Chapter 30

The words landed like a slap.

Shannon's nose burned, her eyes filling with tears.

It was true.

Her only weakness was being born into nothing. But that was also her greatest weapon. Men always wanted to play hero, and she knew exactly how to make them.

"Shannon, I'm not going to argue with you," Lucie said, brushing past her toward the stairs.

Suddenly, Shannon let out a piercing scream. "Ahh! Lucie... what are you doing?"

In the next instant, she flung herself backward.

Shannon tumbled down the staircase, limbs flailing, her cries echoing off the walls.

She crashed to the floor below in a twisted heap.

Steven, hearing the commotion from outside, rushed inside. The sight froze him in his tracks. He bolted to her side, sweeping her into his arms. "Shannon! Shannon!"

Blood poured from a wound on Shannon's forehead, and another deep gash streaked red down her arm. "Steven..." she whimpered, voice frail.

Lucie hurried down the stairs, heart pounding.

As soon as Shannon caught sight of her, she shrank deeper into Steven's embrace, trembling violently. "Don't come near me," she sobbed, eyes wide with terror. "Please, Lucie! I won't fight you for Steven, just don't hurt me..."

Steven's eyes blazed with accusation. He didn't hesitate.

"Lucie, you've gone too far."

CRACK!

He sprang to his feet and slapped Lucie hard across the face.

She staggered backward and crashed to the floor.

"If anything happens to Shannon, I'll make you pay," he spat, voice trembling with rage.

Without another word, he swept Shannon into his arms and stormed out, heading straight for the hospital.

Madison rushed to Lucie's side and helped her up. "Miss, are you alright?"

Lucie stood there, dazed, her mind spinning.

She'd never been struck before. Never imagined someone could frame her with such a cheap, filthy trick.

But what cut even deeper was that Steven believed it.

"I'm fine," Lucie managed, steadying herself.

Suddenly-THWACK-a marble-hard pellet smacked her in the forehead, just missing her eye.

"You're a bad bitch!" Cody screamed. "You hurt Aunt Shannon! I'm gonna kill you!"

He aimed his toy gun at Lucie, firing

plastic beads with every ounce of tury in his tiny body. The bullets

St

where they hit.

Madison rushed to shield Lucie, blocking Cody's line of fire. "Cody, stop! That toy really hurts!"

"I'm gonna kill you! You hurt Aunt Shannon: Im going to make you pay! Cody shouted, face twisted with

rage.

Lucie's heart splintered as she watched the hatred in her son's eyes.

They were both hopelessly smitten with Shannon.

She really was nothing but an outsider here.

"Madison, did you pack the bags I asked you to get ready?"

"... Yes, Miss. They're all packed."

"Good. We're moving out today."

Lucie pulled out her phone and called her assistants to help with the move.

As soon as she hung up, she strode coldly to Cody and snatched the toy gun from his hands.

"Give it he shrieked,

here

gave it to me! Give it back .netw

smine! Aunt Shannon G

"You're a terrible mommy! I hate you!"

SNAP!

Lucie slammed her knee into the plastic gun, snapping it in two. The broken

pieces clattered to the floor.

Cody's screams erupted into howls of tears.

"If you love Aunt Shannon so much," Lucie said, her voice icy, "then you can be

her son from now on."

She turned her back on them both.

She was done.