Family on Their Knees Heart Turned to Ice novel Chapter 42

Lillian could feel her entire body trembling. She thought she was stronger than this. But she never imagined someone would attack her here, like this. She hadn't dwelled on her time in prison; after her release, she had focused on building a normal life. But no matter how strong she was, in the face of this, Lillian's heart shattered.

Noah had just called her 'Mommy,' but now his face was crumpled in distress. He let go of Bella's hand and ran off, wailing. The other parents who were dropping off their children all stared at her. Several children, having heard she was a murderer, burst into tears and hid behind their parents' legs.

The parents began to whisper among themselves. "I thought this was an exclusive preschool. Don't they screen the families? How did someone like that get in?"

"A murderer! That's terrifying. Our children can't possibly go to the same school as a murderer's son."

"This is unacceptable. We need to file a formal complaint with the school administration."

"Exactly! We pay this exorbitant tuition to protect our children, not to have them associate with a felon's child."

The whispers grew louder, turning from hushed murmurs to open complaints. And through it all, the instigator, Bella, stood off to the side, a cold smirk on her face, watching the chaos unfold as if it were a spectator sport.

Lillian was no fool. How could all of this be a coincidence? The voices around her faded into a dull roar. Her world narrowed, and the only person she could see was Bella.

She walked toward her, step by step, and stopped directly in front of her.

Bella spoke first, a practiced victimhood in her voice. "When I was five, my mother and I were inseparable. We were homeless, we begged for food. My mother is my entire world..."

Before she could finish her sentence, a sharp crack echoed through the air as Lillian's hand connected with her cheek. The force of the blow nearly perforated Bella's eardrum, and a searing pain shot across her face. Before she could even process it, Lillian's other hand swung around and slapped her other cheek with equal force.

By the time Bella came to her senses, she was aware of every eye in the courtyard fixed on her. Lillian's voice was low and dangerous. "This is just a warning. Try me again." With that, Lillian turned and walked away.

Once she was out of the preschool, she temporarily unblocked Sebastian's number from her phone and dialed. He answered quickly, his tone sharp with impatience. "I'm preparing for an important meeting. Make it fast."

"If you're incapable of raising Noah properly," Lillian said, her voice like ice, "perhaps you should ask your father to step in and hire a proper tutor."

Sebastian's anger flared. "How dare she? You just wait. This isn't over."

He arranged for the nanny to pick up Noah, then personally drove Bella to the hospital. On the way, he called to see if he could postpone the meeting by an hour.

After Sebastian hung up, Bella recounted the events at the preschool, adding a final, manipulative touch. "Lillian must have been furious. I saw the look on her face. She must have misunderstood and thought I was the one who told Noah about her past."

But Sebastian cut straight to the core of the problem. "Her prison record was sealed. No one outside the family knows. How did that rumor start at the preschool? How could you have been so careless? My father personally designated Noah as the next heir to the Blake Group. His education, his development, and his reputation must be flawless. What happened at the preschool today must be dealt with immediately."

Bella had expected comfort and sympathy. Instead, Sebastian hadn't offered a single word of consolation. He was already on the phone again, making arrangements to handle the situation at the school. Bella gritted her teeth. Sebastian's mind always, without fail, zeroed in on what was most advantageous to him. He would neutralize any threat to his interests at the earliest opportunity.

Didn't he realize, she fumed, that she, Bella, was his greatest asset?