Claimed by the Crown Heir novel Chapter 119

"I didn't do anything wrong! I was just fighting for what I wanted. What's wrong with that?"

Giselle shot back, tilting her chin up with a defiant glare. "Until they're actually married, I have every right to shoot my shot fairly!"

"So you had someone send those photos to the family dinner to smear Vanessa's reputation, all to blow up her engagement?" George glared at her, thoroughly disgusted by her absolute lack of shame.

A split-second panic flashed in Giselle's eyes, but she stubbornly bit her lip. "What proof do you have that it was me? Do you really think so terribly of your own daughter?"

"You know exactly whether you did it or not!" George's voice turned menacingly cold. "Vanessa hasn't been back to Sterling City in three years. Who else would target her for absolutely no reason?"

"Maybe it was someone who hated her from before?" Giselle continued to deny it.

Seeing her brazenly playing the victim, George's fury peaked. He raised his hand and delivered a sharp slap.

Giselle's head snapped to the side, a bright red handprint blooming across her cheek.

Vanessa immediately covered Gavin's eyes and scooped him up, carrying him back to his room.

"Vanessa, what did Giselle do wrong? Why is Father so angry?"

Gavin asked timidly, resting his head on her shoulder.

No matter how much their father scolded Giselle in the past, he had never once gotten physical.

Vanessa set him down on the bed and gently stroked his hair. "You'll understand when you're older, Gavin."

The adult world was far too vicious and complicated, and she didn't want such a young child dragged into it.

Gavin nodded, partially understanding, and gripped her hand tightly to pledge his loyalty. "Vanessa, no matter why Giselle and Mom hate you, I'm always going to love you."

Vanessa gave a tender smile. "Let me go run your bath."

Once he was washed up, she tucked him into bed and read him an action-packed story. She waited until his breathing evened out in deep sleep before slipping quietly out of the room.

The moment she reached the top of the stairs, she ran into a furious Elaine.

As soon as Elaine spotted her, her glare turned colder than ever.

Vanessa brought over a cup of hot tea and gently placed it by his hand.

George looked up. Seeing how considerate and mature she was finally brought a small measure of comfort to his chest.

"If Giselle had even half your sense, I wouldn't be this furious."

"She's just being foolish right now. She just needs proper guidance," Vanessa soothed softly.

"Elaine spoiled her rotten! She can't even raise her own daughter right. All she does is enable her and fill her head with terrible ideas!"

Vanessa offered a faint smile. "She is her mother, after all; she was just desperate. I'm sure they'll both learn their lesson after tonight."

She coaxed George into heading upstairs to rest, before turning on her heel and walking toward the study.

The study was dimly lit.

Giselle stood rigidly in the center of the room, the bright red handprint swelling on her cheek. Her eyes were burning with pure stubbornness and bitter resentment.