Chapter 224
Chapter 224
When he realized Serena didn't like his gift. Dominick's face visibly turned awkward. He had very little experience interacting with little girls. In the past, the girl he saw the most was Stella.
But he wasn't close to Stella either. He only saw her as Grayson's playmate. And Stella was always so cautious around him. barely speaking in his presence. So, he had no idea what little girls liked. It was the first time Paisley had seen Dominick looking so awkward. After all, this man had been groomed as Paul's heir from birth. Paul had even planned out his entire life to clear any obstacles in his way. Dominick had followed that plan step by step. As a result, he was naturally confident and rarely failed. He also rarely adapted to others' preferences because people usually adapted to him. "Don't you like it?" Dominick asked, his ears turning red from embarrassment.
Serena pursed her lips. She genuinely didn't like it. But thinking about how Dominick had come just to see her, rejecting his gift felt wrong. So, she forced herself to nod. Thank you for the gift, Sir." Then she turned to Paisley. "Mom, can you put it away for me? I'll play with it when I'm older."
"Alright Paisley helplessly took the massive LEGO box and weighed it. The box was so big, it was almost as tall as Serena when stood upright.
Dominick finally realized his gift wasn't suitable. Feeling regretful, he asked Serena, Then tell me what you like, and I'll buy it for you. Anything you want, I promise!"
His eyes were sincere, and his tone matched. He even forced himself to keep a slight smile while talking to Serena, worried his usual stern face
would scare her. Little did he know, this forced gentleness made him seem even scarier to Serena
"Whatever I want. Mom will buy it for me," Serena said, calling Paisley over. She held her
mom's hand, tilting her head up with a puzzled look. "Mom, scary man is acting weird today."
She recalled a ghost story Maria had once told her about a beautiful princess possessed by an evil spirit. The evil spirit used the princess's body to do bad things. Looking at the strange scary man, Serena leaned against Paisley and whispered, "Mom, do you think scary man is possessed?"
Dominick was rendered speechless. Paisley couldn't help but laugh, both amused and exasperated. It seems Maria
has made up another story for her.
"Rena, can you not call me scary man?" Dominick's voice was a little dry, and he deeply regretted not leaving a good impression on this child.
Thinking back, every time he met Serena, it seemed like he was always in some kind of conflict with
Paisley. Especially that time at the club, when she was crying, shouting for them not to bully her mother.
Dominick's eyes dimmed. His image in Rena's eyes must have been ruined by now.
Tm sorry, Rena, I did wrong before. I apologize." As he spoke, his gaze shifted from Serena to Paisley. "Ill change, give me a chance, please?"
Paisley looked at Dominick, his eyes red, his voice choked, his whole presence shattered. She had to admit, the shattered vibe was Dominick's most unique feature.
If it had been a few years ago, she definitely would have softened. After all, when they first met, it was precisely that brokenness in him that had drawn her in. But unfortunately, time and experience can make a soft- hearted woman turn cold and heartless
"How dare you! What are you stopping me for? I want to see my granddaughter. Do I need your permission? Lauren's sharp voice broke the atmosphere Dominick had just tried to create in the hospital room.
"Ah, mom!" Serena gripped Paisley's hand tighter. "It's that scary woman from yesterday!"
Paisley turned her cold gaze to Dominick. Dominick froze and quickly explained, "I didn't tell her."
On this matter, Paisley still trusted Dominick. Besides, given what happened yesterday, the Vanderbilt family members would definitely have their suspicions.
Once there was suspicion, they would seek confirmation. This was the hospital, and if the Vanderbilt family really wanted to confirm it. getting Serena's sample would be a piece of cake. "Move aside. I'm going in Lauren's voice rang out again from outside the door. But Maria still stood at the door, not letting her in.
"Mom." Serena tugged at Paisley. "That scary woman from yesterday said I was a bastard. Mom, what's a bastard? I asked Maria, but she didn't tell me. Is a bastard something bad? Am I really a bastard?"
Serena's words made Paisley's heart tighten. She shot Dominick a sharp look. "Dominick, take your own mother and get her out of here. Tell her to shut up and not appear in front of Rena, or I can't promise what I might do Outside the room, in the corridor, Lauren was furious, blocked at the door. Behind her stood Reginald and three attendants carrying various gifts.
"Do you know who I am! I'm this child's grandmother! What right do you have to stop me?" Lauren continued to argue
Maria sneered. "I've never seen a grandmother who calls her own granddaughter a bastard."
As she said this, Maria paused and lowered her voice, afraid Serena in the room might hear.
Lauren was speechless, unsure how to respond. But yesterday, in her emotional outburst, she had said some harsh words in front of Serena, and now she deeply regretted it.
"So, please, let us in to apologize to Serena. We've realized our mistake. Reginald stepped in to help his wife.
Maria didn't give Reginald any respect either. "Go to hell, you're so fake. I didn't say anything about you, did I? You think just because you didn't say anything yesterday, you're the good guy? None of you are good!" Reginald, the powerful head of the Vanderbilt family, and the chairman of the Vanderbilt Group, admired by many, was being publicly scolded by a nanny.
Reginald's face turned crimson, but he couldn't argue with a nanny, so he had to hold his temper. There was no choice. Paul had given him a strict order to get Paisley and Serena's forgiveness, no matter how he had to do it. Despite his anger, when he thought about his granddaughter in the hospital room, no matter how mad he was, he had to endure it.
"I'm going in today, no matter what. You four, pull her away." Lauren instructed her attendants. The attendants stepped forward, ready to push Maria aside, when the door to the room suddenly opened.
Lauren immediately put on a smile, thinking it was Paisley coming to open the door, but instead, she saw Dominick's cold.