I stood there, stunned, the explanation stuck in my throat—it wasn't me, Vanessa hit her herself. But seeing the raging anger in his eyes, seeing Vanessa crying her eyes out in his arms, I suddenly laughed. What was the use of explaining? He had chosen to believe that woman from the beginning; any further words from me would seem like pointless sophistry. Tears welled up uncontrollably, not from feeling wronged, but from regret for my years of misjudging people.
Vanessa gripped the hem of Liam's suit tightly, her shoulders trembling violently, her sobs soft and pitiful: "Liam, I really didn't mean any harm... I just wanted to bring Zeke to say hello to Clara and let him get to know his future mother, but I didn't expect her to call Zeke a bastard as soon as she opened her mouth, saying that he didn't deserve to stay in Liam's house and didn't deserve to compete with Leo for the family fortune."