Chapter 525

The darkness outside was so intense that the night seemed to swallow all light. The few scattered lights were feeble and forlorn, adding to the desolate atmosphere. The son Evelyn had painstakingly brought up, though not hers by blood, was someone she had placed all her hopes on and treated as if he were her own. Yet now, Brad was telling her to stay away from Nadine, or else he'd turn his back on her. How could she possibly accept that? For a moment, her mind went blank, and she stood frozen in place. Her eyes widened as she stared at Brad in disbelief. What kind of spell did Nadine cast on Brad to make him defend her so fiercely? Sure enough, a slut would always be a slut. All she knew was to use underhanded tactics to lure men in. Nadine was truly despicable! The overhead lights illuminated Brad's face. His facial features were sharp and defined, and his jawline was drawn tight. His eyes were dark and piercing, as if they could see straight into someone's soul. He looked Evelyn in the eye, and the intense murderous intent in his gaze felt like it could burrow straight into her heart. There was a wild and unruly arrogance in his brow. The chilling coldness in his eyes was enough to leave anyone rooted to the spot. Evelyn stared blankly at her son, who looked menacing and fierce, and felt her blood run cold. Instead of lashing out at him, she took a moment to really look at him and asked softly, "Nadine is precious to you, but I'm not? I'm your mother, Brad. I've cared for you all these years and raised you into the man you are today. Have I ever asked you for anything in return?" Truth be told, Evelyn was a good stepmother. She was Brad's maternal aunt. Her older sister passed away not long after giving birth to him, leaving the infant Brad motherless. Daniel loved his wife dearly and was so grief-stricken that he fainted several times. For a week, he had refused to eat or drink, and his body had wasted away until he was nothing but skin and bones. Adam was the one who stepped up and handled all the funeral arrangements. The Hamiltons had lost the lady of their house at the time, and Daniel had lost all will to live. He locked himself in his room every day, mourning his late wife as if the sky itself had come crashing down on him. Evelyn's heart ached for both her nephew and her brother-in-law. So, not long after her sister's passing, she went to live with them and took care of Brad. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Brad wouldn't be who he was today without Evelyn. If Evelyn hadn't looked after him, he might not even be alive now. It was because of Evelyn's dedicated care that Brad grew up healthy and strong. When he learned to call Evelyn "Mom", she and Daniel got married, and she became the new lady of the house. Brad felt a lump in his throat when he thought of what he owed her for raising him. The woman before him was his mother—the one who had single-handedly raised him. However, he refused to back down. His expression remained stoic as he said through gritted teeth, "I need you to know that I'm the one who owes you a debt, not Nadine. It has nothing to do with her." His aquiline nose and sharp jawline made his features stand out. His thin lips were often pressed together, and it made him look intimidating. Evelyn had already regained her composure. She looked at her son, who was hellbent on protecting Nadine, and chuckled. "I'm the one who raised you, but you've gone against my wishes time and time again. Do you even see me as your mother?"