Yolanda had woken up at some point and was now standing at the doorway, her face as white as a sheet, looking as though she could barely stand.

From her expression, it was clear she had heard everything Marcus just said.

Mrs. Lockwood rushed over to support her, worried, yet still unwilling to believe the accusations. "What Marcus just said isn't true, right? There must be a misunderstanding. Yolanda, explain yourself quickly. Don't let Marcus

misunderstand you!"

"I..." Yolanda's face was ashen, her palms slick with cold sweat.

She thought the poisoning incident was over! Hadn't Ward set everything up? Hadn't

Marcus caught the scapegoat they'd arranged, just as they'd planned?

Why was he still investigating?

And how did he find out...?

Yolanda's mind was a chaotic mess, her thoughts scattered.

Mr. and Mrs. Lockwood knew their daughter well. Seeing her reaction, Mr.

Lockwood's heart sank.

"Yolanda! Did you really..."

"Marcus! Ward forced me to do it! I didn't mean to!" Yolanda burst into tears, looking at Marcus in terror.

Now that Marcus knew everything, she had no confidence to deny it further and could only try to defend herself.

"I love you so much, how could I be with Ward? He set me up—"

That part, at least, wasn't a lie. Her involvement with Ward had indeed been his design.

She had drunkenly slept with Ward and was later blackmailed by him. Terrified of Marcus finding out, she had no choice but to continue the relationship.

As for the poisoning, Ward had made the first move.

But placing items around Marcus to worsen his condition-that had been her own idea!

Yolanda was a realist who always knew exactly what she wanted.

Years ago, as a young child, she had been manipulative enough to get adopted by the Lockwood family and secure a better life. She was even more calculating now.

Her engagement to Marcus was something she had begged her parents for, and they had gone to great lengths to secure it for her.

On one hand, she genuinely liked Marcus. On the other, she valued his status as the Jackson family heir.

So, after Ward poisoned Marcus, and it seemed likely he would lose his inheritance, she quickly made her decision.

She chose to side with Ward!

After all, Ward was infatuated with her, and she held the evidence of him harming Marcus. If he took over the Jackson family she would still become its matriarch!

But who could have guessed that Marcus would recover? And that he would uncover the truth about the poisoning!

Her face streaked with tears, she cried, "Marcus, Ward really forced me. I had no other choice!"

But Marcus knew the whole story. He wasn't going to be fooled by her act again.

He turned to her parents with a cold expression. "Mr. Lockwood, Mrs. Lockwood, now that you know assume you have no objection to me breaking off the engagement?"

How could Mr. and Mrs. Lockwood possibly object now?

Mrs. Lockwood then asked about the day's events. “Yolanda, what happened today?

Your friend said you jumped from the balcony yourself..."

Still reeling from Marcus's

revelation, Yolanda's mind was buzzing. At the question, her eyes reddened, and she cried out

emotionally, "Why would jump from a balcony for no reason? Juliet pushed me!"