Broken Vows and Buried Twins novel Chapter 268

Julian watched her leave, his jaw clenched tight enough to snap.

With her head bowed, a fleeting smile of wicked triumph flashed across Seraphina's eyes.

The very next second, she stumbled, her frail body collapsing perfectly in Julian's direction!

"Seraphina!" He caught her firmly. "Are you alright?"

Leaning weakly against his chest, she looked up, her red-rimmed eyes brimming with manufactured fragility and guilt. "Did I just make things impossible for you again?"

"Don't worry about it. She's just like that," he replied softly, his tone incredibly soothing. "The doctor said you're severely exhausted and need rest. I'll have Leon walk you back to your room."

"But Caden..."

"I'll watch over him," Julian stated, his deep voice carrying an undeniable note of authority. "I promise I'll tell you the minute he wakes up. Go rest. Your health comes first."

She threw a hesitant glance at the hospital room door.

In truth, she was panicking.

She was terrified that if Caden woke up, he would spill everything to Julian.

Had her earlier tantrum actually pushed the boy over the edge?

"Leon, take her back to her room," Julian ordered, cutting through her hesitation.

Leon immediately stepped up, his demeanor perfectly respectful. "Please allow me."

She looked back at Julian. "I'm still so worried. Could I just wait in the family lounge next door?"

He frowned slightly, his dark eyes locking onto hers. "Do you not trust me to take care of him?"

She choked on her next words.

Pressing her lips together, she realized that pushing any further would only arouse his suspicion!

Jasper studied her face. "How is he?"

She opened her eyes and sighed softly. "He was abused by his nanny before, and then Melody Monroe intentionally pushed him down the stairs. It caused psychogenic amnesia. This time, he hit his head again. The doctors say it's just a superficial wound, but he woke up suffering from a massive traumatic stress response."

"If the head injury isn't serious, why would he have such a violent reaction?" Jasper frowned.

She pursed her lips. Considering Jasper was a trusted friend, she saw no reason to hide the truth.

"My guess is he remembered everything that happened before. Also, I suspect Seraphina hit him again this morning. The double trauma triggered the meltdown."

"His own mother hit him?!" Jasper looked genuinely shocked. "That can't be right. She's his biological mother!"

"The world is full of unfit parents," she replied, meeting his gaze. "You're a lawyer. Don't tell me you've never handled child abuse cases."

Jasper paused, thinking it over. "I have, but they're incredibly rare, usually isolated to impoverished areas with deep-seated gender biases. Caden carries the Weston bloodline, and her entire livelihood depends on her ties to the family. No matter how foolish she is, she wouldn't jeopardize that by beating her ticket to wealth, would she?"

"She absolutely knows the stakes," Hester agreed. "But rage is a demonic thing. All it takes is one loss of control to cross the line."