Anna screamed, then slipped and collapsed to the ground.
Ethan Carter bent down and gathered her in his arms. “Anna, are you alright?”
Anna lifted the hem of her dress, blood running down her calf. Ethan’s face darkened with rage as he glared at Leo. “Who told you to run around like that?”
“Get out of here!”
Leo burst into frightened sobs. “Mom… I want Mom…”
I rushed over, pulling him into my arms, crouching to soothe him. “Don’t be afraid, Leo, Mommy’s here. Don’t cry, it wasn’t your fault. Don’t be afraid, Mommy’s here.”
The nanny hurried up behind me, out of breath.
“Miss, the young master kept calling for you—I couldn’t hold him back…”
I lowered my voice. “It’s alright, this isn’t your fault. The staff here is always careful.”
Ethan snapped coldly, “Is this how you raise a child?”
“No wonder he’s grown up so unruly!”
Anna leaned weakly against him, her voice soft. “Ethan, Leo’s still young. Don’t scare him…”
“I just fell and bled a little. I’ve been hurt before.”
She lifted her gaze toward me, sadness flickering in her eyes.
“Claire, it’s my fault.”
“You’re right. I was careless and bumped into the boy. I apologize.”
She tried to wriggle from Ethan’s arms but cried out in pain. Ethan’s expression twisted in anguish as he quickly tightened his hold. “What are you apologizing for?”
“This is my failure, as a father, for not raising my son right.”
He turned his cold stare on Leo and me. “Leo, I wasn’t there to raise you. That’s on me.”
“But Claire, as his mother, the greater blame falls on you.”
“I can’t leave Leo under your care forever. You’ll only poison him with your arrogance.”
“Now that Anna is here, she’ll help raise him. She’s educated, gentle, kind—she’ll raise Leo properly.”
My voice cut like ice. “What do you mean by that?”
Ethan’s brow hardened. “I mean Anna will raise Leo. You’ll remain the Lawson heiress.”
I spat the words. “In your dreams.”
His tone was final, unyielding. “I’m the head of the Lawson syndicate. Of course, I have that right.”
“And Leo is my son. As his father, I have every right.”
He steadied Anna and yanked her closer. His gaze locked on Leo.
“A real man accepts punishment for his mistakes.”
“Now kneel and apologize to Aunt Anna!”
He reached for Leo’s small shoulders, ready to force him down.
Leo screamed through his tears, thrashing. “No! I want Mommy! I want Mommy!”
I clenched my fists until they ached, my patience snapping. I called for the butler, tore the gun from his hand, and pressed the barrel to Ethan’s forehead, my grip steady, unflinching. “Ethan Carter, if you dare touch my son, I’ll blow your head off.”
He sneered. “I taught you to shoot, and now you point a gun at me?”
He clamped his hand around mine, forcing the muzzle harder against his temple.
“Do it here. Don’t hold back.”
“I’ve taken enough bullets for you!”
I stared into the fire blazing in his eyes, my finger tightening on the trigger.
“Fine. I’ll grant your wish…”
Before I could finish, Anna suddenly threw herself at me, shoving me aside. She crashed hard to the floor.
