Just as I was forcibly suppressing my anger, Vanessa suddenly changed her expression, grabbed Zeke's arm, and slapped him twice across the face. "Slap! Slap!" The crisp sound of the slaps echoed in the corridor, Zeke's little face instantly swelled up, and his heart-wrenching cries immediately pierced the noise of the banquet hall.
I was stunned by her sudden action. Before I could react, Liam rushed over like a madman. He snatched Zeke away and held him in his arms, tenderly stroking his swollen cheeks. His eyes were bloodshot, and when he turned to look at me, his eyes were filled with overwhelming rage and murderous intent, as if I were the demon who had hit the child.
"Clara, what's wrong with you!" Liam's roar made my eardrums hurt. His eyes were bloodshot as he grabbed my collar with such force that he almost choked me. "He's only three years old! How could you lay a hand on such a young child!"
I stood there, stunned, the explanation stuck in my throat—it wasn't me, Vanessa hit her herself. But seeing the raging anger in his eyes, seeing Vanessa crying her eyes out in his arms, I suddenly laughed. What was the use of explaining? He had chosen to believe that woman from the beginning; any further words from me would seem like pointless sophistry. Tears welled up uncontrollably, not from feeling wronged, but from regret for my years of misjudging people.
Vanessa gripped the hem of Liam's suit tightly, her shoulders trembling violently, her sobs soft and pitiful: "Liam, I really didn't mean any harm... I just wanted to bring Zeke to say hello to Clara and let him get to know his future mother, but I didn't expect her to call Zeke a bastard as soon as she opened her mouth, saying that he didn't deserve to stay in Liam's house and didn't deserve to compete with Leo for the family fortune."
She abruptly changed the subject, pretending to be sensible as she wiped away her tears, took Zeke's hand, and started to walk out, her voice full of humility: "I never thought of letting Zeke fight for anything. Since Sister Clara can't tolerate him, then I'll take him away now and never bother you again."