Chapter 535
Chapter 535:
Kaiden froze. In the past, acting cute had always been enough to get whatever he wanted. His eyes slid to Effie, and his expression curdled. He pointed a finger at her.
“Why do you have to take this dummy? I want you to play with me p>
Grayson’s brow darkened. “Kaiden. Watch your words. Effie is your sister p>
“She is not!” Kaiden shrieked, his voice pitching high and sharp. “Mommy says she’s just useless trash that doesn’t belong here p>
Grayson’s face went cold and dark. His gaze cut past the children to Belle, who had just hurried in from the garden, drawn by the noise.
Belle’s face was pale. “Kaiden, don’t talk nonsense p>
It was too late. Consumed by his own rage, Kaiden lunged at Effie and shoved her with both hands and all his weight.
𝖮𝗋𝗀𝖺𝗇𝗂𝗓𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗅𝗂𝖻𝗋𝖺𝗋𝗒 𝗈𝗇
Effie stumbled backward, unprepared, her small feet losing their footing. She pitched toward the hard, unforgiving edge of the marble steps.
Isolde moved before she thought. She threw herself sideways — not to catch Effie but to put her own body between her daughter and the stone.
They landed together in a heap. Isolde’s back met the sharp marble edge with a sickening thud that echoed through the foyer. A jolt of white-hot pain tore up her spine. She gasped and curled instinctively around Effie, arms closing tight.
“Mommy!” Effie screamed, bursting into terrified tears.
A roar filled the room.
Grayson seized Kaiden by the collar of his polo shirt and hauled him off the ground, his face a mask of absolute, barely contained fury.
“You dare raise a hand against her?” His voice was low — far more dangerous than a shout.
Kaiden’s bravado evaporated on the spot. He began to wail, his face turning blotchy and purple. “Grandma Genevieve, save me! Daddy’s going to kill me p>
Genevieve scrambled forward, wielding her cane. “Grayson! Let him go! He is just a child p>
“He’s pushing people at five,” Grayson bit out, his voice shaking with restrained rage. “He’ll be a criminal when he grows up p>
Isolde pushed herself upright, ignoring the throbbing agony radiating through her back. She checked Effie quickly — frightened, but unhurt — and then stood, her face pale and rigid with pain and fury.
She walked directly toward Kaiden. Genevieve moved to block her path. Isolde shoved her aside with her good arm, sending the older woman stumbling back a step.
Isolde looked down at the crying boy, and her voice cut through his wails like a blade through water.
“Apologize p>
“No!” Kaiden screamed, his face contorting. “You’re a bad woman! I hope you all die p>
Belle rushed forward and snatched Kaiden from Grayson’s grip, pulling him against her. “Isolde, why would you argue with a child? He was only trying to get Grayson’s attention p>
A cold, mirthless sound escaped Isolde’s lips. “To get attention, he has to try and kill someone? Belle — is this the aristocrat you’ve raised p>
The accusation hung in the air, sharp and unmoving.
The foyer descended into chaos — the boy’s hysterical screams, Belle’s defensive sobs, Genevieve’s furious shouts all colliding at once.
“Enough p>
The voice came from above. Thunderous. Absolute.