Vanessa, standing behind Liam, practically radiated smugness. She strolled over, gently placing her hand on Liam's arm, her voice cloyingly sweet yet piercingly scathing: "Clara, don't be like that. Noah's only seven years old, what does he know? If you argue with a child, people will say you're bullying him."
"Just because he's a child doesn't mean he can throw acid on me!!" I suddenly raised my voice and glared at her. Although my vision was blurry, I tried my best to look angry and helpless. "My eyes are ruined! I can't scheme anymore! Why can't I hold a grudge?!"
Liam's face darkened completely. He flung my hand away with such force that I staggered back two steps, my back slamming hard against the cold edge of the coffee table. A piercing pain spread through my spine, but it paled in comparison to the chilling hurt in his voice.
"Enough! Don't bring this up again!" He looked down at me, his eyes full of threat. "He's just a child. Are you trying to ruin my family's reputation by holding onto this? Don't forget, you cut off all contact with your family long ago to be with me! Now you have nothing. Who else can you rely on but me?"