The Heart Left Behind (Cole and Yvonne) novel Chapter 85

Yvonne lunged forward, trying to snatch Xavier out of my arms. I shielded him instinctively, pulling him close while carefully inspecting his clothes for any other signs of injury.

"Daddy, what are you doing?" Xavier's voice trembled slightly, his usual defiance absent for once.

"Did anyone hit you?" I asked, locking eyes with him as I searched for the truth.

"No," he said, a bit too quickly. "Mommy treats me well."

Xavier was sharp—he knew exactly what I was implying the moment I opened my mouth.

Still, his little hand reached up to touch my ear. It was a rare, almost tender gesture. "Nobody's hurting me," he whispered as if trying to reassure me.

For a moment, he seemed more grown up and wiser, like something had shaken him to his core. This wasn't the usual Xavier.

I narrowed my eyes, unconvinced. Yvonne wouldn't dare harm him directly, but I couldn't shake the feeling that things weren't as they seemed.

"I didn't leave him to you just so you could hurt him," I said, my voice low but sharp, each word a warning.

"You think I'd hurt my own son?" Yvonne's face twisted, her fiery lipstick a stark contrast to her suddenly pale complexion. "He's my child. You can't just take him away from me."

Her tone grew desperate, her words spilling out too fast. "You promised. You said if I divorced Jared, you wouldn't fight for custody. You swore."

"I'm not taking him," I said, my patience wearing thin. "But you need to do better."

Our argument had drawn attention. Guests at the party started to glance our way, whispering behind their champagne flutes.

"Are you guys done looking?" I snapped at the onlookers, my sarcasm slicing through the awkward silence.

"What's all this commotion?" Grandma's voice rang out, stern and unyielding as always. She approached with her cane in hand, her gaze flicking between Yvonne and me. Both of us were clearly rattled.

"Just as I thought," she muttered, her disapproval cutting like a knife. "Always causing a scene."

She beckoned us both with a sharp wave of her hand. "Follow me. Now."

As we moved away from the crowd, Lorraine attempted to follow but was quickly stopped by one of Grandma's security guards.