Lucy’s words slammed into Paisley. She stumbled toward her car, hands shaking so violently she couldn’t open the door.

“What’s wrong?” Max’s voice cut through the air.

“Rena… Maria… they’re hurt,” Paisley stammered, tears blurring her vision.

“You can’t drive like this. Get in my car.”

Chapter 210

At the hospital, Claire blamed Maria for Grayson’s injuries, desperate to save her job. Lauren’s fury was palpable.

“It was you! You tried to harm my grandson?” Lauren snarled, eyes blazing at Maria.

Maria shielded Serena. “That’s absurd! Why would I hurt him?”

“Because of that illegitimate child!” Lauren spat, gesturing at Serena.

Maria shot up. “Who are you calling illegitimate?!”

Dominick intervened, pulling on Lauren’s arm. Lauren wouldn’t back down. She seethed, remembering Grayson’s injuries, Sonny’s unanswered messages, and Paisley’s silence. And now, Paisley's nanny had nearly killed her grandson.

“Am I wrong?” Lauren shrieked. “You know exactly when Paisley had that child! If she isn’t illegitimate, what is she?”

“Say that again!” Maria roared, rolling up her sleeves.

Before a brawl erupted, the Vanderbilts’ entourage intervened. Kayla, stunned by Maria’s boldness, blocked her.

Dominick pushed Kayla aside, signaling his men back. “Maria, I’m sorry. My mother’s worried about Sonny. Please, don’t take it to heart.” He then softly addressed Serena, “Don’t be scared.”

Maria’s gaze fell on Serena’s trembling form, red-eyed and tearful. Her heart lurched. She knelt, gently comforting Serena.

“Rena, it’s okay.”

“Maria, what does ‘illegitimate’ mean?” Serena whispered, her face pale.

“You’re not. That woman’s a bad person,” Maria said firmly.

Reginald restrained Lauren. “Enough! This is a hospital!”

“What’s embarrassing? That girl’s a bastard!” Lauren’s voice trailed off, her anger simmering.

“Paisley and Dominick are divorced,” Reginald said sharply. “And isn’t Sonny fine?”

“Fine?” Lauren gestured to the blood-soaked Grayson. “It’s all that nanny’s fault!”

Two officers approached. Lauren pointed at Maria. “She insisted on taking my grandson outside, causing his injuries!”

Claire panicked. She hadn't expected this escalation. Maria, instead of cowering, had confronted the Vanderbilts. Lauren’s words about Serena… what did it all mean?

Maria looked at the officers, innocent. Before she could speak, one officer said,

“Madam, you should thank this lady. Without her, your grandson would be in real danger.”

Lauren stared, confused. The officer explained, citing surveillance footage showing Maria acting swiftly to get the children away from danger.

“Is that right, ma’am?” the officer asked Maria.

Maria, slightly embarrassed, explained that she’d smelled sulfur and gasoline, sensing danger.

“Good safety awareness,” the officer praised.

Other parents corroborated Maria’s account, praising her quick thinking and bravery. One parent even recounted how Maria used Grayson as a shield during the explosion.