Chapter 9 I won't let you bully my mama!
Just as the nanny finished speaking, Liam, swayed by Grace's gentle approach, cautiously extended one small hand.
Grace remained perfectly still.
Until that soft, adorable little hand gently touched her face.
Such a small child, using touch to explore the world around him, to understand unfamiliar things.
Touch could convey love and tenderness.
Liam gradually let down his guard with Grace and actually reached his little arms toward her.
My goodness! He was willing to let her hold him!
Grace felt moved, while the nanny beside them looked utterly incredulous!
Normally, Liam would only let Alexander hold him and disliked being touched by anyone else. She had been able to become Liam's nanny precisely because of her extensive experience—she was one of the few who could hold him.
Seeing Grace about to take Liam into her arms, she immediately intervened. "Don't you dare touch Mr. Liam Hayes!"
She reached out to push Grace away.
Little did she know that with Liam in her arms, Grace lost her balance and began falling backward!
"Mommy!" Max cried out in panic.
Grace tumbled down the stairs.
Instinctively, she held Liam tightly against her chest, protecting him.
With a loud crash, she hit the wall at the bottom before coming to a stop.
Everyone rushed to her side. Seeing Grace with blood streaming from her head while Liam remained completely unharmed in her protective embrace, the nanny immediately snatched Liam up.
Max rushed over and pulled Grace into his arms. "Mommy!"
Looking at Grace's bleeding forehead, his heart ached beyond measure. "Mommy, are you okay?"
Grace waved her hand weakly, too dizzy to speak properly, but still managed to say, "I'm fine."
Liam's eyes also reddened with concern, his little mouth opening to let out a trembling word, "Hurt..."
The nanny panicked. "Liam, where does it hurt?"
She examined Liam's entire body but found no injuries whatsoever.
Just as she was puzzling over this, Liam suddenly reached out and pointed to Grace's bloodied forehead, his delicate brow furrowing as he said, "Hurt." Seeing Grace injured made his heart ache as if pierced by needles.
The nanny glanced at Grace dismissively—as long as Liam was unharmed, she didn't care about Grace.
However, suddenly realizing the significance, the nanny let out a shriek, "Liam spoke!"
"Mr. Liam Hayes spoke!"
"Quick, get Mrs. Mary Hayes! Tell her Mr. Hayes finally started talking! Hurry!"
The servants rushed upstairs to inform Mary.
The nanny also told the butler, "Call Mr. Hayes immediately! Tell him Liam can speak!"
She was so excited because the Hayes family had promised her a generous reward if she took good care of Liam and he started speaking!
The nanny trembled with excitement.
...
"Mr. Hayes, Mrs. Mary Hayes called to say that Liam finally started talking!"
In the car, Jeremy gripped his phone, his expression excited as he reported.
After all these years, Liam could finally speak!
The car stopped in the garage.
Alexander strode through the door and headed straight upstairs.
Liam's bedroom.
He pushed open the door and walked in to find Mary, servants, and the nanny gathered around Liam's bed.
Liam sat against the headboard holding his teddy bear, but remained silent.
Mary wore her usual worried expression, and seeing Alexander return, she immediately stood up to complain, "That Grace—she's caused Liam such harm!"
"What happened?" Alexander asked.
Mary replied, "She was just starting to speak! But Grace insisted on forcing herself on Liam, lost her footing, and fell down the stairs. Liam must have been injured somewhere, or perhaps traumatized, because now he won't speak again!"
Alexander looked to the nanny. "Liam spoke?"
The nanny's eyes darted around before she nodded eagerly. "Yes! I've been teaching Mr. Liam Hayes to speak every day, and just now, Mr. Liam Hayes really did start talking!" She was desperate to claim credit.
"What did he say?" Alexander asked.
The nanny hesitated, biting her lip before fabricating a story, "Mr. Liam Hayes said he missed Daddy, and that he loves Daddy the most."
Liam looked up at her, his deep eyes growing darker and darker.
This woman would make up any story to curry favor and claim rewards.
Alexander walked to the bedside, sat on the edge, and gathered Liam into his arms. "Liam?"
Liam kept his head down, pressing his lips together, looking dejected.
"What's wrong with Liam?" Seeing that Liam appeared upset, Alexander asked gently, "Doesn't Liam want Daddy's hug?"
Liam suddenly pointed toward the door.
Alexander frowned and carried Liam to the doorway.
Mary followed closely behind.
Everyone gathered around them.
Alexander reached the doorway, and Liam pointed in another direction.
The man immediately understood and carried him in the direction he indicated.
Until they reached another door.
Liam pointed at the door.
"Open it," Alexander instructed a servant.
The door opened.
Inside the room.
Grace lay on the bed with her head wound bandaged.
Max sat guard beside the bed and looked up at the sound.
The nanny immediately stepped forward to accuse, "It was her! She's the one who caused Mr. Liam Hayes to fall down the stairs!"
Grace was stunned.
"Mr. Liam Hayes had just started speaking, but who knows where he got hurt in that fall down the stairs, which is why he..." The nanny pushed all the blame onto Grace. "If you've damaged Mr. Liam Hayes's brain, can you take responsibility for that?"
Grace replied somewhat dejectedly, "What are you trying to say?"
Max retorted, "Stop talking nonsense! If my mommy hadn't protected him, she wouldn't have been hurt so badly!"
Mary, seeing Max for the first time, was somewhat surprised. "Whose child is this? He's calling Grace mommy—is he Grace's son?"
She furrowed her brow, anger flickering in her eyes. "Grace! You better explain to me how this child came to be!"
Grace was momentarily speechless.
Mary was livid, pointing at Grace and erupting in fury, "Grace, don't tell me this child is from some other man! When the Hayes family arranged for you to marry into this family, we paid a hefty price. If you dared to make Alexander a cuckold, the Hayes family will never forgive you!"
"Grandmother," Alexander interrupted her. "She and I are already divorced."
Mary replied, "Alexander, you don't understand! This woman was your wife back then! If she cheated on you, after the Hayes family paid such a high price to marry this kind of tramp, it would be absolutely tragic!"
Tramp... Grace's eyelids trembled.
In Mary's mouth, she seemed like nothing more than a commodity, with no dignity whatsoever.
Back then, the Foster family had made an agreement with the Hayes family. The Foster family had received a sum of money from the Hayes family, which helped them survive their business crisis.
And her two years of life at Hayes Manor had been miserable.
Grace felt a wave of sadness.
Max suddenly said coldly, "Nobody calls my mommy a tramp!"
He stepped protectively in front of Grace like an angry little lion, glaring fiercely at Mary. "I won't let you bully my mama!"