Chapter 65
Chapter 9
I knelt and gently hugged Lily, patting her back to soothe her.
Her lip quivered as she fought back tears-any child would be scared after being taken by strangers.
My heart ached, and I kissed her softly on the forehead.
Once she’d calmed, I stood and shielded her behind me, ready to confront them head-on.
“If this happens again, I’ll call the police p>
Eleanor set her cup down with a sharp clack and scoffed.
“Who do you think you are? I don’t need your permission to bring my own granddaughter home p>
Lily hid further behind me. I stroked her head gently before lifting my gaze to meet Eleanor’s.
“You said yourself I’m an outsider. So taking an outsider’s child without permission-isn’t that kidnapping p>
Eleanor’s face turned ashen with rage, and she was left tongue-tied.
Blair quickly stepped in, patting her back to calm her down.
“Mrs. Vanderbilt, don’t let her upset you. This child isn’t just hers-she’s Jasper’s, too p>
She turned to me with a sweet, practiced smile.
“Ms. Bennett, I understand you loved Jasper so much you had his child in secret after he broke things off.
But then you took a job at his company and engineered chance encounters so he’d find out about Lily-was that really accidental?
Now that he’s acknowledged his daughter, you’re still trying to take her away, to keep her living a life where she can’t even eat cake.
A child isn’t a bargaining chip for you to climb the social ladder,
You already stole Jasper from me once-I’ve let that go. But can’t you leave this innocent child alone p>
In her story, she was the devoted girlfriend who stepped aside, and I was the scheming woman who used a child to chase status.
I gave her a cold look. “You can keep telling yourself that if it helps you sleep p>
Eleanor slapped the table, furious.
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“This child is Vanderbilt blood! I’d like to see you try to take her away! A woman who has a child out of
wedlock-what kind of good example could she possibly learn from you p>
Lily started crying. I held her close, stroking her back.
Blair stepped forward, bent down, and held out her hand to Lily.
“Don’t be scared, Lily. Come to Mommy p>
That was it-the anger I’d been holding back surged.
I raised my hand and slapped her across the face.
Looking down at her stunned expression, I spoke slowly, my voice icy.
“You are not her mother p>
Blair clutched her cheek, disbelief in her eyes.
She raised her hand to strike back, but Jasper grabbed her wrist and shoved it away.
His dark eyes were cold as he released her.
Blair stumbled back, silent, but her glare burned into me.
I ignored her, picked up Lily, and headed for the door.
Outside, Jasper’s car was already waiting.
He opened the door, his expression unreadable. After a pause, he said flatly, “I’ll drive you home p>
I stood still. He repeated himself, patience thinning.
I glanced around-taxis were scarce here.
I decided not to be petty and climbed into the back seat with Lily in my arms.
Chapter 9
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