Chapter 457
Chapter 457
Raegan dodged the purse, a chill surfacing in her eyes. This side of Luciana was unfamiliar to her. Luciana's unruly actions were a far cry from the refined lady in her memory.
Raegan hadn't responded to the slap because she acknowledged that Mitchel's injury was indeed her fault. She could sympathize with a mother's anguish over her child, but that didn't mean she would accept being treated poorly. "Mrs. Dixon, I'm staying until Mitchel wakes up. We can either get along, or you can go."
Luciana was livid, struggling to keep her rage in check. "What gives you the right? You're just someone my son got over, and now you're telling me to leave?"
Every word hit Raegan like a bullet. This was, after all, a woman she had once been fond of, who had once treated her kindly, like a mother.
Raegan decided to stay out of a shouting match with Luciana, wanting to keep things quiet for Mitchel's sake. She turned to Matteo, asking. "Matteo, can you help her calm down? Let's keep it down."
Matteo nodded, trying to soothe Luciana. "Ma'am, Mr. Dixon needs his rest. Why don't you take a little break, and I'll let you know as soon as he wakes up?"
"Why do I have to go?" Luciana retorted. "If anyone should leave, it's her, the outsider. I'm his mother, after all."
"However, Mr. Dixon made it clear he wanted Miss Foster here, Matteo explained. "He won't be happy if he learns Miss
Foster is mistreated."
Luciana hesitated, aware that crossing Mitchel could backfire. Their rocky relationship made her think twice. But then she remembered Mr. Gomez's words. "I'm not going anywhere. She's the one who should leave. She brings bad luck to Mitchel."
Advancing, Luciana attempted to push Raegan away, shouting, "Stay away from my son. Don't even get near him!"
Raegan, caught off guard, tripped but managed to catch herself on a table.
Matteo quickly stepped in to help her.
Cheers erupted from outside just then. A man dressed in a black suit walked in, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Quite the show we have here."
Luciana's attitude changed the moment she saw the man. "Why are you here?" she demanded.
The man brushed off her question and walked straight up to Raegan. He looked deep into her eyes for what seemed like an eternity before he finally said, "Raegan, it's been a while."
Raegan gazed back at the man she recognized, feeling as though her past and present were colliding. She whispered a name she hadn't said in a long time, "Henley... What brings you here?"
Raegan thought he was left in a comatose state. How was he standing here?
Henley, noticing her astonishment, gave her a warm smile. "Raegan, I've come back, he announced.
Raegan was at a loss for words. Surprise was all she felt. Despite Henley's current gentle appearance, she remembered too well his obsession with possessing her.
Luciana, who loathed the sight of Henley, particularly for his resemblance to Mitchel, snapped, "Leave now. You're not wanted here!"Têxt © NôvelDrama.Org.
Raegan was trying to figure out what was going on. Why did Luciana seem to hate Henley so much? When had they first met?
Then it all made sense. As Henley walked toward Luciana, who clenched her hands tighter with each step, her nervousness was evident.
Henley stopped in front of Luciana and called her by a name that surprised everyone. "Mom, why are you saying this? I should come visit since my brother's sick. It hurts to hear you talk like that."
Raegan couldn't believe it! Henley just called Luciana mom?
Luciana snapped back, displeased, "Don't call me that, you bastard. The Dixon family wants nothing to do with you. You're just a problem caused by Alexis' cheating. And you think you can be part of our family? Keep dreaming!"
Even with Luciana's harsh words, Henley seemed amused. He replied calmly, "Mom, maybe you haven't heard? You've been so worried about my brother that you might have missed the news this morning. You can still catch up."
With that, Henley grabbed the remote and turned on the TV to a financial news channel.
The news anchor announced, "This morning at 8, Alexis Dixon, the chairman of the board of Ardlens' top company, Dixon Group, revealed in a press conference that his youngest son, Henley Dixon, is now the General Manager of the International Trade Department. The youngest son is..."
"Bang!" Luciana threw a teapot at the TV, breaking the screen in a fit of anger. "How could Alexis make such a choice without asking me first? How dare he!"
As Luciana got more upset, Henley remained calm and even seemed more gentle. He smiled and asked, "Mom, are you kidding? With all the shares you own, my dad doesn't really need your permission for his decisions."
Luciana, fuming, tried to slap Henley, but Henley was quick to catch her wrist. A brief look of anger flashed through his eyes as he calmly said, "You're not going to treat me the same way you did her, are you?"
Henley looked over at Raegan with a look of sympathy for her bruised cheek. His smile faded a bit as he tightened hold on Luciana's wrist.
"Let go of my arm, you jerk!" Luciana protested.
Henley, noticing the pain on Luciana's face, softly reminded her, "Remember, you're the matriarch of the Dixon family. Watch what you do and say. We wouldn't want any scandals, would we? It wouldn't be good for Mitchel."
His tone was gentle, yet there was a clear warning in his words.
Luciana, pained and speechless, started sweating, the pressure on her wrist too much for her.
When things seemed to get out of hand, Matteo stepped in, saying, "Sir, please, let her go."
Henley gave a sarcastic smile. "I'm just talking to my mother. You don't get the right to say a word."
As Matteo tried to step in, two bodyguards came in and held him back.
Henley ordered, "Could you please take Matteo out for some tea?" But his tone suggested it wasn't going to be a pleasant tea break.
Despite Matteo's competence, the crowded room and worry about hurting Raegan or anyone else restrained him. When they took Matteo away, Raegan couldn't just stand by. She shouted, "Henley, let Luciana go!"
Henley's smile dimmed a bit, showing confusion as he looked at Raegan. "Raegan, she harmed you. Don't you hate her?" he asked.
Raegan responded icily, "That's my issue, not yours. Now, get out of here, please."
Aware that Henley was the illegitimate child Katie had mentioned, Raegan became more cautious. Henley was not just an ordinary guy.
Raegan's command seemed to erase Henley's smile completely, leaving his good looks overshadowed by a cold aura. Henley let go of Luciana but grabbed Raegan's chin and pushed her against a wall. "Raegan, you still don't understand what's best for you after all this time."
Raegan struggled to free herself from Henley's strong hold. "Stop it! Let me go."
Henley pinned her to the wall, his face twisted as he leaned closer. "Stop? Raegan, I came back for you. Didn't you say you'd leave with me? he said, stunning Raegan.
Henley moved closer, his breath near her ear. "I'll take you away this time, even if you're no longer alive," he whispered. Raegan looked at him as though he was insane.
As he tried to kiss her, Raegan desperately tried to push him away.
"Let her go!" A deep, authoritative voice made Henley stop in his tracks.