Marcus Valentine stood frozen.

The surrounding crowd exchanged bewildered glances.

Justin Evans wailed, "I did have my eye on Mina! Everyone in New York knows she's the famous unattainable ice queen!"

"Countless men wanted to be the one to bring her down a peg!"

"When she was still the Sherwood heiress, none of us dared make a move. But after her family fell from grace... let's just say the talk among men got pretty lively."

He looked at Mina, his voice trembling. "Men like to boast. Save face."

"That last time she had dinner with me and her uncle... her uncle made it perfectly clear she was there to entertain me."

"But the moment he left, she tried to run?"

"You think I'd let a piece of meat right in front of my mouth just fly away? I tried to force her..."

Marcus's eyes turned icy cold, sharply focusing on him.

Justin shrank back in fear. "Wait, don't be mad! I did try to force her, but she fought like hell! She got away in the end!"

"But I'd already bragged to my friends! When they asked later, I couldn't just admit I failed, could I? I had to double down and say I slept with her!"

The entire hall fell into dead silence.

After a long moment, Penelope Valentine spoke softly. "That article described everything in such detail. It even mentioned the mole on sister-in-law's lower back."

"Big brother, is that true?"

Marcus remained silent.

He had read that article over and over.

Every single detail was burned into his mind.

Especially the descriptions of her most private areas. They had made him see red, nearly driving him insane.

That was the real reason he had been so insistent on the abortion today.

Not just the mole on her lower back. Even more intimate places were described with perfect clarity.

How could anyone know such details unless they had seen them with their own eyes?

His silence was answer enough.

Penelope looked at Evelyn. "Did you use some method to force him to change his story?"

Evelyn Ross let out a cold laugh, but before she could speak, Justin shouted again.

"Penelope Valentine, do you have some kind of grudge against me? I said I didn't sleep with her, so I didn't!"

"Those details about her body have been circulating in our circle for ages!"

"Just because I didn't succeed doesn't mean others didn't!"

He looked at Mina, his tone turning vicious. "She's been the well-known escort girl in our circle for a while now."

"No wonder I was so pissed when she rejected me that day."

"Thinking about it now, she must have already latched onto a bigger fish. Trying to cut ties with all her previous clients, huh?"

Evelyn directly kicked him in the abdomen, sending him flying.

Justin screamed as he skidded across the floor, curling into a ball from the pain. "I won't say it anymore! I'll clarify! Mina Sherwood and I are completely innocent!"

"I swear! If I ever slept with her, may I be struck by lightning!"

His words convinced most of the people present.

Mr. and Mrs. Valentine hurried forward, pushing Marcus aside.

Mrs. Valentine helped Mina up. "Mina, you've been wronged today."

Since Mina had married into the Valentine family, Mrs. Valentine had always treated her well.

Mina nodded gratefully, but her eyes remained on Marcus.

Mrs. Valentine pushed her son. "Marcus, how could you doubt Mina because of some outsider's words?"

"Apologize to her! You haven't even been married that long. How could you do this?"

Marcus remained silent.

Mrs. Valentine was about to say more when Ethan Valentine cut in. "Aunt, big brother has his reasons."

"Justin says he didn't sleep with her, but who knows about others..."

"Shut up!"

"Shut up!"

Evelyn and Third Uncle shouted in unison. They glanced at each other.

Third Uncle looked at her with a deep, unreadable gaze.

Evelyn coughed lightly and looked away.

Ethan glanced between them, pursing his lips.

This Evelyn Ross and Third Uncle were really in sync.

Evelyn looked at Marcus. "The baby will be three months along in a few days. Can't you wait until then for an amniocentesis and DNA test?"

"Is even a few days too long to wait?"

Mrs. Valentine quickly agreed. "Marcus, I don't know what's happened between you two."

"But since the wedding, Mina has either been at home or with Miss Ross."

"I've seen her character for myself. You can't judge a person solely on rumors."

"Perhaps she had her reasons for those business dinners back then. There must be some misunderstanding between you."

Marcus still said nothing.

Mrs. Valentine walked to Mina's side. "Mina, as long as there's even a one percent chance this child is Marcus's, I'm willing to wait for you to prove your innocence!"

Mina's eyes instantly reddened.

She felt a mother's love from Mrs. Valentine she had never experienced before.

Mr. Valentine also said, "Yes. From now on, you and Marcus will live separately."

"Don't worry. We won't let Marcus hurt you again before the DNA test!"

"No need."

Evelyn spoke coldly. "Mina is coming with me."

"On what grounds?"

Ethan jumped in again. "Evelyn Ross, you're overstepping. This is Valentine family business!"

"Big brother and sister-in-law just have a small misunderstanding. What right do you have to take her away?"

Evelyn ignored him, looking directly at Marcus. "I'm taking her."

"When she's three months along, I'll take her to my facility for the test."

She took Mina's hand. "Let's go."

The fact that all these people had been standing around, yet no one had truly stopped Marcus, infuriated Evelyn.

She would not leave Mina here.

Mina also wanted to protect her child and silently followed.

Alexander Vance followed closely behind.

The three of them walked straight out.

The butler looked at Third Uncle. A single gesture from him would have people intercept them.

But Third Uncle merely pressed his lips together and did not stop them.

The butler stood frozen.

The Valentine family could only watch as Evelyn Ross barged in and then took Mina away.

Only after the sound of a car driving away faded did Ethan look at Third Uncle. "Third Uncle, she's too arro..."

"Shut up!"

Third Uncle snapped at him again.

Ethan was truly angry now. "Third Uncle, how can you do this?"

"Letting big brother suffer such humiliation for a woman? Have you lost your mind?"

"And that woman is clearly no good! She even brought a little..."