Chapter 152

Duncan felt relieved. His plan had succeeded. He knew no man would reject Emmalie, his innocent and beautiful sister. Nicolas was lucky. Reaching Emmalie's door, they heard loud female voices from inside. However, there was also movement in the adjacent room. Duncan didn't know if it was servants or uninvited guests. He frowned, embarrassed.

He coughed, instructing the reporters, "Photograph the situation in the room. Don't worry about anything else." Then, he went alone to the next room.

He opened the door, ready to reprimand whoever was inside, but froze. It was Nicolas and Thea. Nicolas quickly pulled a blanket over Thea. His voice was low, his eyes dangerous. "Get out!"

Duncan was shocked. How is this possible? Why is Nicolas with Thea? Who is with Emmalie? He felt dizzy, almost losing his balance. He stumbled out.

He rushed to Emmalie's room. The reporters looked troubled. Emmalie was almost collapsed from the effects of the drug, lying naked on the ground, wounded. She seemed to be self-harming. She opened her eyes, dazed, and upon seeing a man, lunged at him. They barely restrained her.

Duncan felt heartache and shame. He restrained Emmalie. "Emmalie, it's me. Stay awake. It's me."

Emmalie was irrational, muttering, "I feel terrible. Duncan, can you help me?" Duncan wished he could disappear. For the first time, he wanted to slap her awake.

He gritted his teeth. "Stop this. I'm your brother, your biological brother. I'll take you to the hospital. Bear with it." Emmalie shook her head. "No, you're not my biological brother. It's okay."

Duncan found the statement odd but didn't dwell on it. He covered her with his jacket and, with a grim expression, called the bodyguards to tie her up. She finally calmed down.

Anger burned in Duncan. He saw the reporters still at the door and fumed. "Get out!" They were aggrieved; he'd summoned them, yet now scolded them. However, seeing his expression, no one dared to protest. Someone secretly took photos of Emmalie's pathetic state. The situation calmed.

Duncan stared at Thea and Nicolas's closed door, gritting his teeth. We planned to deal with Thea, but why this change? It must be Thea's doing. How can she be so vicious to her own sister?

He lowered his voice. Soon, rumors spread of Thea's drunken one-night stand. Duncan was sure the Hendrix family valued reputation, seeing Thea merely as an unsuitable mistress to Nicolas. He believed Nicolas would hold the Rowland family accountable for the drugging, but wouldn't make a huge scandal. This gave Duncan leverage to threaten Nicolas and resolve the Rowland family's crisis. His agitated heart slowed.

However, he had another problem: explaining things to the Xander family. The butler rushed in, panicked and sweating. "Mr. Rowland! Your brother and the Xander family are arguing. They're asking why we sent a man with broken arms and legs. Max is furious and wants you to come." Duncan's eyelids twitched.