Chapter 14
“You… What did you do! Why did you rip my mominy’s drawing? That was made by my mommy” Serena’s voice cracked, her throat tight with entotion. She had been holding back for so long, but now, the dam of her frustration and hurt was finally breaking.
Stella mixed her chin, an air of superiority draped over her like a cloak. Her eyes flicked over Serens with disdain, her lips curling into a sneer. “It was just a stupid drawing. What’s the big deal?
“Your mom’s the one who drew it, right? So what? You’re a bad kid, and your mom is a bad person–a really bad person.”
Stella’s mind raced with accusations. That drawing must have been a pathetic attempt by that brat’s family to get close to Sonny. They probably based it on a photo of him, using it for her to worm their way in. They’re all bad people. Just like that kid:
“You’re the bad one” Serena’s voice was high–pitched with rage: “You’re the bad, bad person. You can’t say anything about my mom.”
Her small face flushed red and her eyes welled up as the flood of emotions finally spilled over. With a burst of energy, she charged at Stella, throwing her small body into the girl’s chest with all the strength she had
Stella wasn’t prepared, not expecting such strength from a litle kid like Serena. Her eyes widened in shock as Serena’s tiny body knocked her off balance. She fell to the ground with a loud thud, her palm scraping against the rough pavement.
A sharp, searing pain shot up her arm, and she cried out, her voice raw with pain. “Sonny, it hurts. My hand… it’s bleeding”
“Stella” Grayson rushed to her side, his face twisted with worry. His protective instincts flared as he glared at Serena, his expression darkening. “Get away from Stella. Don’t touch her
Without a second thought, Grayson shoved Serena hard, knocking her off balance. She stumbled backward, her feet scrambling for purchase. Her hands shot out to catch herself, but she almost crashed to the ground again.
“Sonny, please. You’re my brother Serena’s words tumbled out in desperation, her voine barely above a whisper.
Grayson’s anger exploded. His face twisted with fury as he roared, “I’ve told you a hundred times, I’m not your brother. I don’t want a brat like you
as my sister.
“Stella is like family to me and you hurt her. Yo
You’re a bad seed, so just get out of here.
Stella’s sobs pierced the air, the sound raw and agonizing, and Grayson’s heart clenched in pain. He reached out to comfort her, but his anger was too much to ignore
Seeing Serena step forward again, he shoved her even harder, his hands pushing her away with relentless force. “Leave. Now, If you don’t, I’ll have my dad throw you out” Grayson shouted, his eyes flashing with determination.
Serena stood frozen, her heart breaking at his words. It was her who pushed me first, and my hand is hurt too. It hurts just as much as hers. “Why doesn’t he care about me? Why doesn’t he understand? My mom’s drawing… She ripped it up and called my mom a bad person
Tears welled up in her eyes, hot and relentless. The tears fell one by one, each drop heavier than the last. The injustice, the hurt, and the rejection all piled up in her chest until it felt like she couldn’t breathe,
“I don’t want you as my brother anymore, Serena cried, her voice thick with sorrow. “I don’t need you in my life.
Her chest heaving with the intensity of her emotions, she looked up at Grayson with tear–streaked cheeks. The pain was unbearable, a weight she couldn’t shake. The moment felt endless, cach breath a struggle, but when Grayson reached for her again, she couldn’t stand it anymore.
With the last ounce of her strength, Serena raised her hand, striking back in defiance
The bourdrogin of Vanderbilt Group was suffocating with tension, the air thick with unspoken words and palpable stress. The usually crisp, professional environment now felt heavy, as if the walls theinselves were holding their breath
The quarterly slurrholder meeting was underway, but the mood was anything but routine. Every face in the room seemned taut eyes flickering between their papers, yet all minds were on the nun sitting at the head of the table.
Dominick, tall and imposing, sat with an air of unyielding authority. His broad shoulders and stern gaze made it clear that he commanded the roon–no one dared to break his focus.
His lips were pressed tightly together, his brow furrowed, the lines of displeasure etched deep into his features. It wasn’t just a look, it
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it was a silent
436 PM c d
Chapter 14
warning that nothing would be tolerated, especially not here, not today
“Mr. Hale, what’s going on with Mr. Vanderbilt one of the shareholders murmured, casting a sideways glance at Julian
Dominick was the powerhouse behind Vanderbilt Group–his decisions shaped the company’s very future.
Right now, they stood on the edge of a crucial partnership with the government on a patent development project, One inistake, one wrong move, and everything could crumble.
Julian’s voice cut through the tension like a knife. “Mr. Vanderbilt is fine. Please don’t worry,” he said, his tone smooth, almost effortless, But the moment he spoke, he had already spotted something that made his chest tighten.
From Julian’s vantage point, he saw Dominick’s fingers hovering over his phone, the screen illuminated by the WhatsApp interface.
Dominick’s hand, large and poised, trembled slightly as his fingertips hovered over the name Paisley. He had been staring at it for far too long, the unspoken words on the other side of the screen weighing heavily on him.
Julian was about to shift the conversation, to distract the shareholder with a well–timed remark, when his phone vibrated. Looking at the caller ID. his pulse spiked. It was the school.
He swiped to answer, only to hear the frantic voice on the other end inform him that Grayson and Stella had been attacked on campus,
