Chapter 245

Lauren slammed the car door, her voice tight as she called Dominick. "Son, listen. Nathaniel Beaumont's after Paisley. You have to—"

"I know," Dominick cut her off, his calm infuriating her. "I know."

Lauren froze. "You know? And you're this calm?"

"Don't worry. Nathaniel won't be bothering us again anytime soon," Dominick said smoothly.

Relief flickered, then vanished. "That's not the point! Even without Nathaniel, his mother is still there. Today at the event—" Lauren launched into a breathless recounting of Diana's machinations, her voice rising with each detail of Paisley's warmth towards Diana and her cold dismissal of Lauren herself.

Finally, Dominick reacted, but not as Lauren hoped. "So, the Sullivans were bothering Paisley again?" His voice held a simmering anger. "They said awful things? And Christina treated Paisley terribly? It's unbelievable!"

Lauren's own fury flared at the thought of Christina's favoritism, but she quickly regained control. "No, son, that's not it! The real problem is Diana!"

For the first time, Lauren was openly maneuvering against her son's girlfriend's mother. Diana, her old classmate, her rival from their shared Harrowfell circles. The endless comparisons, the simmering dislike, now boiled over. Lauren’s initial dislike of Paisley had stemmed from this rivalry. Diana’s son, Morris, had married brilliantly; Lauren felt overshadowed, and her resentment toward Paisley was a reflection of that. She'd always favored Marissa in public, neglecting Paisley. Now, regret gnawed at her, intensified by Diana's blatant attempt to steal Paisley away.

"Son, Diana's playing her cards cleverly. Paisley was all smiles for Diana today, ignoring me completely. You need to act – win Paisley back before Diana and Nathaniel get to her!" Lauren's anxiety was palpable, fueled by more than just regret; her reputation was on the line.

But Dominick remained unnervingly calm. "I understand. Let's leave it at that."

Lauren sensed his desire to end the call. The background sounds suggested he wasn’t at the office. "Son, where are you?"

"Hospital."

A smile bloomed on Lauren's face. "Good. Go see them, make a good impression. I won't bother you anymore."

Dominick hung up, then quietly instructed Julian. "Arrange for someone to see the Sullivan family immediately." Julian nodded, his understanding tacit.