Chapter 409: The Bennett Family Was Utterly Disgraced

The Bennett family was utterly disgraced. They wished they could vanish into the ground. The shame was overwhelming, a suffocating weight with no escape. Even Helena and Philip were completely devastated. Their hearts were shattered, their trust obliterated. They offered no defense for Vanessa. Madam Prescott unleashed her fury on Vanessa. She shook her violently, her voice a sharp, furious crack.

"Say something! Look at that deceitful face of yours!"

"Give me back my jade! Return the engagement ring!"

"The Prescott family will never accept a woman like you!"

Vanessa was rattled, her cheeks stinging from the force. Her entire world had just imploded. Every pair of eyes in the room burned with pure contempt. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. Sienna should be the one drowning in humiliation. Sienna should be the target of this hatred, not her. She had clawed her way back, fought to restore her name. She had schemed and sacrificed to secure Derek. She couldn't lose everything again. Not like this. Panic seized her. She lunged for Derek, clutching his hand desperately.

"Derek, my love, it's all lies! None of it is true!"

"I was drugged! This is a setup! I'm innocent!"

"Someone is framing me, you have to believe me! I beg you!"

She sobbed, her voice raw with anguish and fear. But her pleas fell on deaf ears. After that graphic video played for everyone to see, who would believe her? The footage was still displayed on the giant screen for all to witness. The Vanessa in that video was clearly a willing participant. She showed no signs of being drugged at all. And if she truly was a victim, why had she never reported it? Why had she remained silent all this time? Derek coldly wrenched his hand from her grasp.

His gaze was ice. It was filled with betrayal, disgust, and utter revulsion. Nothing she said mattered anymore. The truth was undeniable. She had cheated on him. Vanessa's face drained of all color. The finality in his eyes was terrifying. He was lost to her. What could she possibly do now? From the crowd, Logan crossed his arms, a smug smirk on his face.

"What a spectacular mess! I wonder, cousin, is the baby Derek's... or Harrison's?"

A collective gasp rippled through the guests.

"Vanessa is pregnant?"

"No wonder they rushed this wedding!"

"So Derek was forced to marry her because of the baby?"

"Wait, then who is the real father?"

The Prescott family's rage intensified tenfold. The Bennetts had threatened them when the pregnancy was first discovered. They had strong-armed the Prescotts into taking responsibility. They had made it clear: if Derek didn't comply, the Bennett family would ruin them. The entire wedding had been a reluctant concession, forced by the baby. Now, it was likely the child wasn't even Derek's! The Prescotts were nearly tricked into accepting this shameful woman. They almost agreed to raise another man's child! Madam Prescott, incensed, stormed forward and delivered another stinging slap to Vanessa's face.

"You shameless, vile creature!"

"How could you do this to Derek? How dare you force him into this?"

"I have never encountered such a filthy, deceitful woman in all my life!"

"You are not worthy of this wedding gown!"

In a blind fury, Madam Prescott grabbed the delicate fabric of the gown. She tore at it with all her strength, ripping it apart. Vanessa's ears rang from the force of the blows. Twin red handprints bloomed across her cheeks. Her beautiful, expensive wedding gown was shredded, exposing half her body. The crowd erupted. Camera flashes exploded like relentless lightning. Reporters scrambled, capturing every humiliating second. Vanessa's world spun, tilting into a chaotic, blurry nightmare. Everything was crashing down. She was losing control. Thud. A wave of dizziness overwhelmed her.

The sheer chaos, the crushing shame, it was too much. Vanessa collapsed to the floor, unconscious. But her fainting spell did nothing to quell Madam Prescott's wrath. She moved to strike the unconscious woman again. Finally snapping out of their stupor, the Bennetts surged forward. Helena rushed to intervene, blocking the path.

"Enough! You've beaten her senseless! What more do you want?"