Chapter 733

At first, Ariana remained silent as Lambert reprimanded Carson. She knew she couldn’t afford to be soft-hearted. This incident was far from trivial, so she tacitly allowed Lambert’s harsh words. But when she saw the tears welling in Carson’s eyes and heard his choked accusations, her heart twisted with pain. Her mind was a whirlwind of confusion—indescribable chaos. For three long seconds, silence hung heavy in the air. Then, slowly, Ariana stepped forward and knelt before her sobbing son, meeting his gaze with gentle firmness. “Why would you think that?” she asked softly. “Who told you those things?” Perhaps the contrast between her tenderness and his father’s severity was too stark. Carson, still shaken by Lambert’s icy glare, felt his chest tighten even more at his mother’s kindness. Tears streamed down his face, but he stayed silent. Ariana waited patiently, brushing a hand over his hair. “Tell me,” she murmured. “If you do, Mommy won’t be upset anymore.” It was natural for a child