Chapter 71 No One Gets Away With This!
Despite his own injuries, Max walked over to Liam and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Liam, do you remember now?"
Liam nodded.
He remembered everything. That afternoon when he couldn't find Max, he'd left the classroom and found Mason standing at the other end of the hallway. With a boastful, contemptuous tone, Mason had said, "I pushed Max into the water. He's drowning. Want to see how he dies?"
The innocent yet cruel tone had immediately terrified Liam, breaking him out in a cold sweat.
Fear and panic had overwhelmed him as he ran toward Mason, shouting, "Give Max back to me!"
Mason had laughed mockingly. "Little dummy, come chase me!"
Then he'd run off ahead.
Liam had chased after him desperately.
The two had run one after the other into the swimming facility.
Liam had truly believed Mason had pushed Max into the water. He'd crawled along the pool's edge, searching frantically, while Mason clutched his stomach, laughing. "Dummy, you're such a little dummy!"
Only then had Liam realized he'd been tricked. Trembling with rage, he'd demanded to know where Max was.
But Mason had refused to tell him, instead splashing water on him, tormenting him.
For the first time in his life, Liam had cursed, "Bastard!"
Mason, not expecting him to swear, had flown into a rage and shoved him hard into the water. Only after the fact had Mason realized he'd pushed Liam into the deep end.
He hadn't dared jump in to save him, hadn't dared tell anyone, afraid people would discover he'd pushed Liam and he'd be scolded. So he'd turned and run.
In that moment, he'd almost had a childish yet cruel thought: if Liam drowned, he'd never be able to speak again, and no one would ever know Mason had pushed him!
Liam pointed at Mason. "He pushed me!"
His speech was still halting since he spoke so rarely.
Amelia looked toward Alexander, seeing the man's expression grow visibly dark and icy. Panicking, she stammered explanations, "Mr. Hayes, Liam is so young, and besides, he has... intellectual issues. You can't take his words seriously!"
Grace said coldly, "Are you saying Liam is mentally disabled?"
Amelia shot back, "Is this any of your business?"
Alexander let out a cold laugh. "Should I believe my son's words, or should I believe your son's one-sided story?"
His gaze fell on Mason. "Did you push Liam into the water?"
Mason was so intimidated by his stare that he collapsed to the ground, trembling all over.
Amelia immediately rushed forward, shielding Mason. "Mr. Hayes, are you trying to force Mason into a confession? Questioning a child like this - you've terrified him! With you interrogating him like this, of course he'll be too scared to speak coherently!"
Alexander grabbed her arm, saying icily, "So he knows fear? What about you? Do you know fear? You knew Liam was my son, yet you dared touch my child? Do you think I won't move against the Thomas family?"
Amelia's face went deathly pale. "Mr. Hayes, let me explain..."
Liam walked over and pointed at Mason. "He pushed me into the water."
Amelia protested, "You're lying. Mason would never push you."
"Liam doesn't lie," Liam said with complete seriousness. "It was him."
Grace stated, "This is attempted murder."
Children accidentally pushing each other into water was one thing, but Mason was different. He'd done it deliberately, intending to kill Liam.
So young, yet so vicious.
Max looked at Mason cowering behind Amelia, trembling like a leaf. Remembering how Mason had raised his steel sword to slash at him moments ago, Max realized that without Alexander's timely intervention, he might have been cut to pieces by Mason's blade.
The delayed shock hit him.
He suddenly felt a stinging pain in his neck. Touching it lightly, his palm came away with blood.
When Grace saw the blood, she panicked. "Max, are you okay?"
She pulled open Max's collar to examine him. Fortunately, Max had dodged quickly - it was just a surface wound, not deep.
Max said, "Mom, don't worry. This little scratch won't leave a scar."
Grace laughed despite herself. "Who cares about scars? I'm worried about you being hurt. Does it hurt?"
"Not at all." Max smiled. "Mom, I won."
Grace pulled him into a heartfelt embrace.
Throughout the facility, Alexander's low voice, heavy with menace, suddenly rang out, "The Hayes family won't let this slide!"
He picked up Liam and walked over to Grace. Seeing the blood on Max's neck, his expression darkened further. "We're leaving."
"Okay."
...
Emily had changed into a Chanel evening gown before rushing back to Windsor Academy, only to find the school celebration had ended early.
Luxury cars lined the entrance.
Parents were leaving with their children in a steady stream.
Emily tried calling Alexander, but got no answer.
What had happened?
She stopped a passing parent. "Is the festival over?"
"Yes."
"What happened?" Emily asked worriedly. "Wasn't there supposed to be an evening banquet?"
"Apparently something major went down. The Thomas family is finished this time!"
Another parent paused to join the conversation, saying mockingly, "The Thomas family has always acted superior in high society, bullying everyone. Now they've crossed the Hayes family, and the Hayes family won't let this go easily!"
Emily frowned. "How did the Thomas family cross the Hayes family?"
"Remember when the Hayes family's Liam nearly drowned in the pool recently? It wasn't an accident - Amelia's son pushed him in!"
"That's attempted murder!"
"The Thomas family is in deep trouble now."
Emily's heart jumped.
She'd never heard Alexander mention this incident.
Radiant Pinnacle.
Max sat on the sofa while the housekeeper carefully cleaned and dressed his wound, applying medicine and a bandage. She said with concern, "Fortunately the wound isn't deep and there wasn't much bleeding. Do you need to go to the hospital?"
Grace replied, "No need. It's just a surface cut - antiseptic is enough."
She was still shaken by what had happened.
The neck area was where the helmet met the protective gear - the coverage wasn't as comprehensive there. She could see that Max's reflexes had been excellent; if he'd reacted even slightly slower, if that sword had gone deeper, it could have been very dangerous.
Liam clenched his fists, gritting his teeth. "I won't let him get away with this!"
He turned and grabbed Alexander's large hand, glaring up at him with puffed cheeks.
Alexander pinched his little face, smiling as he coaxed, "Alright, Daddy won't let him get away with it."
Liam nodded seriously.
Anyone who dared hurt him, hurt Max, hurt Grace—none of them would be spared!
Max said to Liam, "Liam, I'm fine."
Liam walked over and gently blew on his neck wound, trying to soothe the pain.
But Max burst into giggles, covering his neck. "Don't blow on it; that tickles!"
Seeing Max laugh, Liam couldn't help but smile too, revealing his pearly white teeth.
Laughter really was contagious.
Liam looked at Grace, admiring her beautiful dress, but suddenly his expression turned forlorn. His lashes drooped, and he looked ready to cry.
Grace asked, "What's wrong?"
Max seemed to understand Liam's disappointment. "He's sad that he didn't get to see you and Alexander dance together."