All Chapters of I Watched My Scheming Brother Crash and Burn: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

8 Chapters

Chapter 1

My fingers trembled around the wineglass as I slowly turned my head.Stephen Aldridge was still seated beside me, dressed in a pale silver suit that made his features appear gentle and unassuming. A sweet, obedient smile played on his lips.Yet, his eyes were fixed on Isabel Hartwell across the crowded room.There was admiration in his gaze, along with tenderness and an unmistakable longing that no young man could hide when he was looking at the woman he loved.I felt a chill run down my spine, but I didn't let my emotions show.I set down my glass, then used my drunkenness as an excuse to leave my seat and make my way over to Isabel.She was speaking with several other ladies when I leaned into her ear and dropped my voice into a gentle whisper. "Isabel, can we talk somewhere private?"Isabel looked up at me in surprise, but when she saw how serious I was, she rose and followed me out of the antechamber.Moonlight spilled across the grounds as I led her to a secluded walkway i

Chapter 2

When I returned to the grand hall, Stephen was making the rounds with a wineglass in hand. I sat down and patted him on the shoulder."Stephen, you've had quite a bit to drink tonight. You should head to your room and get some rest."He blinked at me with those wide, innocent eyes of his. "But I'm not tired yet. The banquet's only just started.""Do as I say."My voice remained gentle, but my expression made it clear that I wouldn't take no for an answer. "You've already toasted to several people, and you can't hold your liquor. If you keep drinking, you'll wake up with a headache tomorrow."I beckoned to one of the attendants from the Hartwell residence."Take Mr. Stephen to one of the guest rooms in the back and let him rest. Prepare a hangover remedy for him and then post someone outside his door. Don't let him wander off."Stephen opened his mouth as though he wanted to protest, but I patted the back of his hand."I'm only looking out for you. We have a house full of guests

Chapter 3

Margery Ashford shoved her way through the crowd.She rushed to the bed and broke down sobbing. "My poor son! He was completely innocent, and now someone's taken advantage of him!"Turning to Katherine, she cried, "Mrs. Hartwell, you owe us an explanation for this! Someone got my son drunk and left him in this room. Then, he woke up with a woman in his bed. "He was passed out cold. There's no way he could've done anything. Someone obviously set him up!"Someone murmured from the crowd, "But Mr. Stephen was clearly the one holding on to the lady—"Margery spun around and shrieked, "My son was drunk! How could he have made the first move when he wasn't even conscious?"Katherine's face went from pale to ashen. She pushed to stand up. Despite the tremor in her voice, she still carried the commanding presence of the Hartwell family's matriarch."Ms. Ashford, your son compromised a young woman's reputation, yet you're trying to turn this around on us?"Margery lifted her chin and f

Chapter 4

Every guest in the room was staring at me, waiting for me to speak.Isabel's father, Ambrose Hartwell, finally emerged from the back of the crowd, his face red with embarrassment. "Nicholas… I sincerely apologize on behalf of my family…"I slowly lowered my gaze to Stephen, who remained on his knees.He looked up at me with tears clinging to his lashes, but the corner of his mouth briefly curled into a smirk. It vanished so quickly that I almost missed it.I closed my eyes. When I opened them again, I had tamped down all my anger.My voice came out hoarse. "Stephen, get up."He shook his head between sobs. "I won't get up until you forgive me, Nicholas."His performance brought several ladies in the crowd to tears."Don't be so hard on him, Mr. Nicholas. Mr. Stephen is a victim in this, too.""They're both young. Once someone is that intoxicated, they don't know up from down.""They were found in the same bed. You can't just punish them and pretend it didn't happen."I drew

Chapter 5

It was Cassandra Hartwell, the second daughter of the Hartwell family, who was born to a mistress.Father's face went from livid to ashen in an instant. He jerked his hand away and stumbled backward as though his legs had given out, his back striking the bedpost with a dull thud.The room fell silent.Then, someone gasped.Several guests covered their mouths, their eyes widening in shock, while others crowded forward and craned their necks to see the woman's face."Is that… Ms. Cassandra?""Cassandra Hartwell? The Hartwells' illegitimate daughter?""Oh, my God! Then, where is Ms. Isabel?"Margery rushed forward in a panic and brushed the woman's hair aside. The moment she saw Cassandra's face, all the color drained from her own.She spun around and shrieked at me, "What's Cassandra doing here? The woman in Stephen's arms was clearly Isabel!"I ignored her. Instead, I turned to face the stunned guests. At last, a genuine smile slowly spread across my face.It was cold and moc

Chapter 6

Just then, a soft moan came from the bed.Cassandra stirred, rolled over, and slowly opened her eyes. Still groggy from the alcohol, she pushed herself upright and smoothed her disheveled hair before turning toward the bedside.Then, she saw me. Some of the drunken haze immediately vanished from her face, replaced by a devastated look.She lowered her head, covered her eyes with the back of her hand, and began sobbing, her shoulders shaking."Nicholas, how could you do this to me? I-I was an innocent, unmarried woman. How am I supposed to show my face in public after this?" she cried.Her voice was soft and delicate, and tears clung to the corners of her eyes. The performance was convincing enough to make anyone feel sorry for her.The guests exchanged bewildered looks as whispers began rippling through the room."W-What on earth is going on?""We clearly saw Mr. Stephen holding her…"Still kneeling on the floor, Stephen whipped his head to stare at Cassandra, his face growing

Chapter 7

Before I could respond, slow, steady footsteps sounded outside the room.The crowd parted once more as someone entered.It was Mother.She wore a dark green cloak, and a simple silver pin held her hair in place. Her expression was composed as she surveyed the chaos around us.Without sparing Father a glance, she walked straight toward me and gently touched the swollen handprint on my cheek.Her fingertips were cool, and I flinched when they brushed my skin.Mother didn't ask if it hurt. She simply withdrew her hand and turned toward Margery.In the next second, she slapped Margery across the face, knocking her to the floor. Then, she struck Stephen with the back of her hand."Pathetic."Mother didn't raise her voice, but her tone was ice-cold. "How dare you drag Isabel into one of your schemes?"Margery remained sprawled on the floor, clutching her cheek. Her wails died in her throat and dissolved into broken sobs.Meanwhile, Stephen stayed on the floor with his head lowered

Chapter 8

Three months later, the case was closed.Stephen was convicted of conspiring to commit perjury, moral depravity, and fabricating a crime scene to frame an innocent person.The judge condemned him to a life of forced labor in the crown's pleasure houses, with no possibility of release.Cassandra faced the same fate. She was convicted as his accomplice for attempting to frame someone and ruin another person's reputation.She was also sentenced to lifelong servitude at the crown's pleasure houses, with no possibility of release.They were escorted out of the courthouse gates on the very same day.I happened to be passing through that street when the wind caught the edge of my carriage curtain.Stephen was dressed in coarse burlap prison clothes, his hands and feet bound in heavy iron shackles. He had grown so gaunt that he was barely recognizable.When he lifted his head, his eyes locked right onto mine, and he parted his lips as if he wanted to call my name. But his lips were so

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