Chapter 145

Kayla stared, speechless. This… this wasn’t the life she wanted. A family that despised her, a husband patient with everyone but her. The years of Marissa’s whispers, poisoning her and her mother's words against Paisley to Grayson, had created a rift. Grayson had even rejected Paisley as his mother. Kayla hadn't realized the depth of it until now, putting herself in Paisley's shoes—four years of that suffocation. They’d been despicable, hadn't they? Paisley must have loathed them all. How could she ever return? The irony stung—Kayla had once boasted to Paisley that only Marissa would be her sister-in-law. They'd been the delusional ones. But regret was useless now. Paisley was…

Marissa watched, hatred simmering. "I worked so hard! So close to success, just one step away!" she screamed, her frustration exploding. "If I'm unhappy, none of you Vanderbilts will be either! Paisley is dead!"

Beep beep beep! Car horns blared outside.

"What's that?" Reginald demanded.

The butler, returning, his face a mixture of shock and joy, whispered, "It's the young madam."

"Paisley's alive!"

"Get her in!" Reginald roared.

"Paisley!" Dominick breathed, stumbling forward as the gate swung open. He had to see her, to know she was really…

"Dom!" Julian yelled, chasing after him.

Marissa froze, a vicious snarl twisting her face. "Impossible! How? Why?" The video had shown her dead. If Paisley lived, everything she’d done was meaningless.

"Are you sure?" Paul asked urgently.

The butler nodded frantically. "Yes, sir. The young madam. She drove herself."

Paul smiled, tears welling.

Paisley's car swept into the courtyard. She saw Dominick running, ignored him, and headed straight for the house. Dominick watched, helpless, as she passed, mud splattering his eyes. Tears streamed down his face. It was her. She was alive.

"Dom, are you alright?" Julian gasped, shaken by the near-miss.

Dominick nodded, still chasing the car. Paisley parked, jumped out. The house doors stood wide, welcoming her home. The family surged forward.

"Paisley! You're alive!" Julian exclaimed.

"Paisley, I was so worried!" Kayla cried.

"Paisley," Reginald murmured.

"Mom!" Grayson sobbed, hugging her legs. "Mom, you're not dead!"

Paisley pushed him away, her gaze fixed on Marissa. This was why she'd come.

"Paisley, you're lucky to be alive!" Marissa shrieked.

Paisley didn't respond, her eyes cold as ice, predatory. Then, the family realized something was wrong. It was too late.

"Paisley, stop!" Marissa screamed, backing away as Paisley advanced, a glass vase shattering over her head. Blood gushed.

Paisley didn't hesitate. She picked up a shard, aiming for Marissa's heart.

"Don't!" Marissa cried, trying to dodge. "Murder is illegal!"

She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for death. But the pain never came. She opened her eyes to see Dominick's hand, the shard embedded in his palm, blood dripping onto her.

"Dom!" Lauren screamed, "Get a doctor!"

Marissa laughed, a wild, frantic sound. "Even now, he protects me! He doesn't want me to die!"