“Oh, Ethan…” she sighed. “You can’t play anymore? How tragic. But really, that’s your mother’s fault—”
The fork slipped from my fingers and clanged loudly against the plate as I stood.
“Don’t you dare twist my child’s thoughts,” I snapped, my voice shaking with fury. “You’re the one who destroyed his hands. You hired those criminals just so your son could steal what belonged to mine!”
A sharp intake of breath rippled around the table.
Marina’s lips quivered as tears spilled down her cheeks. She turned to Dominic, clutching his arm, her voice breaking perfectly.
“Vivienne, why are you attacking me in front of Dominic’s partners? What have I ever done to deserve such cruelty?”
The chair screeched as Dominic shoved it back and stood, rage blazing in his eyes.
“How dare you humiliate Marina in front of my guests!” he bellowed.
Before I could react, his hand fisted in my hair. Pain exploded across my scalp as he dragged me downward, forcing me onto my knees against the icy marble floor.
Ethan screamed.
“Papa, stop! Please don’t hurt Mama!”
Dominic turned his head slowly, his voice dropping into something cold and vicious.
“Be quiet,” he said. “If you don’t shut your mouth, I’ll throw you to the snakes.”
My heart froze.
Ethan went deathly pale, his small body trembling as he pressed into me. Snakes had always terrified him—ever since Asher shoved a python into his schoolbag and it bit his arm. I remembered the blood, his screams, and Dominic brushing it off, calling him weak. He had never once protected him.
Now Ethan buried his face against me, shaking so violently it felt like my chest was being torn open.
At first, Dominic’s business partners shifted awkwardly. Then one of them laughed. Another joined in. Soon the room was filled with cruel amusement.
“The jealous wife really doesn’t know her place.”
“Dominic, you need to train her better.”
Marina hid behind Dominic’s arm, clutching his sleeve like a frightened dove.
“Please,” she murmured softly. “Don’t punish her too harshly. It’s my fault… she’s just envious.”
Her false mercy only fed his rage.
His palm struck my face again. The sting was blinding, my ears ringing.
“Apologize to Marina. Now.”
I shook my head weakly. “I didn’t—”
“Do it!” he roared. “Or your son loses everything. No doctors. No education. No food. Let him rot alongside you.”
I went still.