As Kayla weighed her options, Payton suddenly stepped forward and snatched the dagger from Elijah’s hand.
“Payton, give it back!” Elijah yelled, his voice raw with fury.
Payton looked grave. “Eli, don’t be rash. We don’t have the full story yet. If you hurt someone, the consequences will be
serious.”
But rage had clouded Elijah’s mind. He wouldn’t listen. “What’s unclear? Her mother destroyed my family. I’ll make her pay!” He tried to grab the dagger back, but Payton moved swiftly, evading him.
Frustrated, Elijah abandoned the dagger and rushed at Kayla bare–handed.
Payton grew desperate and called out to Max, “Mr. Carter, you and Kayla tell completely different stories. There must be a misunderstanding.
“Like Kayla said, if her mother really hurt you, why would she come here? Isn’t that walking right into a trap? Please stop Eli before he does something reckless!
“Eli is young and hot–headed. If he really injures Kayla, the Sexton family won’t let him go. You don’t want to see him get hurt, do you? Mr. Carter, stop Eli.” Payton’s voice was pleading and full of worry.
Max’s gaze shifted between Payton and Kayla, but Max remained silent. Inside, he seemed to be wrestling fiercely. No one could tell what he was thinking.
Kayla clenched her fists at her sides, nails digging into her palms, using the pain to stay calm and think.
With her skills, even if she couldn’t overpower Elijah, she could easily avoid his attack. She could simply leave and never see Max’s family again. And given her status, dealing with Elijah to eliminate future threats wouldn’t be difficult.
But the truth involved Bailee’s innocence. If Kayla left now, Bailee would be misunderstood and hated by Max’s family for the whole life. Kayla could never let that happen.
Kayla took a deep breath and slowly unclenched her fists. She thought, ‘Enough. I’ll take the chance. I’ll bet Max still has reason and fairness left. I’ll bet this misunderstanding can be cleared up.‘ It was a chance for her and for Max.
As Elijah’s fist closed in, about to strike her face, Kayla relaxed and stood her ground, not dodging. Her clear eyes looked straight at Max, fearless and sincere.
It was a silent standoff–Kayla’s way of showing she doubted Max’s story but believed completely in Bailee’s innocence.
Max watched every subtle shift in Kayla’s expression, his brow furrowing deeply as a memory from years ago surfaced.
When Bailee was fifteen, someone told her father, Julian Perry, that she was dating. Although under Julian’s harsh pressure, Bailee stubbornly refused to admit it. Julian, frustrated, punished her for the first time as a lesson.
Bailee’s expression then, defiant and honest, slowly overlapped with Kayla’s now.
After it was over, Max had someone investigate and clear Bailee’s name. It had all been a misunderstanding.
Now, torn by memory, Max gritted his teeth. Just as Elijah’s fist was about to hit Kayla, Max’s strained composure broke. He shouted, “Stop!”
Kayla’s eyes lit up. She had won her bet!
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7:57 pm
Chapter 93
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Elijah froze mid–motion, turning with a confused and angry look. “Dad, don’t you want revenge for yourself and my mom?” The enemy was right there, yet Max had stopped him.
Max’s tight frown gradually eased. He sighed wearily, his voice tired but firm, “I said stop.”
Then, he looked up at Kayla, his expression still heavy, as if carrying a great weight, and said, “Kayla is right. I watched her mother grow up. I don’t believe she could ever do something like that.”
Since the incident, Max had always believed Bailee was the one who harmed him. He couldn’t bear the truth.
Max was an orphan adopted by the Perry family. He grew up with Bailee since childhood, like siblings, deeply bonded. So when he found out she had caused his ruin, he felt unprecedented betrayal and pain–the kind that cut deepest when it came from the person he trusted most.
For years, Max couldn’t let it go, never looking deeper into the doubts around the incident.
Today, prompted by Kayla, Max sensed something wrong. He thought, ‘I grew up with Bailee. She was pure and kind. The type who would cry over a dead rabbit. She would never do something so cruel.‘
Looking back, the whole incident was indeed full of holes.
Elijah’s face darkened as if he was ready to storm, his clenched fists trembling slightly, eyes filled with rage. He had finally found who destroyed his family, yet he couldn’t take revenge. He couldn’t accept it at all.
Payton stepped forward and patted Elijah’s head like an older brother. “Eli, listen to your father. Do you want revenge without knowing the truth? Don’t you want to know what really happened back then?”
He pressed his dry lips together, his gaze drifting unconsciously to Kayla’s calm and sincere face.
He thought, ‘Someone as kind and sweet as Kayla–how could her mother be cruel? Besides, all these years, Dad never spoke about what happened. I want to know the truth.’
Elijah’s tension finally eased. He took a deep breath, his tone still cold and sharp. “Fine. Kayla, I’ll leave you alone for now. But if I get proof that your mother really destroyed my family, I won’t let you go. No matter what it costs me”
A faint smile touched Kayla’s lips as she replied solemnly, “If that’s truly the case, I’ll accept any punishment.”
Max looked at Kayla, then glanced at the other two, his voice low and serious. “Come inside, all of you.” He turned his wheelchair and moved slowly toward the living room.
Payton and Elijah stepped forward to help, but Max snapped coldly, “Don’t. I’m not that useless yet.”
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