Chapter 290: Slapped Ava For As Many Years Damien Lived

An unreasonable question made Ava sound like the victim. Howard, however, responded to her accusations, addressing Lydia. "No, I wasn't home. My wife was at risk during childbirth. As my older brother, it was his responsibility to care for her. You were petty and caused the premature delivery. You brought this upon yourself!"

He spoke the truth, acting as my spokesperson. Mrs. Willis, a master of blame-shifting, faced someone who knew better. Her flushed face showed she knew she was wrong.

The Quirks agreed with Isabella; Ava's raised voice masked her guilt.

"It's all Lydia and Damien's fault!" Ava shouted. "When I gave birth to Ollic, Damien ignored him, focusing on your son. His favoritism was disrespectful. I hate him! He should have treated my son better!"

"So you switched them," Lydia hissed, seething.

"The children grew to look alike," Ava continued. "I switched them while you were away. No one noticed. But he died soon after—killed because of Damien."

"You're crazy!" Howard retorted. "Jared had a car accident after arguing with you. You're to blame!"

"No, it was Damien!" Ava snarled. "He went out looking for Damien!"

A Winters family member spoke. "Jared rushed out to find Damien after you lost him, leading to the accident. Later, when people searched for Jared, news of the accident spread, leading to rumors about Damien bringing misfortune to his family. It's all a different perspective now."

Damien spoke in a low murmur. "Because you switched your child, you neglected me, perhaps even hoping I'd disappear. He believed I was Oliver, his son. Even though he might not have liked it, he took responsibility as a father and anxiously searched for him. You caused his death, then blamed me! You can't face the truth, so you made me carry the trauma of my father's death all these years?"

His mocking gaze stripped away Ava's delusions. She shrieked, "It's both your faults!"

The looks on everyone's faces told a different story. Ava's family tragedy was her own fault. It was impossible to reason with her, so Lydia slapped Ava once for each year Damien had lived.

Ava's face swelled; saliva and blood trickled from her mouth. Stunned, then enraged, she screamed, "How dare you hit me! Damien, will you just stand by while she attacks your mother?"

Damien, wrestling with his emotions, snickered. "Who are you talking to? You should ask your biological son, Oliver," he said, mockingly gesturing towards Oliver.

Oliver stared at Ava with disbelief and disgust. "She's not my mother! Never! Explain yourself, you lunatic!"

Hurt by his disdain, Ava cried, "I did it to give you a fighting chance! You didn't make good use of it! Why couldn't you beat Damien?"

"Shut up!" Oliver shouted, ignoring their actual relationship.

Ava, momentarily stunned, then maniacally accused Lydia. "You considered Ollie your son, yet refused to name him your heir. You're wicked!"

The onlookers were disgusted.

"Fate ensures evil doesn't triumph." "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree." "What kind of person could come from her genes? Both Oliver and Ruby are sickos." "If it weren't for her actions"

"How disgusting! Recalling their ridiculous actions No wonder she blamed Damien. She couldn't accept the truth."

"They're rotten to the core. It's karma. Even the heavens couldn't stand her." "Don't they feel disgusted themselves?" "Rumor has it they got together to upset Damien." "What goes around comes around. Never harbor ill intentions."

Ruby screamed, "No! My brother is Damien! It's not true!"

Oliver was equally revolted. "What have we done? Why did this happen?"

Damien showed no mercy. "I'm not your brother. That's your brother," he said, pointing to Oliver. "Your relationship with him is beyond good; you should ask him for help." He wanted to repay the years of suffering a thousandfold.

Ruby fled; Oliver wanted to escape. Sergio, ignoring his wife, followed his daughter. Ava briefly regained sanity, crying out in worry, but remained restrained. She glared at Damien, blaming him. "You knew! Why didn't you tell me? If you had, they wouldn't have How could you be so cruel!" She couldn't accept the consequences of her actions and continued to shift blame.