From Forgotten Wife To Fierce Queen - Chapter 323: Chapter 323

Inside the business car behind the tree, Paisley was carefully treating Dominick's burned hand. Ironically, this was the same hand that had been injured by the broken vase Paisley had used before.
Looking at the scar still lingering on it, Paisley suddenly felt like she was looking back at a completely different life.
"You really are something. Why didn't you just call me? You drove all the way here on your own. If Jake hadn't noticed, you would have burned yourself alive." Paisley scolded Dominick as though she were scolding a child.
Dominick lowered his head, watching Paisley's delicate hands as she treated him. He mumbled in response, "If I died, so be it. You'd be rid of me. You'd finally have peace."
Paisley was rendered speechless. She never realized how childish he was. Or perhaps, he just started becoming this immature lately.
"Stop saying nonsense!" She deliberately applied more pressure, making Dominick wince in pain, showing his teeth, before she continued, "Do you realize how irresponsible your actions were just now?
"Did you ever think, if you really died, what would happen to your family, your parents, your kids? What about those thousands of employees depending on you, or the business partners who rely on you?"
Dominick acknowledged that Paisley had a point, but he said, "I didn't think about any of that. If you were dead, what would I live for?"
"Dominick!" Paisley raised her voice. "How many times do I have to say it for you to face reality? We're divorced, I—"
"I know!" Dominick interrupted her, finally lifting his head to look at her, his eyes burning with a mix of anger and hurt. "I know we're divorced, stop reminding me!"
It made him think about how foolish, ignorant, and hateful he had been back then. He even hated himself, realizing that he should have stopped chasing after Paisley and let her live her life.
But his heart wouldn't let go, and he didn't want to let go. The tug-of-war inside him tortured him every moment. So, maybe it was better to just die.
The car door opened, and Max stood outside, breaking the strange, delicate vibe inside the car.
"Am I interrupting you two?" Max asked.
Paisley replied, "No."
Dominick said, "Yes! You're very annoying!"
The two spoke in unison, and Dominick shot Paisley an unhappy glare, looking like a dog that had been wronged and misunderstood by its owner.
Max didn't mind Dominick's hostility towards him. With a serious face, he spoke to Paisley, "Edmond has already started moving. The mansion is under his control now."
"What about Dad?" asked Paisley.
"Don't worry. We have people around Dad, and he's safe for now. Edmond won't do anything to him until he gets what he wants," said Max.
Jake opened the driver's side door, sat down, and turned to Paisley, saying, "Paisley, don't worry, everything's under control."
Paisley didn't say much more; she always trusted Jake to get things done.
But Jake, with a mischievous look, turned to Dominick, his eyes gleaming like a stray dog eyeing a meaty bone. "I gotta say, bro, you've got some good skills and build. Stick with me, and I'll take you to the top!"
Dominick shot him a sideways glance, silent, but his imposing aura immediately filled the space.
Paisley couldn't help but laugh at Jake's words and explained, "This is Dominick, from the Vanderbilt family."
Upon hearing this, Jake was immediately stunned and regretted saying those bold words to the leader of the Vanderbilt family.
Dominick withdrew his gaze. From the brief exchange between Paisley and Max, he had picked up some clues and realized the gravity of the situation. Otherwise, Paisley wouldn't have sent her two children to him.
"Paisley, what exactly happened?" Before coming, he had only heard a rough outline from Linna. Now, he wanted to know all the details.
At the Godard family mansion, in Anna's room, Tyson and Anna sat across from each other, neither speaking. The silence between them had lasted for quite some time.
Anna only held the brooch Paisley had given her, staring out the window. The servants occasionally entered to replace their cold tea.
Finally, Tyson couldn't take it anymore. "Mom, you called me over, but you haven't said a word. What's going on?"
Anna raised her eyelids, easily catching the coldness in her eldest son's voice. In her heart, she sighed, lamenting that her eldest son had drifted away from her.
She knew that once the things she and Edmond were plotting reached Tyson's ears, it would be the final straw that broke their bond. But she didn't regret it. She couldn't just sit back and watch the Godard family's legacy be destroyed.
Everything she had done was for the family, for the legacy of the Godard name. She had to live up to her late husband and the entire family.
Her eldest son might resent her and not understand her now, but one day, he would. With this thought, Anna felt slightly reassured.
She finally spoke to Tyson, "What? I'm your mother, can't I talk to you, have a conversation? Are you really planning to cut ties with me?"
Tyson, now able to resist his mother's emotional manipulation, replied, "Mom, this is useless. No matter what you say or do, it won't change my mind. I'm in charge of this family. Whoever I want to pass it on to, I will. No one can overthrow me."
"Tyson, don't speak too confidently. You might get slapped in the face," Edmond said with a graceful walk into the room, a well-timed smile on his face.
Behind him, Christopher and Florence entered, holding Bella. The couple who were usually respectful ignored Tyson completely and sat down without even greeting him.
Christopher and Florence couldn't hide their intentions. They practically had "ambition" written all over their faces.
"I'm talking to Mom, what are you interrupting for?" Tyson snapped at Edmond without any consideration for the servants present.
Edmond's lips twitched slightly. In the past, he would have tolerated Tyson's scolding and apologized. But now, he wasn't going to take it anymore. "Tyson, let's see how long you can keep being smug!"
Before Tyson could respond, Cole rushed in, his face pale, with tears in his eyes. "Madam, it's bad! The car exploded, Max and Paisley's car exploded. They. They're gone."
Before Tyson could react, Anna jumped up, disbelieving, and asked Cole, "Gone? What do you mean? Who's gone?"
"Max and Paisley, they're gone." Cole repeated, choking back tears.
"This is impossible, impossible!" Anna's face went white, and she staggered toward Edmond, grabbing his clothes, "Edmond, didn't you say you only wanted Paisley to be injured and disabled, not dead? You promised me! Why? Why?"
"Mom, what are you saying?" From behind Anna, Tyson's cold voice sounded, full of suspicion.