Chapter 281
She gripped the wheelchair rims, pushing forward with effort. Before she could muster full strength, her hands were brushed aside.
Kieran’s lazy, cold voice came from behind: “Making a scene?”
Without waiting for refusal, he started pushing her.
Alarieka rested her hands on her thighs, slowly clutching the fabric. Her ankle was still injured. No point fighting Kieran—better let him be free labor and save her energy.
But then Kieran’s fir scent, mixed with Rose’s sweet perfume, drifted to her nose.
Alarieka thought blankly: she hated that smell. She shut her eyes, pretending not to notice.
Dean Li stood frozen in despair, watching them leave, his face darkening.
The woman looked scared and wronged. She knew she’d messed up but couldn’t grasp why they’d grovel to that man or accept such absurd demands.
Clutching her son’s hand, she trembled: “Uncle, who is he?”
Staring at Dean Li’s back, she grew more confused: “Uncle, we don’t need to bow down. How could I possibly do that? You’re the hospital dean—using your body to mop floors is humiliating. No need to agree. We shouldn’t fear him. At worst, we’ll make this public and see who’s truly shamed.”
The director stood with his back to her, silent. The woman spoke more and more righteously, even her brows and eyes showing a hint of anger and indignation, as if she had truly suffered a great injustice.
“Besides, even if that Mr. Argent has heaven-defying abilities, what his sister did scalding my son was still wrong! She should pay compensation. My son is uncle’s nephew, and I’m my son’s mother. We should stand by my son.”
The director spoke, lowering his voice: “I’m asking you, what really happened here? Is what Mr. Argent’s sister said true? Did your son run over and bump into someone, knocking over the thermos?”
The little boy, terrified, shrank behind his mother: “Mommy…”
The woman’s expression turned awkward, her eyes darting around: “It’s…it’s just like I said, that Mr. Argent’s sister splashed hot water on my son…”
The director’s face darkened, his voice rising sharply: “The truth!”
The woman stammered: “I…I…”
“That’s Kieran Argent!”
“Speak!”
Director Li stepped closer, locking eyes with her. “Tell me the truth. What really happened?”
The woman flinched, face turning pale. “It was Hanghang… He accidentally bumped into Mr. Argent’s sister. That’s why the thermos fell.”
She clutched Director Li’s arm anxiously. “Uncle, Hanghang lost his father when he was little. You’ve watched him grow up. You even bought his formula. You know he’d never do it on purpose. He’s just a child! He doesn’t understand anything. Please don’t blame him?”
Her voice faded as she saw Director Li’s expression darken terrifyingly—a look he’d never given her before. Her chest tightened, skin growing paler.
“Uncle, who is that man? Why are you so afraid of him?”
Smack!
Director Li slapped her hard across the face, putting his full strength behind it.
The woman covered her stinging cheek, eyes brimming with hurt. “Uncle, why did you hit me again?”
He jabbed a trembling finger at her, jaw clenched and face flushed crimson. “You foolish woman! You’re going to get me killed!”
Tears streamed down the woman’s face. The little boy, seeing his mother struck, hid behind her legs, refusing to come out.
Director Li spotted the child and yanked him forward by the collar. “Why did you push her?!”
“Speak! Why did you push her?!”
The boy stared wide-eyed, hands feebly gripping Director Li’s wrist. His lips trembled before he burst into loud, panicked sobs. “Mommy! Mommy!”
The woman lunged to pull her son free. “Uncle, he’s just a child! Only a child! Don’t hurt him!”