Chapter 202

His knuckles turned white, a terrifying storm brewing in his eyes.

The air froze for several seconds.

Ethan Roscente's cold, chiseled face remained impassive, his dark eyes unreadable.

William Valentine suppressed his fury and forced a stiff smile. "Ethan is right."

The crowd gradually dispersed.

Isabella Valentine hurried away with her father.

Zachary Evans approached swiftly, handing over a USB drive. "Mr. Roscente, the surveillance footage."

Tiffany Roscente's legs trembled, cold sweat soaking her back.

She thought the storm had passed, but the real judgment was just beginning...

Ethan opened the video, which clearly showed Tiffany deliberately bumping into Sophia Lowell. The force had been miscalculated, sending the phone into the fountain.

With an icy expression, he tossed the phone to Zachary and slowly twisted the ring on his pinky.

"Article Seven of the Roscente Family Code."

Tiffany's face drained of color, her lips trembling uncontrollably. She feared this indifferent demeanor of her uncle the most—the calmer he appeared, the more terrifying he became.

"Mistakes must be owned... No shirking responsibility..."

Before she could finish, she dropped to her knees with a thud. "Uncle, I was wrong! I'll apologize to Sophia right now!"

Ethan glanced down, toying with his ring. "What did she ask you to do?"

"G-Get the phone from the water..." Tiffany answered tearfully.

"Then what are you waiting for?"

Tiffany scrambled up, ignoring the pain in her knees, and waded into the fountain, lifting her skirt.

The icy water rose past her calves, making her shiver violently. After fumbling in the dim water for what felt like forever, she finally retrieved the phone.

"Mr. Roscente, the phone."

Zachary presented the soaked device.

Ethan gripped the cold phone, his gaze shifting to Tiffany in the water. "Kneel in the Ancestral Hall until dawn."

He turned to Zachary. "You'll supervise her personally."

The night wind cut like knives. Tiffany's soaked dress clung to her legs, and she nearly collapsed back into the water at the verdict.

Kneel all night? Would she even have legs left?

Ethan checked his watch. "Where is she?"

"The footage showed Miss Lowell speaking with Young Master Jason at the gate. They must have just left."

"Keys."

Zachary quickly handed over the car keys.

Ethan strode out with purpose.

Outside the Roland estate, Sophia was bidding farewell to Tyler Roland, completely unaware of the aftermath.

"Thank you for today," she said sincerely.

Tyler waved it off with a smile. "It was nothing."

After a few more pleasantries, she and Jason Roscente headed toward the parking lot.

Suddenly, her high heel caught on a pebble, and Sophia stumbled.

"Ah!"

She pitched sideways.

Jason reacted instantly, catching her by the waist.

Their proximity became intimate, breaths mingling.

Sophia looked up, startled, meeting Jason's handsome face mere inches away.

"Are these heels just for show?" He frowned, releasing her and casting a disdainful glance at her shoes.