Chapter 226

No.1

The tension between Elisa and August was a physical, suffocating weight in the air. August's dark eyes burned with a chaotic mix of suspicion and a bizarre, unexplainable hunger to see the child hiding behind Elisa's coat.

Before he could push past her, the sharp clicking of high heels broke the silence.

Allena marched up to the edge of the sandpit. She grabbed Tate's hand, pulling him close to her leg.She looked at Elisa, taking in the oversized glasses and the plain, unbranded coat. A nasty, triumphant sneer twisted Allena's lips.

"Well, well," Allena said, her voice loud enough to draw the attention of the wealthy mothers standing nearby. "If it isn't my dear sister. What's the matter?Did your bankrupt friend Jewel not have the time to show up for her own kid?"

Elisa didn't even look at Allena. She kept her eyes locked on Tate, who was hiding behind Allena's

designer trench coat.

No.2

"Tell that little animal to apologize to Kayden," Elisa demanded, her voice cold and absolute.

Tate peeked out from behind Allena's leg. He stuck his tongue out at Elisa, his face twisted in an ugly,spoiled grimace. "I won't apologize to a bastard with no dad!" he yelled.

The word echoed across the manicured lawn. Several parents stopped talking and turned their heads, their eyes wide with shock at the vulgarity.

Kayden's small fingers tightened their grip on the fabric of Elisa's trousers. She didn't cry, but Elisa felt the slight tremble in her daughter's hand.

The last thread of Elisa's restraint snapped.

She took one massive, aggressive step forward. The sheer, terrifying aura of violence radiating from her body was so intense that Tate let out a high-pitched shriek and scrambled backward, tripping over his own feet and falling into the grass.

No.3

Allena shrieked, jumping in front of Tate. "What are you doing? Are you trying to attack a child? August,

look at this psycho!"

August instinctively stepped forward, his broad shoulders physically shielding Allena and Tate from Elisa. It was a reflex.

Seeing him protect the boy who had just verbally abused his own flesh and blood made Elisa's stomach churn with pure, acidic irony.①

Elisa stopped walking. She looked at Allena, a slow,lethal smile spreading across her face.

"You have a lot of nerve showing your face in public,Allena," Elisa said. Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried perfectly through thequiet morning air. "I thought the Non-Disclosure Agreement you signed required you to quietly exit the medical field and seek intensive psychiatric treatment."

No.4

The words hit the crowd like a bomb.

Allena's face turned the color of chalk. The smugness vanished, replaced by absolute, naked terror. The public apology she had been forced to record was the ultimate humiliation, and Elisa was dragging it out in front of New York's most elite social circle.

"Shut up!" Allena hissed, her eyes darting frantically at the whispering mothers nearby.

Elisa ignored her. She looked directly at August.

"lf that little sociopath doesn't apologize to my goddaughter right now," Elisa said, her voice dropping to a terrifying, legal register, "I will forward the complete, unredacted court file on your mistress-including the video evidence of attempted murder-to every single member of this school's Board of Directors and the head of the Parent-Teacher Association. How long do you think a scandal like that stays private in the Upper East Side?"①

August's jaw locked so tight the bone popped.

No.5

He knew Elisa held the detonator to Allena's life.Willow Creek was an institution built on prestige and flawless reputation. If a scandal of that magnitude broke here, Tate would be expelled by noon, and the Chambers name would be dragged through the mud.

August turned his head. He looked down at Tate, who was crying on the grass.

"Apologize," August commanded. His voice was a

low, terrifying growl that left no room for negotiaion.

Tate sobbed, terrified of August's sudden anger. He looked at the ground and mumbled, "I'm sorry."

Allena bit her lip so hard it bled, completely humiliated, but she didn't dare say a word against August's order.

No.6

Elisa didn't give them another second of her time.She turned her back on them, crouching down in the sand. She gently brushed the dirt off Kayden's skirt.

She leaned in close, her face inches from her daughter's.

"Ne fais pas attention à ces misérables insectes, ma petite princesse," Elisa whispered in flawless,rapid French. Don't pay attention to those miserable insects, my little princess.

Kayden nodded solemnly. She reached up with her small, chubby hand and gently wiped away a single tear of pure rage that had escaped the corner of Elisa's eye.

August stood two feet away. He watched the interaction. He saw the extreme, unconditional

tenderness Elisa showed the child-a tenderness she had never once shown him.

No.7

A violent, sickening wave of jealousy crashed into his chest. He couldn't look away from the little girl.The magnetic pull was too strong. Without thinking,he took a step around Elisa, breaking the physical barrier she had built.