Novel Palace
Chapter 8
Was this kid coached by Matilda? Teaching him to play two–faced games like this.
Yvan, seething with anger, stormed into the living room and caught sight of Matilda standing there. All the emotions from their five–year separation surged to his heart in an instant.
Matilda’s eyes held a deep–rooted fear and pain that made Yvan involuntarily clench his fists.
“It’s been a while,” he said tersely.
Matilda didn’t respond.
Logan, unable to stop Yvan, ran to his mother’s side, took her hand, and said, “Don’t worry, Mommy. Let’s go to bed.”
Mother and son turned to leave, intending to ignore Yvan completely.
“Stop right there!”
The angry voice from behind made Matilda shiver, and even Logan could feel her hand. trembling. Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g
Yvan, his anger turning into a bitter laugh, said, “Aren’t you going to explain this kid to me?”
“What’s there to explain?” Matilda’s voice shook as she faced Yvan. “I’ve served five years. Why can’t you just let me be?”
Five years. Five years that had demolished all her love and hope for him.
Yvan narrowed his eyes, dissatisfied with her reaction. “You got what you deserved. Why play the victim?”
Tears welled in Matilda’s eyes as she turned away and said bitterly. “Right? So what are you doing here, throwing yourself at a woman with a record like mine? Am I really worth entering your grand home?”
“You? Worth it? Hardly.” Yvan reached out and grabbed Logan’s hand. “But he is!”
Matilda fought back tears, but Logan was unexpectedly calm. He looked straight at Yvan and said softly, “Mr. Boyd, please let go.”
That polite “please” and “Mr. Boyd” were like needles to Yvan’s heart.
“Call me Dad,” he demanded.
“I don’t have a dad.”
Logan looked up, a smile playing on his lips. “I just have a mom who spent five years in jail.” In that moment, Yvan had to admit he was bested by a child.
Matilda hadn’t said a word, but Logan’s single sentence pierced him with a thousand arrows.
12:05:
Chapter B
Five years in jail for what? For destroying his child and his love! How dare she now wear the face of a victim?
Suddenly, Yvan remembered what Matilda had said as she was taken away five years ago.
If you ever realize how wrong you’ve been today…
A tightness gripped Yvan’s chest, and he looked at Logan, asking a stupid question, “When were you born, kid?”
“Do you need to ask? In prison, of course.”
Matilda laughed through her tears, “You only had eyes for Rachel. How could you care if I was pregnant? Maybe Logan isn’t even yours. In your eyes, what am I but a woman of easy virtue!”
Furious, Yvan let go of Logan and grabbed Matilda by the throat. “Even after five years, you’re still so vile!”
As Matilda pushed Yvan away with her left hand, he was shocked to see calluses.
Matilda was always right–handed. Why…
Realization dawned on him, and Yvan reached for her right hand.
Matilda screamed, her emotions erupting. “Let go of me!”
Logan’s eyes also turned red, “Let go of my mommy!”
A sleeve was pushed up, revealing a frail wrist that seemed like it would snap with the slightest pressure. Those hands, once Matilda’s pride, had sparkled with the world’s admiration when she drew her design blueprints. But now…
The crisscrossed scars on her wrist seared into Yvan’s eyes, and he couldn’t contain his shock. His pupils shrank in a violent reaction.