From Forgotten Wife To Fierce Queen - Chapter 287: Chapter 287

"Bella... Bella, please save me... Bella... Ah... it hurts..." Serena couldn't move her body. She could only tilt her head with great effort to look at Bella.
But no matter how much she pleaded, Bella just stood there, motionless.
Serena thought, 'Why isn't Bella saving me? It hurt so much. Would anyone come to save me?'
"Screaming? Who told you to scream?" Another punch landed on Serena's back.
Serena felt like her bones were going to shatter, but she couldn't fight back against the older boy behind her. "Bella, why won't you save me?"
Tears blurred Serena's vision. She could no longer see Bella clearly. She could only vaguely hear Bella talking to a boy. That voice sounded so familiar. It was Grayson.
Despair turned into a flicker of hope in Serena's heart. She struggled to open her eyes wide, trying to see Grayson clearly.
And then, she heard that familiar voice calling her, "Rena—"
It was Grayson.
"Grayson, save me. It hurts so much," Serena cried, pleading for help.
Since Bella ignored her, Grayson was her only hope.
"Rena—" Hearing her sobs, Grayson instinctively stepped forward, only for Bella to grab him.
"Sonny, don't go over there," Bella blocked him, refusing to let him pass.
Tommy wasn't about to let Grayson steal the chance to show off in front of Bella.
He shot Grayson a menacing glare. "Oh? Little rich boy, if you dare come over, I'll beat you up too!"
Grayson was startled by Tommy's vicious expression and stumbled backward in fear. He thought this Tommy was terrifying. He didn't want to get hit—it would hurt too much.
Seeing Grayson back down, Tommy smirked triumphantly at Bella, "Bella, did you see that? That Vanderbilt family brat is just a coward. I'm the strong one! Only I deserve to be your brother!"
After saying that, he threw another punch, striking Serena's back.
"Ah! It hurts! Stop hitting me!" Serena's agonized cries felt like a hammer slamming into Grayson's heart.
His mind was in turmoil. He didn't want to hear Serena cry, but he was afraid of Tommy.
"Shut up! Just take your beating quietly!" Tommy didn't stop, alternating between punching Serena and yanking her hair.
Serena felt like she was going to die from the beating. She looked at Grayson desperately. "Grayson, please, save me; go find Mom and save me."
"Mom," Grayson murmured under his breath.
That one word—Mom—was like a switch, unlocking the darkest corners of Grayson's heart.
Before Rena came along, Paisley loved him. No matter what mistakes he made, she always forgave him. It was Rena's arrival that changed everything.
Grayson thought, 'Now, Mom only loves her. She took her everywhere. Mom only loves her, not me.'
Grayson lowered his head, those thoughts repeating over and over in his mind. He clenched his fists and bit down on his lip. He thought, 'She stole all of Mom's love.'
Bella had worried that Grayson might actually go get an adult for help, but to her satisfaction, he just stood there clenching his fists, making no move to leave.
She looked at Serena, feeling smug. She thought, 'Hmph. Today, I'm going to teach Serena a real lesson. No one would help her.'
Just to be sure, Bella turned to Grayson and said, "Sonny, Tommy's punches are really strong. If he hits you, it'll hurt so bad; you might even die."
She didn't think she was exaggerating at all—she just wanted to scare Grayson into staying put.
"Die? Would I really die?" Grayson froze, repeating Bella's words, his eyes locked onto Serena. "Will she really be beaten to death?"
"Yeah, she will." Bella nodded firmly, her eyes gleaming with smugness as she looked at Serena.
Because of that, she didn't notice Grayson's eyes turning redder and redder.
"She can't be beaten to death," Grayson said.
"Huh? Sonny, what did you say?" Bella didn't hear Grayson clearly. Thinking he was scared, she grabbed his hand and started pulling him back. "If you're scared, we can stand farther away. I'm scared too."
Sonny was timid, but he looked good—much better than Tommy.
Bella thought she still preferred good-looking older boys.
Serena watched as Bella dragged Grayson away, her eyes welling up with tears again. She felt like all the strength had drained from her body.
"Grayson." The sound of his name, over and over, stabbed into Grayson's heart like tiny needles.
His mind was filled with memories of playing with Serena and that piece of chocolate he still hadn't brought himself to eat.
"I told you to shut up, didn't you hear me?" Tommy swung a heavy punch at the back of Serena's head.
Serena cried out in pain. Her head snapped forward, and her chubby little chin slammed against the ground, instantly drawing blood. "Grayson."
Another cry of "Grayson" made Grayson tremble all over. Finally, he tore himself free from Bella's grip and turned, sprinting toward Serena.
"What do you think you're doing? Aren't you afraid I'll hit you?" Tommy threatened when he saw Grayson.
Grayson shut his eyes and charged straight at Tommy. "I'll fight you! I'll fight you to death!"