Chapter 209

Dominick’s anxiety spiked. Where was Paisley? He saw Serena and the nanny, both wearing green wristbands, seemingly unharmed.

"Where's Paisley?" he demanded, his voice sharp.

Maria jumped. "You scared me!"

"Where is Paisley?" Dominick repeated, his voice louder. Serena buried her face in Maria's arms. Maria soothed her, then snapped, "She's not here. Probably too busy to answer her phone." A flicker of irritation crossed Maria's face; the situation could have been far worse.

Relief washed over Dominick, but Serena’s fright irked him. He turned away just as Reginald, with Lauren and Kayla, arrived.

"Who's that?" Reginald asked, eyeing Dominick.

Kayla added, "Yeah, bro, who's the cute kid?"

"Paisley's daughter," Dominick mumbled, the image of Max's face flashing in his mind.

Kayla gasped. "What? She looks just like my sister-in-law!"

Lauren corrected her sharply, "She's not your sister-in-law anymore."

Lauren's initial hope for reconciliation had soured. Watching Dominick wither under the strain of his separation, and now this… Paisley having another child only solidified her opposition to them getting back together. She'd been planning to introduce him to someone else.

Then Lauren noticed Grayson alone. "Where's Claire?" she asked, her voice hardening.

The Vanderbilts exchanged glances. Claire's absence was unsettling.

"Maybe she's hurt?" Kayla suggested. Claire was usually so responsible.

Reginald agreed. But before they could speculate further, Claire emerged from the restroom, unscathed, and without a wristband.

Lauren exploded. "Claire! I told you to watch Sonny! How could you leave an injured child alone?"

Claire panicked. "Madam, I'm so sorry! I had to use the restroom. I even asked the doctor—" she gestured to a preoccupied intern.

Lauren cut her off. "Why was Sonny at a restaurant? You said you were taking him to a bookshop!"

Claire stammered, "He saw Serena… insisted on going. I warned him, but…"

Lauren's fury intensified. "Sonny's injured! Fainting from blood! This shouldn't have happened! What's the use of your excuses? Look at him—unconscious! And you're fine! How can I trust you?"

Kayla sneered, "I told you hiring a college grad was unreliable!"

Claire squirmed. She’d had ulterior motives once, but not anymore. This job was easy money. Now, fearing dismissal, she shifted the blame.

"It's their fault!" Claire accused, pointing at Maria and Serena. "If they hadn't distracted Sonny… if they hadn't interfered… I'm unharmed! It's all their fault!"

Maria stared, stunned.

Meanwhile, Paisley, having finished work early, approached her dark villa. Were Maria and Serena out? Her phone was dead. After charging it, she saw missed calls and messages. Then Lucy called. "Paisley, get to the hospital! Serena and Maria are injured!"