Sweet Flash Marriage with the Restrained Tycoon (Isabelle and Damien) novel Chapter 788

“Easy now, Zander. Give me your hand!”

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Zander’s gaze locked onto Claudia as he shakily reached one arm out toward her, only letting go of the saddle once her grip was firm around his wrist.

With a firm pull, Claudia hauled him up onto her own horse.

The boy clung to her immediately, as if his very life depended on it.

Behind them, the panicked horse kept bolting wildly across the field.

Once Zander was secure, Claudia settled back into the saddle, cradling the trembling boy against her. She slowed her mount to a steady walk, but then she saw it–the crazed horse had wheeled around and was now charging straight toward them.

“Hold on tight to me, sweetheart,” Claudia murmured, keeping her voice calm even as adrenaline shot through her.

Her horse was still at a slow trot. In one fluid motion, she drew an arrow from the quiver on her back, pulled the bowstring taut, and took aim at the oncoming animal.

Just as she released her shot, another arrow sliced through the air from the opposite direction, striking the runaway horse squarely in the neck. Claudia’s own arrow buried itself deep into its flank.

The horse crashed to the ground, thrashing violently before going still.

Over at the riding arena, staff and medics had appeared from nowhere, faces pale with alarm.

Claudia stared at the fallen animal for a second before shifting her gaze to Harold, who was already riding toward her, bow still in hand.

The second arrow had been his.

She let out a slow, shaky breath and brought her horse to a full stop.

Harold dismounted quickly, grabbing her reins to steady the horse before reaching up to take Zander. But the boy only held onto Claudia tighter, burying his face into her jacket.

With Harold’s help, Claudia slid down from the saddle.

The moment her boots touched the grass, she turned and slapped him hard across the face–a sharp, sudden crack that seemed to hang in the air.

Harold took the blow without flinching.

From across the field, Darren had just stepped outside after finishing a phone call and spotted the two of them in the distance.

Before Claudia could pull her hand back, Harold reached out and drew her firmly into his arms.

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19:09 Sat, Jul 4

Chapter 788 The Slap

She went rigid in his hold.

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All she could think about was how close things had come–if anything had happened to Zander.. Even though he wasn’t hers by blood, he still called her Mommy. The thought alone made her chest tighten.

She couldn’t understand how Harold could have been so careless, letting just anyone take the boy riding. He was so young, and there hadn’t even been a proper instructor around. They’d just put him up on a horse like it was nothing.

Lysandre caught up a moment later but kept his distance, not daring to interrupt.

Near the sidelines, Molly felt a cold sweat break over her. “I’m done for,” she whispered to herself. “He’s going to have my head for this.”

She’d only stepped away to use the restroom. She’d asked Keith to keep an eye on Zander for just a minute —how had everything spiraled so completely out of control?

Not far off, Keith lay on the grass, unable to move her injured knee, but her eyes remained fixed on Zander’s small form.

At least he was safe. That was the only thing that mattered now. If something had happened to him… she didn’t even want to think about it.

She’d only wanted to take him on a short ride, hoping it might bring her a little closer to Harold. She had no idea what had spooked the horse like that.

But now… Harold and Claudia?

*****

Brian emerged from the clubhouse then, and Molly hurried over to help as Keith was lifted onto a stretcher and carried away.

Without another word to anyone, Harold took Zander in one arm, wrapped the other around Claudia’s shoulders, and led them both away from the riding grounds.

Darren and Lysandre stayed behind to handle the aftermath.

Once inside the car, Zander immediately crawled into Claudia’s lap. “Mommy, hold me,” he whispered, his voice still unsteady.

Claudia’s own nerves were frayed, but she wrapped her arms around him securely. Harold reached over and gently ruffled the boy’s hair.

It was clear how attached Zander had grown to her. How deeply he trusted her.

Claudia’s eyes drifted to the red mark her hand had left on Harold’s cheek.

“I’m sorry,” she said quietly. “I was just… so mad.”

Harold met her gaze, his arm still around her shoulders. “Don’t be. I deserved it.”

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19:09 Sat, Jul 4

Chapter 788 The Slap

+5 Free Coms

Up front, Roger glanced briefly in the rearview mirror. The imprint of Claudia’s fingers was still visible on. Harold’s face–a rare sight indeed. The only other person who’d ever landed a hit on Harold and gotten away with it was Damian.

They drove straight to the hospital, where Harold insisted on a full checkup for Zander. Through it all the boy stayed curled in Claudia’s arms, quiet and cooperative, until every test was done.

The moment the car pulled through the gates of Serene Manor, Zander finally dozed off.

Harold tried to take him from Claudia once inside, but the boy stirred the instant he was moved, letting out a soft, sleepy whimper.

So Claudia kept holding him.

By the time he was fully asleep again, Claudia was completely drained. She lay down beside him on the large bed and was out within minutes.

Harold stood watching them for a long moment, a tangled mix of relief and something deeper tightening in his chest.

Thank God for Claudia today.

She’d always seemed so soft, so delicate–but underneath was a core of pure steel.

When he’d been galloping after them earlier, watching her lean dangerously far to one side of her saddle to pull Zander from the other horse, his heart had nearly stopped.

He never would’ve guessed her balance was that solid. Or that she could handle a bow on horseback like it was second nature.

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