Alexander's voice cracked mid-sentence, his expression hardening into glacial severity. A dangerous energy radiated from him, thick enough to choke the air.

"Do you honestly believe my son is someone you can push around?"

The preschool staff froze, the temperature in the room plummeting.

They didn’t recognize Sebastian Kingsley well, but they knew one thing—children enrolled in Westwood Academy came from families with power and prestige.

Yet in Newhaven, Alexander Blackwood was untouchable. A man who had personally stormed into this very building multiple times to defend Liam.

To the teachers, the hierarchy was clear: Liam held all the leverage.

Moments ago, they had been delicately suggesting to Amy that perhaps transferring Oliver to another school would be best—for everyone’s sake.

But now, faced with Sebastian’s presence, they realized their mistake. This was not a man to be trifled with.

With effortless grace, Sebastian pried Amy’s wrist free from Alexander’s grip.

Freed, Amy didn’t hesitate. She struck Victoria again—hard. The sharp crack of skin meeting skin echoed through the room, followed by Victoria’s shrill cry.

Alexander’s jaw tightened. He moved to intervene, but Sebastian’s mocking stare stopped him cold. Instead, he stepped between them, shielding Victoria.

"Amy. Enough."

Amy flexed her stinging palm, not sparing Alexander a glance. Her voice was ice. "Apologize, Victoria."

Victoria trembled with rage. Humiliation burned through her like wildfire.

Never in her life had she been treated like this.

"Alex!" she shrieked, clutching his arm. "She hit me! How dare she—" Her delicate features twisted into something ugly, her usual elegance shattered. "You can’t let her walk away from this! Make her pay!"

Liam recoiled at the venom in her voice. The woman who had always been so sweet, so gentle—now she looked terrifying.

Alexander’s voice was low, controlled. "Victoria. Compose yourself."

She clung to him, nails digging into his sleeve. "Alex, you’re just going to stand there?"

Oliver’s small voice cut through the tension. "Yeah, Mr. Blackwood. Aren’t you going to defend Amy? Ms. Langley lied to Liam. She told him you didn’t want him getting close to Amy." He shot Victoria a pointed look. "Now I get why Liam and Amy don’t get along. It’s because she’s been poisoning him against her."

Alexander’s gaze darkened, sharp as a blade, locking onto Liam.

Liam ducked his head, unable to meet his father’s eyes.

The pieces clicked into place. Alexander had suspected something earlier when Liam slipped up, but he hadn’t pressed—not in front of the teachers. He’d planned to address it privately.

Now, with the truth laid bare, he had no choice.

Silence stretched for several heartbeats before Alexander spoke.

"Victoria. Apologize."

She gaped at him. "What?"

His tone brooked no argument. "Apologize to Oliver and Amy."

"Alex—!"

His eyes bore into hers, unyielding. "I won’t repeat myself. Apologize. Now."