The Ex-Con Queen Strikes Back - Chapter 45: Chapter 45

"Adam, calm down," Skylar soothed him, afraid that his emotions might trigger another episode.
Under her gentle coaxing, Adam gradually calmed down. He curled into her arms, his tiny body trembling with the occasional sob. He looked pitiful beyond words.
Skylar gently rubbed his small back, stroke by stroke.
"Mommy, I'm hungry," said Adam.
After all the commotion, everything he'd eaten at lunch had long been digested. So Skylar carried him downstairs to eat.
Seeing them come down, Yana had the dishes brought out, including a bowl of porridge that had been prepared to take upstairs.
"Oh, my poor Adam. You've lost weight after just one illness." Yana gently cupped his little face. "This porridge was specially made for you. Try it and see if it's good."
Adam gave a sweet smile, "Thank you, Grandma."
He eagerly waited for Skylar to serve the porridge, then dug in, blowing on each spoonful before eating it.
"So yummy." He spoke with his mouth full, his words slightly muffled.
Yana smiled. "If it's good, eat more."
"Mom, why isn't Freya eating with us?" asked Skylar.
"She said she's staying out with friends tonight," said Skylar. "She knows how to take care of herself."
Skylar, holding her spoon, sneered. "She's just feeling guilty and using that as an excuse to avoid us."
"What happened?" asked Yana.
Skylar told them everything that had happened earlier that day.
Adam also looked up, tiny fists clenched in outrage. "She didn't help me when I was sick. That's so mean!"
Yana was horrified. Freya had always seemed obedient and kind in front of them. How could she have caused Adam's episode—on purpose—and refused to help?
Carlos noticed Skylar's expression darken and cautiously said, "Maybe there's been some kind of misunderstanding?"
"If you don't believe me, I won't say any more. But whatever I decide to do next, please don't try to stop me," replied Skylar.
She could tolerate being targeted herself for the sake of her parents, but when it came to Adam, she wouldn't turn a blind eye.
This involved Adam's safety—there had to be accountability.
"Honey, maybe we should call Freya home and hear what she has to say?" Carlos still struggled to believe Freya would do such a thing.
Yana, however, knew better. As a woman herself, she understood how dangerous jealousy could be.
Maybe the daughter they'd raised for over twenty years wasn't as innocent as she appeared.
"Skylar, don't worry. If it really was Freya, your father and I won't go easy on her," she comforted.
Skylar didn't expect them to truly punish Freya. All she wanted was for them not to stand in her way.
At the hotel, Freya was pacing restlessly.
She knew Skylar wouldn't let this go and would surely use it as ammunition against her. She had to figure out how to deal with it.
Just then, her phone rang. Freya's heart skipped a beat.
She picked up the phone, "... Hello?"
"Freya. Come home, now," Yana's voice was icy cold, sending a chill straight through the receiver.
"M-mom, I... " Freya tried to explain, but Yana cut her off.
"Do you want me to come find you and drag you back myself?"
Freya bit her lip. "I'll be home soon."
She took a car back and sat outside the front door for a long time, mentally preparing herself. After several deep breaths, she stepped inside.
"Dad. Mom. Skylar. I'm back," Her gaze swept across Carlos and Yana on the sofa, then landed on Skylar and Adam.
"Freya, don't you think you owe us an explanation?" asked Yana.
"Mom, I know it's my fault. I didn't mean to... " At this point, telling the truth was better than lying.
"I didn't think messing around with him would actually make him sick."
"You hit him. You pushed him. That's 'messing around'?" replied Skylar, voice frosty. "So if I beat you half to death and slammed you to the floor, is that also just messing around?"
Freya sobbed. "I'm really sorry. I've been under a lot of pressure these days... I lost control. I didn't mean to hurt him."
After all, they had raised her for over twenty years. Seeing her cry like this made Carlos feel uncomfortable.
She used to be their only daughter. Carlos knew that with Skylar back now, it was natural for her to feel displaced and upset.
He rubbed his hands awkwardly. "Skylar, what do you plan to do?"
"Let Adam decide. He's the one who was hurt—he has the right to decide," said Skylar.
Adam thought for a moment. "If she sincerely apologizes, I'll reluctantly forgive her."
Skylar raised her eyebrows, surprised. Yosef actually raised such a kind-hearted child? She thought. Back then, Yosef had shown no mercy taking down the Campbell family—he was ruthless to the core.
Even Yana was taken aback. The boy had nearly died, and all he wanted was a simple apology?
"Then kneel and apologize properly. A few kowtows should show your sincerity," added Adam.
The mood shifted instantly—Yana nearly laughed aloud. This kid really was something.
Carlos found the punishment mild and didn't speak up. But Freya's face turned pale, then flushed red.
Kneel? Kowtow? To a child? She thought. If word got out, she'd be a laughingstock.
She looked to Carlos, hoping he'd speak for her. But Carlos avoided her gaze.
She turned to Yana. Her mother's face was stony. "Don't look at me. You made this mess. Own it."
Grinding her teeth, Freya finally knelt and, with deep humiliation, kowtowed to Adam.
"I'm sorry. I was wrong. I shouldn't have hit you just because I was in a bad mood," she begged.
Three loud thumps—her forehead actually bled.
"Fine," Yana said, "Don't do this again. Go call the doctor and get your head looked at."
Freya nodded through tears. "Okay, Mom."
Later, after getting her wound treated, she went back upstairs—only to run into Adam. She blocked his path. "You little brat. Tattling on me like that? I won't forget what you made me do today."
"Daddy, someone wants to hit me," Adam calmly spoke into his smart watch.
Yosef's low, deadly voice came through. "I'll send some bodyguards over. If they touch you—beat them to death. I've got your back."
Freya recognized the voice. She looked like she'd been struck by lightning. Her face went completely white.
She didn't expect Adam to be Yosef's son!
She knew Yosef killed without blinking. Even if she was the daughter of a billionaire, it wouldn't save her. Offending him meant only one thing—death.