Chapter 228: Outright Beating

The news arrived swiftly, thanks to Alexander's efficient subordinates and Ethan's limited contacts since returning home. He was largely idle, his time consumed by appeasing his girlfriend and her family, or meeting Sasha at hotels. This clandestine rendezvous naturally drew the investigators' attention first; Alexander's request for an investigation implied a search for incriminating evidence. Hotel records and surveillance footage were promptly delivered.

Hearing Isabella's thoughts and witnessing his best friend's manipulation were vastly different experiences. Alexander sighed heavily. Isabella, seeing him engrossed in his phone, leaned in. The video thumbnails alone revealed the culprits.

A surge of joy filled Isabella's heart. Great, everything's going smoothly! Alexander, being so smart, must have figured it out, right?

After putting away his phone, Alexander turned to Roland. "Roland, I need to speak with you privately."

Roland, startled by Alexander's unusually serious expression, rose. The others watched curiously, inquiring about any secrets.

A straightforward reveal? I hope Roland can handle it. While reveling in others' misfortunes isn't right, I'm genuinely curious about his reaction. It would be great to witness it firsthand. Despite her boldness, Isabella felt it inappropriate to follow.

Alexander, about to leave, paused and took Isabella's hand. Isabella was surprised.

"Let's go together," he said.

Isabella eagerly followed. The Quirk family watched tensely, their anticipation silenced as the involved parties entered a private room, rendering Isabella's thoughts inaudible. Roland, however, furrowed his brow, sensing an inexplicable foreboding from Alexander's seriousness and Isabella's awkwardness.

"What do you want to tell me?" Roland asked.

Roland's face blanked as he stared, dumbfounded, at Alexander and Isabella. "Illegitimate child? Ethan? The high school bully who tormented Sasha? He's my half-brother? And he's here today?"

Isabella had never heard Roland's voice so shaky; the impact was clearly significant. Regrettably, this was only the beginning.

Roland's grim expression and throbbing temple betrayed his struggle to control his emotions. He fully believed Alexander, harboring no doubt. The revelation of his father's two-decade-long betrayal deeply affected him. His concern wasn't for his own pain, but for his mother's reaction upon learning the truth.

Roland closed his eyes briefly. "Alexander, Isabella, thank you for telling me. Please keep this quiet for now. I'll handle it later."

Alexander interrupted his exhausted confession. "That's not the main point."

Roland stared in disbelief. Could anything be worse? Isabella urged, "Brace yourself."

Fear consumed Roland. Alexander produced his phone, transferring several videos to Roland's phone.

Alexander explained, "I initially suspected a scheme, so I investigated. I uncovered something far more significant. Otherwise, I wouldn't have revealed Ethan's paternity now. The illegitimate child issue could be discussed anytime; why not wait until after the wedding?"

Roland, bewildered, unlocked his phone. At the video thumbnails, his pupils constricted. He watched the videos, one after another.

His eyes bloodshot, his face ashen, his body trembled uncontrollably, cracking his smartphone. When he looked up, his face was murderous.

He actually…

Isabella paused, sensing something was amiss in Roland's reaction.

"Why didn't she tell me? Why… the child…" Roland stammered.

Alexander, sensing Roland's distress, said, "Investigate the pregnancy timeline. It might differ from what you know. Recall your involvement during that time."

Roland reeled, remembering the inconsistencies. The child wasn't his; it belonged to his half-brother and Sasha, who had merely used him for cover.

Alexander, relaying information gleaned from Isabella's thoughts, analyzed, "He likely knows about Sasha's pregnancy. He's probably trying to seize the family wealth, or at least secure it for his child."

No man could endure such an insult; Roland was consumed by rage.

Isabella cautiously observed Roland before asking, "Do you want to call off the wedding?"

Roland, seemingly snapping, dashed out, appearing on the verge of murder.

Before Alexander and Isabella could react, he was gone.

I thought Roland would handle this discreetly, for appearances' sake. Is he going to confront them directly? Will the shameless couple be exposed? Isabella, excited, urged Alexander to follow.

They arrived to find Roland had already knocked Ethan to the ground with a single punch, knocking out a tooth. Before Ethan could react, Roland was pummeling him.

Gasps arose from the stunned crowd. Owen called for intervention, but Stephanie, rushing forward, stopped Roland after three punches. He wouldn't hit a woman.

"Mr. Roland, what are you doing? We're here for your wedding! Why are you hitting him?!" Stephanie, red-eyed, fiercely protected Ethan.

"This doesn't concern you!" Roland retorted.

"Are you really a cop? How can you be so violent?" Stephanie refused to yield.

Others intervened, pulling Roland away. Daphne, supporting the panting Roland, asked, "Roland, what on earth are you doing?"

Owen, relieved Ethan hadn't passed out, glared at Roland. "Hitting a guest at your own wedding?!"

Roland's expression darkened. "A guest? You call him a guest?" He pointed at Ethan, then turned at a call from the balcony. Sasha's pale, tearful face appeared.

Roland, unsure who Sasha was looking at, swallowed his words, staring coldly at Owen. "Dad, is he your guest? I don't welcome him!"

Daphne was taken aback. Roland, gritting his teeth, explained to his mother, "Mom, he's the school bully who tormented me and Sasha!"

Isabella and Alexander froze, exchanging a puzzled glance.

Why the public beating instead of a secret confrontation? If he's going to beat him, why not expose them? Pride? Not wanting others to know he was cheated on? But how will he call off the wedding by concealing the truth? Alexander frowned, perplexed.

The Quirk family, witnessing the fight, found Roland's actions peculiar. Could he be concealing Sasha's affair out of pride? Good heavens! Does he really think that? Roland, you fool!