The Coldest Man in the Room Melted Only for Me novel Chapter 168

Riley calmly reached up and smoothed her hair, which had been ruffled by the flying papers. She met Beatrice's furious glare with unflinching composure. "I didn't leak the news of Pierce's infidelity to the press. As for wanting a payout..."

She paused, her eyes turning glacial. "I wanted an amicable split. Your son refused. Since he's forcing me down this path, taking exactly what I'm legally entitled to is the price he pays for betraying me!"

"A gold-digger is a gold-digger. Save your self-righteous speeches," Beatrice sneered. "I've dealt with money-grubbing trash like you before. The Landon family doesn't take threats. I'm warning you: drop the lawsuit, go online and issue a public apology clearing Pierce's name, or I promise you, I will ruin you!"

Riley frowned. "I'll say it one more time: I didn't leak the news."

"It seems you really need to be taught a lesson. Do you actually think I can't break you?" Beatrice turned to the bodyguards behind her. "Go in and get the baby."

Riley's heart plummeted. She hadn't expected Beatrice to go after Alora. She immediately threw her arms out, blocking the doorway. "You are trespassing! This is illegal!"

Beatrice let out a cruel laugh. "I am her grandmother. A grandmother visiting her granddaughter—what law am I breaking?" Her eyes hardened as she barked at the guards. "Move her!"

The bodyguards were massive. Within seconds, they overpowered Riley. One pinned her arms behind her back while the other shoved past her to get the baby.

A moment later, the sounds of Mrs. Gable screaming and Alora crying echoed from the nursery.

Riley thrashed wildly, desperately trying to break free, but her arms were locked in a vise grip. Hearing her daughter's terrified cries and remembering she had just had surgery a month ago, Riley looked at Beatrice in sheer panic. "She has Landon blood in her veins! How can you be so cruel to her?!"

"Exactly. She has Landon blood, which means she belongs at the Landon estate. Taking her back is my right."

They hated Alora. They had never once bothered to hold her. If they took her back to the estate, God knows how she would be treated.

Watching Beatrice carry her screaming daughter toward the hallway, Riley's eyes flooded with red. She didn't care about anything else anymore; she just wanted her baby. "I'll drop the suit! Just give her back!"

A triumphant gleam flashed in Beatrice's eyes. She knew using the child would break her. A mother would do anything for her flesh and blood.

She stopped and looked back at Riley. "And the apology? The public statement?"

Riley was panicking and completely helpless. "I didn't leak the news! How am I supposed to 'clear' his name when I don't control the story?!"

Beatrice scoffed. "Still lying to my face? Fine. Since you're so obsessed with getting a payout, I'll let you see exactly what happens to greedy little gold-diggers."