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7:36 pm
Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Bailee ignored him. Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she struggled to hold back the anger and pain threatening to explode.
Her tear–filled gaze turned sharply toward Jackson. “Honey, say something.”
Bailee was at her limit. If anyone could shut Tristian up, it was Jackson. Right now, she was counting on Jackson to finally stand up for Kayla.
Jackson’s knuckles hit the armrest with a sharp thud, the metal of his watch clashing against the frame with a grating clang.
His brows furrowed deeply. For a long while, he said nothing. No one could guess what was going through his mind.
“Enough.” His voice landed like ice shattering on stone–cold, blunt, and full of irritation. “This whole thing was a misunderstanding. That’s the end of it. Don’t make a scene at this hour.
“I’ve got a billion–dollar contract on the table in the morning, and you’re dragging me into this mess over some petty crap?”
The chandelier above caught the chill in his gaze, glittering with sharp reflections. But when his eyes passed over Bailee’s tear–streaked face, they didn’t even flinch.
Tristian was quick to react, reaching out to hand Jackson a cigar.
Jackson waved it away. Tristian’s smile stiffened, and he cast a venomous glance at Kayla, like a snake ready to strike.
Tristian said, “Dad, don’t let it get to you. It’s all Kayla’s fault anyway. Stirring up drama in the middle of the night like this.”
Seeing Jackson remain cold and quiet, Tristian abruptly turned and kicked Ariel hard behind his knee. “And this dumbass, running his mouth without checking the facts first. Don’t worry, I’ll deal with him.”
Ariel collapsed to the floor with a pained grunt, but he didn’t dare fight back.
Jackson calmly straightened his cuffs, his sapphire–faced Patek Philippe catching the light like a blade. His eyes, sharp as a hawk’s, fixed on Kayla.
“When school’s over, come straight home. No more of this nonsense,” he warned, his voice low and firm.
Without waiting for a response, he stood and made for the stairs, clearly done with all of them.
Kayla wasn’t surprised. She’d long since stopped expecting warmth from her father. His reaction didn’t stir the slightest ripple in her heart.
But Bailee was shaking all over, her eyes wide in disbelief. “That’s it? You’re just letting this go, honey?”
Bailee thought bitterly, ‘I told him I was nearly hit by a car, and he didn’t even ask if I was okay. Kayla just got falsely accused and humiliated, and he still doesn’t care.
“When did Jackson become this cold? Has Tristian really become the only one he sees?‘
Tristian didn’t notice Bailee’s hurt expression. He was too busy smirking at Kayla as he spoke up, “Mom, come on. It’s not that serious. Why blow it out of proportion? This whole thing started because Kayla didn’t speak up about where she was going.
“That’s on her. Dad’s got so much going on. Why stress him out over something so minor?”
He then turned toward Ariel, looking down at him with disdain. “Ariel, get your eyes checked at the hospital or something.
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7:36 pm
Chapter 40
Next time you run your mouth without knowing the facts, I’ll make sure you regret it.”
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His words sounded like a warning, but his voice was light, casual, and even a bit amused. There wasn’t a shred of real anger in it. If anything, it sounded like permission.
Ariel rubbed his sore knees and slowly climbed to his feet.
He’d been ready to take a beating from Jackson after being exposed, but now, hearing Tristian’s tone and seeing Jackson’s indifference, a glimmer of smug satisfaction crept into his eyes.
He thought with a smug smile, ‘So that’s it? They’re letting this slide? I knew it. In this house, the ones who call the shots are still the men.’
With that thought, Ariel’s hunched shoulders slowly straightened. He lifted his chin and glanced at Kayla with renewed contempt. His narrow eyes gleamed with mockery as he forced a twisted grin.
“Yes, sir,” he replied with sarcasm. “From now on, whatever Kayla does, I’ll pretend I didn’t see a thing.”
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