Chapter 151

The chaos unfolded in mere seconds, leaving no time for hesitation.

Vanessa stood closest to Claire when Isabella made her sudden, reckless charge. Every muscle in Vanessa's body tensed, her gaze locked onto Claire with protective intensity.

Just as Isabella was about to slam into Claire, instinct took over. Without a second thought, Vanessa threw herself toward the stone bollard.

Claire hadn’t even registered the obstacle behind her when Vanessa reached it first.

Vanessa’s arms shot out, wrapping around Claire from behind in a firm embrace. But the force sent her crashing backward, her lower back striking the unyielding stone with a sharp, jarring impact.

A gasp of pain escaped her lips as a cold sweat prickled across her skin.

She ignored the throbbing ache, her focus solely on Claire.

"Claire, are you hurt?"

Claire hadn’t fallen, thanks to Vanessa’s quick reflexes, but her face was ghostly pale, her breathing uneven.

"I—I’m okay," Claire managed, still trembling as she glanced at the bollard behind her.

Vanessa exhaled sharply, relief mingling with the lingering sting in her back.

Isabella, meanwhile, staggered back, her face twisted in shock—as if she hadn’t expected anyone to intervene.

The tension in the air was thick enough to cut.

Vanessa tightened her grip on Claire’s arm, her voice low but firm. "Let’s get you out of here."

Claire nodded shakily, her fingers curling around Vanessa’s sleeve like a lifeline.

But before they could move, Isabella’s voice cut through the silence, sharp and defiant.

"You think that’s enough to stop me?"

Vanessa’s jaw clenched.

She turned slowly, her eyes locking onto Isabella’s with a challenge.

"Try it again," she dared, her voice icy. "I dare you."

The consequences could have been catastrophic if she had fallen backward while looking up.

She had already made up her mind—she wasn’t keeping the baby. The surgery was scheduled.

But losing it due to an accident? That was an entirely different scenario.

If Evelyn hadn’t acted quickly, the fall—combined with her delicate condition—could have left her with lasting complications.

Claire, shaking with fury, locked eyes with Isabella. "You did that on purpose. How dare you?"

Isabella’s face paled, her voice trembling. "I—I didn’t mean to! I thought you were going to hit me! I just—"

Before she could finish, Evelyn’s hand struck her cheek with a sharp crack.

She lunged forward, gripping Isabella’s hair, her voice a venomous hiss. "If anything had happened to Claire, I would have destroyed you."

Claire couldn’t risk intervening—not in her condition.

And with Lucas standing right there, if she had retaliated and he had defended Isabella? The humiliation would have been unbearable.

So Evelyn took matters into her own hands.

This was her duty—to deal with the mistress on Claire’s behalf.

The sharp crack of the slap echoed through the room. Isabella clutched her stinging cheek, her eyes blazing with fury as she glared at Evelyn. "What the hell was that for? I told you it was an accident!"

"An accident?" Evelyn's voice dripped with disdain. "You expect anyone to believe that? You knew exactly what you were doing, Isabella."

Isabella's temper flared. "Claire is perfectly fine! How dare you hit me? I’m reporting this!"

"Go ahead. I dare you." Evelyn crossed her arms, her gaze unflinching. "With your pathetic acting skills, do you really think the police will fall for your lies? They’ll see right through you."

"Lucas," Isabella whimpered, turning to him with pleading eyes. "They’re bullying me again."

Evelyn had yanked her hair, forcing her into a humiliating bow in front of everyone. The shame burned hotter than the slap.

Lucas opened his mouth to speak, but then he caught Alexander’s icy glare—a silent warning. His words died in his throat.

He knew the truth. Isabella had deliberately shoved Claire. The realization sent a chill down his spine.

Thankfully, Claire was unharmed, and so was the baby.

"Just apologize, Isabella," Lucas said tightly. "Let’s end this now."

Claire’s breath hitched as she stared at Lucas in disbelief.

“An apology and that’s it? Since when do you decide what’s enough for me?”

His brows knitted together. “You’re unharmed, and Evelyn took the hit for you. Do you really want to escalate this? Claire, you’re smarter than this.”

A bitter laugh escaped her lips, her eyes glistening. “Unharmed? Only because Evelyn stepped in. What if she hadn’t been there?”

Her voice cracked. “You’re using logic to manipulate me into backing down. Or have you forgotten—I’m carrying your child, Lucas.”

The air between them thickened with unspoken accusations.

Claire’s fingers trembled as she wrapped her arms around herself, the weight of his indifference crushing her.

Lucas exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “This isn’t about picking sides. It’s about not making things worse.”

“Worse?” She scoffed. “Funny how my pain is just an inconvenience to you.”

Isabella’s smug smirk from across the room burned in Claire’s periphery. The injustice of it all coiled tight in her chest.

Lucas reached for her, but she stepped back, her voice a whisper. “Don’t.”

The gala’s chandeliers blurred above them as silence stretched, brittle and suffocating.

Then, with deliberate calm, Claire lifted her chin. “Tell me, Lucas—if it were Evelyn in my place, would you still ask her to be sensible?”

His hesitation was all the answer she needed.