Chapter 497
Chapter 497:
Chaos ruled the scuffle. There were no graceful rules between furious women. Hair tangled in fists. Palms cracked across skin. Candice’s composure crumbled as she lay pinned against the couch, and the rapid blows erased every trace of her polished image.
Panic broke into a shriek as she tried to shield her face. Then she caught sight of the man standing not far away.
“Lyman, are you seriously just watching?” Rage sharpened her voice to a scream. “Get this lunatic off me. Do something p>
She called his name again and again before he finally approached — unhurried, deliberate. Firm fingers closed around Kailey’s wrist. Fury still burned red in her eyes, but his hold was careful as he drew her back. “That’s enough, Kailey p>
Kailey’s breath still came in violent bursts, strands of hair clinging to her flushed face. Her icy stare stayed locked on Candice. “Understand this clearly. Kyson belongs to me. Give up whatever fantasy you’re nursing, or I won’t show mercy next time p>
Fear flickered in Candice’s eyes when she met that stare. For a moment, the gaze felt sharp enough to cut straight through her — the same suffocating pressure she had once felt from Kyson himself. Tension pulled at her lips, yet no words followed.
“Let go.” Kailey tore her arm free from Lyman’s grip, turned away, and climbed the stairs without looking back.
Silence lingered in the living room.
Shock still clung to Candice as though she had just woken from a nightmare. “Did you watch that happen?” Hatred edged every word. “Lyman, you let her hit me p>
He sat down nearby, his face unreadable. Candice’s ruined appearance failed to stir any reaction in him. The light carved his features into sharp, indifferent lines.
“She’s angry,” he said simply. “She needed an outlet p>
𝗖𝗁i𝘯e𝗌е 𝘯o𝗏e𝘭𝗌 𝘁𝘳𝘢nѕ𝘭𝖺𝘵е𝖽 𝗼𝗇 ѕ.c𝗼𝗺
Disbelief widened Candice’s eyes. She clenched her hands and closed them briefly. Then she drew a slow breath, rose, and smoothed her hair back into place. “Then keep her locked in. If she walks free, I will destroy her p>
Steel flashed in Lyman’s eyes as his gaze cut toward her.
Defiance held Candice steady. “Go ahead and test me p>
“Would you actually dare p>
Meaning lingered beneath the question — not a warning exactly, but something that made her feel as though every secret she held lay exposed. Her breath caught. She tore her gaze away, pulled sunglasses from her bag, and slid them on. “Why wouldn’t I dare?” The dark lenses softened the sight of her swollen face.
She moved toward the door with a steadying inhale. “Keep your woman under control, Lyman,” she said, and left.
Kailey stood at the top of the stairs, her fingers gripping the banister hard enough to turn her knuckles white. She had heard every word.
The roar of an engine faded from the driveway. She retreated to her room without another thought.
Ten slow minutes passed before a knock broke the quiet and a servant called from outside, “Ms. Evans, Mr. Vasquez requests your presence at breakfast p>
Kailey sat at the edge of the bed, still disoriented. A slow blink pulled her back to herself. She stood and stepped out.