Scarlet's frightened scream pierced the air. She stared at Tilda in horror. "Tilda, are you trying to kill him?"

Alex eyed the bucket as it rolled across the floor, his heart hammering against his ribs.

"She's just lashing out because she's been exposed!" he accused. "Lyndon, your wife genuinely tried to seduce me, but when she spotted her son coming out of the restroom, she flipped the script-pretended to be the victim to make her son believe I was harassing her. She deserves an Oscar for that performance!"

Lyndon covered Sheldon's ears, shielding him from the venomous accusations against his mother.

The darkness in his eyes spoke of barely restrained violence.

"Alex, you're making things up!" he hissed. "My wife seduced you? Not everyone is as blind as your boss's wife!"

These words struck a nerve. Alex's expression shifted, unease dancing in his eyes.

"Lyndon, what are you implying?" he frowned. "Be careful with your words."

"You know exactly what we mean," Tilda interjected coldly.

Alex's teeth ground together as he glared at her. Noticing Scarlet's suspicious gaze, he quickly clutched his abdomen, feigning weakness. "I have no idea what you're talking about," he muttered. "Today is supposed to be a celebration for Scarlet and me. I don't want to waste my time arguing with you."

Then he turned to Scarlet with a pained expression. "Scarlet, I think the beating broke some bones. The pain is unbearable. Please, take me to the hospital."

Scarlet's eyes flickered with disdain, but she still reached out to steady Alex as he struggled to stay upright.

Tilda, watching closely, knew exactly what Alex was thinking —he was desperate to escape.

Too bad for him. There was no way she was going to let the man who had hurt her son slip away so easily.

With a cool smirk, she tilted her head and said, "Scarlet, you're really pitiful."

Scarlet froze mid-step. "What did you just say?"

"I said.." Tilda's voice was clear and deliberate. "You're really pitiful."

She took a step forward, her tone dripping with mock sympathy. "Just half an hour before your engagement party started, your beloved fiancé was busy hooking up with a married woman in the dressing room."

Tilda let the words sink in before adding, "Only someone like you would treat such a man as a treasure."

Scarlet's face drained of color. Her head snapped toward Alex, her eyes burning with suspicion.

"Alex," she demanded, "is what she's saying true? Have you been having an affair with a married woman behind my back?"

As the pieces started falling into place, she suddenly recalled something Lyndon had mentioned earlier. Could that married woman be.. Douglass's wife?

Alex's face twisted with frustration. "No, Scarlet! Don't listen to her nonsense!"

He shook his head vehemently. "She's just trying to get back at me because I exposed her dirty secrets. She's trying to drive a wedge between us!"