Chapter 63

Dominick knelt, checking Marissa for injuries. Ignoring the pain, she flung herself into his arms. "Dom! I was so scared!" she sobbed.

He hesitated, then gathered her close. "It's okay. I won't let anything happen to you." His gaze flicked to Paisley, who was comforting her daughter, ignoring him. A pang of discomfort tightened his chest.

Grayson's voice cracked. "How did you fall, Marissa?" Genuine concern warred with confusion. "That horse was Dad's pick—it couldn't have just bucked."

Alexis chimed in, "Yeah, why would a perfectly calm horse spook?"

Marissa buried her face in Dominick's chest. Then Alexis gasped, "Could someone have sabotaged you, Marissa?!"

All eyes turned to Paisley. Marissa, tears streaming, choked out, "Ms. Sutton, I know you wanted to win, but this was a low blow."

Alexis shot up, righteous fury blazing. "So it was her!" She stormed towards Paisley.

Paisley chuckled, unimpressed. "Are you saying I made you fall?"

Paisley had assumed Marissa's scheming was limited to her and Dominick. She hadn't expected this. The fall must have hurt, but luckily the ground was soft. She'd thought Marissa had just panicked to avoid losing, but this... this was different.

Grayson shoved Paisley hard, shielding Marissa. "It's you! You hurt her! You're wicked!" His bitterness intensified. "You gave her that mango cake—almost killed her! Then you tried to divorce Dad to avoid responsibility! And now this…"

Paisley stumbled back, Grayson's rage mirroring the fury she'd felt four years ago on her birthday.