let me explain."
"I didn't mean to argue with Emilia."
"Did you see us from the balcony?"
"Irene!"
Theodore's voice was sharp.
"Still not telling the truth?"
"I didn't see."
"I heard it with my own ears!"
"I heard you arguing."
"I heard the truth about that year."
"You planned for her to fall back into the kidnappers' hands."
"You hid it and delayed."
"You made the police miss the rescue window!"
"You made her disappear for over twenty years!"
"Unable to reunite with her family!"
"You're the one to blame!"
"No wonder Mom and Dad distanced themselves from you all these years."
"They suspected you long ago."
"They just had no proof."
"And they were focused entirely on finding Emilia."
"That's why they let you be until now."
Irene continued playing dumb.
"What are you saying?"
"What truth? What delay?"
"Emilia and I argued since we were kids."
"It was just bickering in the garden."
"How can you take angry words seriously?"
Theodore's gaze was sharp as a blade.
"Still trying to fool me?"
"Are you too naive?"
"Or do you take me for a fool?"
"If you admitted it frankly."
"I might still respect you a little."
"Emilia was right."
"You're just pure evil."
Irene swayed on her feet.
He heard!
He really heard!
"Yes! I did it on purpose!"
"I meant for her to be captured!"
"I wanted her dead!"
"Are you satisfied now?!"
Slap—
Another strike landed.
Theodore trembled with anger.
"Why?!"
"She was your sister!"
"Sister?"
Irene laughed wildly.
"She was an Atlante too!"
"And the biological one!"
"Always one step ahead of me!"
"You liked her too!"
"Why?!"
"Just for that?"
"You wanted her dead?!"
"Exactly! I envied her! I was jealous!"
"Irene, you're insane!"
"Hahaha... Yes, I'm insane!"
"I went crazy over twenty years ago!"
"Seeing you being affectionate with her."
"I wanted to strangle her!"
"Even now!"
"Watching your eyes glued to her."
"As if you could watch her until the end of time."
"Do you know how much I hated it?!"
"Theodore, you are my husband."
"We are family!"
"It's been over twenty years."
"Why can't you forget her?"
"Even though she's married with children."
"You still gaze at her longingly."
"Seeing David Sullivan must make you jealous, right?"
"Wish he would disappear?"
"You look at David Sullivan."
"The way I look at Emilia."
"We're both pitiful creatures."
"Driven mad by unrequited love!"
Theodore's voice was low.
"You're wrong."
"No matter how jealous, I would never harm him."
"Because I know—"
"Without him, Emilia still wouldn't be mine."
Irene laughed maniacally.
"Then we really are different."
"I got rid of Emilia."
"And you became mine!"
"Hahaha..."
"So I wasn't wrong."
"Emilia disappeared."
"You married me."
"We had children and lived over twenty years."
"It was worth it!"
Theodore's entire body went rigid.
Irene continued twisting the knife.
"If I'm the killer."
"Then you're the bounty!"
"The trophy!"
"Eliminate the opponent and claim it!"
"Of course I had to risk everything."
"Was I wrong?"
"When you get down to it."
"You're the one who harmed Emilia."
"Hahaha..."
"Originally, I was used to Mom and Dad favoring her."
"But it was your love for Emilia."
"That triggered my jealousy."
"That made me gamble everything."
The man's fists clenched.
His face twitched.
Pain and regret warred in his eyes.
He suddenly looked up.
Emphasizing each word.
"That time I slept with you."
"Was that your scheme too?"
Irene met his bloodshot eyes.
She trembled all over.
"Y-You couldn't resist temptation..."
"I never touched you that night."
Theodore stepped closer.
His dark eyes were deep.
"How did you get pregnant?"
...
The Atlante family kept watch on New Year's Eve.
Florence Atlante wanted to stay up all night.
Everyone disagreed.
They finally compromised.
"Not the whole night."
"But we'll welcome the New Year after midnight before sleeping."
Isabella Sullivan nodded.
"That works."
The old lady surprisingly had no objections.
She was happy as a child.
She loved being managed by Isabella.
Isaac Atlante silently gave a thumbs up.
As midnight approached.
The Spring Festival Gala countdown began.
Isabella and David Sullivan accompanied the elderly couple.
Smiles on their faces.
Sophia Sullivan curled up in a beanbag chair.
Playing on her phone leisurely.
Suddenly, a ringtone sounded.
Caller ID—
Alexander Laurent.