Chapter 238

No.1

Elisa's mocking words hung in the air, thick with contempt.

August's jaw locked so hard the muscles in his cheeks twitched. His dark eyes narrowed, trying to read the absolute lack of fear in her posture.

Before he could respond, Devon let out a loud,exaggerated scoff.

"Give it a rest, Elisa," Devon sneered, stepping up beside August. He looked Elisa up and down, his eyes filled with disgust at her faded sweatpants. "If this isn't a stunt, why are you dressed like a homeless person, squatting in August's penthouse?"

Allena quickly recovered from her shock. She sawv an opportunity to play the gracious winner. She stepped forward, linking her arm through August's again.

No.2

"Sister, I know losing August is. painful," Allena said,her voice dripping with fake, sickening pity. "But stalking him in his own home is just sad. If you need

money for a hotel, I can write you a check right now."

Cyprian stood near the elevator, his hands in his pockets. He didn't speak, but his analytical eyes watched Elisa with cold judgment, clearly agreeing with the others.

They all believed the same narrative: Elisa was a desperate, broken woman clinging to the billionaire lifestyle.

Elisa looked at the group of elites. A genuine,sharp laugh escaped her lips.

No.3

She pulled her hands out of her pockets and slowly walked toward the center of the room, forcing Devon to step back. She stopped in front of the massive leather sofa, claiming the physical center of the space.

She turned her eyes to Allena.

"You want to write me a check?" Elisa asked, her voice dripping with lethal amusement. "With what money, Allena? Are you going to pay me with the worthless stock from your bankrupt Vanguard Medical company?"

Allena's face instantly drained of color. She gasped,taking a physical step backward. The Vanguard crisis was a closely guarded secret she had been desperately hiding from August's social circle.

Devon's face flushed with anger. "Shut your mouth,Elisa!" he barked, stepping forward to defend Allena.

No.4

Elisa's head snapped toward him. Her dark eyes turned into black holes of pure violence.

"You're a guest in this penthouse, Devon," Elisa's voice cracked like a whip. "Learn some manners."

The sheer, dominant aura radiating from her body was so intense that Devon physically flinched,taking a half-step back before he even realized what he was doing.

August stepped in front of Allena, his broad shoulders shielding her.

"That is enough, Elisa," August commanded, his voice a freezing threat. "Get your things and get out of my house."

No.5

"Your house?" Elisa tilted her head, staring directly into his eyes. "You think I want to breathe the same

air as you?"

She paused for a single second, letting the silence build. Then, she dropped the bomb.

"Go ask your mother," Elisa said, her voice dropping to a dead, serious tone. "Go ask Germaine Chambers why I am standing here."

August's eyes widened slightly.

No.6

"She intercepted the separation injunction at the courthouse," Elisa stated, enunciating every word clearly. "She threatened to cut off my grandfather's life-saving clinical trial unless I moved back into this prison today."

The living room went completely, utterly silent.

The smugness vanished from Devon's face. Allena's mouth opened and closed likea dying fish.

August stared at Elisa. He searched her face for a lie,a trick. But he saw nothing but pure, exhausted hatred. He knew his mother's ruthless tactics. He knew she was telling the truth.

The realization hit the group like a physical shockwave. They hadn't caught a desperate stalker;

No.7

they had walked into Germaine's hostage situation.

Elisa looked at their stunned faces. She felt a surge of dark satisfaction.

"So, save your pathetic pity," Elisa sneered, turning her back on them and walking toward the hallway."And clean up your own mess."