chapter2175

Cecilia never blamed Charlotte, not for a single heartbeat.

"Don't ever say that," she answered softly. "If I'd been there, Felix would have tasted the same lesson. You weren't wrong."

The real wrong lay in a world that let money masquerade as justice.

Charlotte nodded, holding that truth like a fragile promise between them.

She fell quiet, but the silence did nothing to settle the knot of guilt twisting inside her chest. Every breath felt like penance.

At last, the car rolled to a stop at the curb-home, though the word had never sounded so fragile.

Charlotte and Cecilia sank into opposite ends of the living room couch, shoulders brushing the cushions as they waited for Nathaniel to return, the grandfather clock filling the room with slow, agonizing ticks.

Meanwhile, at Rainsworth Manor, Nathaniel stepped through the heavy oak doors and, without pausing to loosen his tie, strode straight toward the wing where Felix lived.

Miranda had just descended the staircase. Spotting him, she frowned in surprise. "Nathaniel? What brings you here? Who are you looking for?"

Nathaniel's gaze did not waver. He cut to the point, voice low enough to chill the air.

"Where is Felix?"

Upon hearing that, Miranda realized he must have heard about the incident earlier that day.

Planting herself in front of him, she lifted her chin. "Nathaniel, honestly, you need to control Cecilia. She spoils her employees to the point they have the guts to bully your nephew."

Nathaniel ignored the complaint. A glance up the banister told him exactly which door belonged to the boy.

He sidestepped Miranda and headed upstairs without breaking stride.

"Nathaniel, wait!" She hurried after him, silk slippers skidding on polished wood.

"What are you planning to do? D-Don't you dare blame my son. He's only a child. What could he possibly know?"

Panic tinged her voice as she chased him down the corridor, convinced he meant to harm the boy.

Nathaniel stopped outside a door and shoved it open. The latch clicked; it had never been locked.

Nathaniel eased the door inward with a quiet push.

Felix sat at his desk, a book forgotten in his hands. When Nathaniel's silhouette

filled the doorway, the boy's face drained of color.

"U-Uncle Nathaniel..."

Nathaniel was the one adult who truly frightened him.

Nathaniel crossed the room in two measured steps. "I hear you were hurt. Let me

see where exactly are those injuries?"

Felix's eyes darted toward his mother, pleading for rescue.

Miranda rushed in, wrapped both arms around him, and glared at Nathaniel. "What kind of grown man just to scare a child

storms a just

You're his uncle, f?r goodness' sake. How can you side with an outsider?"

"Precisely because I'm his uncle, I ought to teach him what it means to act like a decent human being," Nathaniel answered, each word deliberate.

Miranda's retort died in her throat. She had hoped their family tie would earn Felix mercy; instead, Nathaniel turned her own logic back on her.

Unwilling to waste another breath on her, Nathaniel shifted his attention to the boy. "Felix, come here."

Felix burrowed into Miranda's arms, his small frame shaking so violently the buttons on her blouse rattled against his forehead. He wanted to obey Nathaniel's order, but he lacked the courage to do so.

Miranda's arms tightened around her son, as though her embrace alone could shield him from every accusation swirling in the room.

"Nathaniel, what exactly do you intend to do?" Miranda asked, forcing her voice to stay even though her heart thundered against Felix's cheek.

"Nothing sinister. I'm simply taking him for a full examination. We need to confirm there are no other injuries," Nathaniel replied his tone as placid as winter glass. The words sounded courteous, almost caring, yet an undercurrent of authority rippled beneath each syllable.

Color drained from Miranda's face so quickly it was as though someone had yanked

a plug from her veins, leaving her skin pale and translucent.

"Absolutely not! You are not taking my son anywhere!" she snapped, every

consonant sharp enough to cut.

"And why not?" Nathaniel asked, tilting his head with cold curiosity. "Or are you suggesting Felix was never injured at all?"

"That's ridiculous," Miranda countered, summoning a brittle laugh that fooled no one. "He's already been examined once. Those machines are loaded with radiation, and refuse to expose him to them again."

Yet even as she spoke, a tremor of doubt flickered in her eyes-proof she was lying

to herself as much as to him.

Nathaniel let the silence stretch, then delivered his verdict. "I'm giving you guys one last chance. Either we do another examination, or you confess—right now—whether he was hurt at all."

Felix lifted his tear-glossed eyes toward Miranda. His voice, small and wavering, slipped out. "Mom, maybe we should-"