Madam Vale’s grip on Julian tightened further because she could feel him shaking with rage now. Not loud rage. The worst kind. The kind that went silent before violence. Then Kalian lifted his phone carelessly.

"There are already whispers spreading online," he said. "Medical rumors. Questions about paternity." His eyes darkened with satisfaction. "Seems Sebastian Creed left behind more than obsession."

Julian moved so suddenly that several people stood up in alarm. "Enough!" The roar shook the room.

Even Kalian looked startled for half a second. Julian’s chest heaved violently as he stared at his uncle with pure hatred burning in his eyes.

"You will not speak about Amara like that," he said hoarsely. Every word sounded dragged out of him through pain. "Not in front of me." The room fell silent again.

Then Madam Vale slowly stood beside her son. And when she spoke, her voice was colder than anyone had ever heard it. "Anyone who humiliates Julian’s wife humiliates me."

No one moved. No one breathed. Madam Vale’s gaze swept across the room like a blade. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"And let me make something very clear to all of you," she continued. "I do not care what rumours are going around on the internet."

Julian looked at her sharply. Her expression never changed.

"That baby belongs to this family because Amara belongs to this family." Her eyes hardened further. "Anyone who challenges that will answer to me personally." The threat settled over the room heavily.

The silence Madam Vale created did not last long. Families like the Vales never stayed quiet for long when power, bloodlines, and inheritance were involved. Then Aunt Claire let out a sharp breath of disbelief and shook her head slowly.

"So the prince of the Vale family marries a divorcée who cheats on him?" she said coldly. "You cannot possibly expect us to accept that." Julian’s expression darkened instantly.

Claire continued anyway, fueled now by the attention in the room. "We cannot have that kind of woman tied to this family name." The sentence had barely left her mouth before Julian exploded.

"You will keep my wife’s name out of your mouth." His voice thundered across the room so violently that several relatives physically flinched.

The walls of the Vale estate seemed to echo with his anger. Julian stepped forward, every ounce of restraint gone now.

"All of you," he snarled, eyes blazing as he looked around the room. "I will not stand here and listen to you disrespect my wife." No one spoke. No one interrupted. Because Julian rarely lost control.

And that made this terrifying. "Do you hear me?" he shouted. The room remained frozen. Julian’s chest rose and fell heavily as years of controlled patience finally cracked apart.

"I am the legitimate heir to this family," he continued harshly. "Legally and publicly." His eyes landed directly on Uncle Kalian.

"And you think you’re more fit to run this empire?" Julian laughed once, cold and furious. "I can tear through your business records from top to bottom and bottom to top." Kalian’s expression tightened slightly.

Julian didn’t stop. "And you, Aunt Claire..." He turned toward her slowly. "With your scandals and financial history, you are barely qualified to sit on the board, let alone lecture me about family dignity."

Claire’s face drained of color. Julian pointed sharply across the room. "So every single one of you better understand this clearly...." His voice dropped lower. Dangerously low.

"You do not speak about my wife again." The threat in those words wrapped tightly around the room.

"I will not tolerate it." He looked at each of them one by one. "And this is your only warning." The silence afterward felt suffocating.

Julian stood there breathing hard, his patience completely gone. Then Madam Vale rose slowly beside him. Unlike Julian’s burning rage, her anger was calm. Controlled. And somehow far more frightening.

"Amara Vale is a Piers," she said firmly. The room shifted slightly. Everyone knew the Piers family. Old money. Old influence. A bloodline nearly as powerful as the Vales themselves.

"Her family carries generations of respected lineage and influence," Madam Vale continued coolly. "So she will not be disrespected in this house." Julian turned away after that, shoving his hands into his pockets tightly.

But everyone could still see the fury radiating off him. His jaw flexed. His shoulders rigid. He looked seconds away from losing control again. Then Aunt Claire spoke anyway. Because some people only became crueler when they sensed weakness.

"We may not be qualified to lead the family," she admitted carefully, "but there are traditions for a reason." Her voice softened with fake sorrow.

"Your father followed those rules. So did your brother." She placed a hand dramatically against her chest. "May he rest in peace." Julian closed his eyes briefly. The mention of his brother only sharpened the tension.

Claire continued. "But we cannot allow tainted blood to mix with the Vale bloodline." Madam Vale’s expression went deadly still.

"That child your wife is carrying is not a Vale," Claire finished quietly. "That is the issue here." Julian turned around slowly. Too slowly. And suddenly the room became afraid again. Because his face no longer showed anger.

It showed something colder. Something dangerous. Inside, his thoughts spiraled violently. How did they know? Only a handful of people knew the truth. Then immediately, Sebastain.

Of course. The realization hit him like poison. Sebastian had done this intentionally. He had spread the rumors, knowing exactly what kind of family the Vales were. Knowing exactly how much pain it would cause Amara.

Julian took a sharp step forward. "I warned you not to, "

"Julian." Madam Vale’s voice stopped him immediately. She grabbed his arm firmly before he could continue. Her eyes held a warning. Not here. Not like this. Julian’s breathing became uneven again.

He looked ready to destroy the room. Then Madam Vale’s expression shifted suddenly. Not toward him. Toward the entrance. Julian frowned slightly before turning. And froze.

Amara stood near the doorway. Silent. Still. No one knew how long she had been there. But judging from the shattered look in her eyes... Long enough. Long enough to hear the words tainted blood. Long enough to hear them discuss her child like a stain on the family name.