Chapter 146

Paisley’s gaze, cold as ice, met Dominick’s. “No!” he blurted, “I’m not siding with her! I just don’t want you covered in blood. It’s not worth it!”

Without a word, Paisley plucked the glass shard from his palm, tossing it aside. “Mr. Vanderbilt,” she scoffed, “this wouldn’t pierce his skin, let alone her heart.” She hadn’t intended to kill Marissa, only to scare her, to let her taste true terror. Dominick had ruined it.

Dominick stared at the shard. Paisley was right; it was pathetically inadequate. Powerlessness washed over him. “Paisley, I just—”

“Don’t call me that,” she snapped.

“How’s Rena?” he asked. “She’s alright?”

“My daughter is none of your concern,” Paisley said, her voice icy, distancing herself.

Dominick’s eyes darkened. He shoved away the doctor. “Paisley, I know the truth. I’ve wronged you. I—”

“Enough,” Paisley cut him off. “I will make Marissa pay. Nothing you say will change that.” Marissa had gone too far.

“I’m not defending her, I’m just—” Dominick began, but Paisley silenced him with a cold stare.

Marissa, leaning against the wall, swayed dizzily. “Paisley, what can you do to me? If anything happens, you’ll spend life in prison!”

Paisley sneered. “Let’s see.” The vase had been thrown strategically—scary, but not lethal.

As she spoke, police sirens wailed. Marissa’s eyes widened. “Arrest her! She tried to kill me!”

Reginald, head of the Vanderbilts, stepped forward. “Officers, may I ask—”

Dominick, his bleeding hand ignored, shielded Paisley.

“We’re here for Ms. Prescott,” an officer said.

The situation exploded. How had they arrived so quickly? Marissa pointed frantically at Paisley. “She tried to kill me!”

The police ignored her, heading straight for Marissa. “We suspect Ms. Prescott’s involvement in a murder attempt.”

It was clear: Paisley had reported the incident, and the evidence was hers.

Marissa glared at Paisley, bloodshot eyes blazing. “It was you!” She struggled against the cuffs. “Where’s Jeremy? The video shows Paisley in his car! There was an accident!”

“Don’t worry,” Paisley smirked, “he’ll be joining you soon. Different prisons, though.”

Panic seized Marissa. She fought the officers, her voice rising to a desperate scream. “Dom! Help me! I did this because of you! Because I love you! Let Paisley go! I’m sorry!”

But Dominick remained unmoved. She turned to the Vanderbilts, once her family. Their faces mirrored disappointment.

“Sonny! Don’t you love me most? Help me!” she pleaded, her gaze locking onto Grayson.

Grayson shook his head, tears streaming. “You’re not my mom. You’re a bad person.”

“Ungrateful monster!” Marissa shrieked, her gaze finally settling on Dominick. “You promised my dad you’d take care of me! He died trying to pick you up! If it weren’t for you, he wouldn’t have died!”

Reginald stepped forward. “Marissa, your father’s accident was caused by drunk driving. You should be thankful he hadn’t picked up Dom yet. The Vanderbilt family doesn’t owe you anything. In fact, we’ve done more than enough.”

Chapter 147