Chapter 457

“Max!” Jack Grant's face darkened instantly. The loud shout scared Max so much he shrunk back and hid behind Leanne. Jack was already reaching out to grab him, but Leanne stepped in front of Max with her arms spread out like a tiny shield. “No hitting allowed.” Jack froze on the spot, clearly caught off guard by her boldness. Off to the side, Ethan Shaw crossed his arms and watched with a smirk, completely uninterested in stepping in. Thankfully, Vivian Nguyen moved fast. She crouched beside Leanne and gently patted her head. “Leanne, sweetie, your uncle wasn’t going to hit Max. He just wants to talk to him, okay?” Vivian had always been gentle with kids, which helped Leanne calm down. “Max gets scared easily. Just talk, don’t yell at him,” Leanne said seriously. That comment made Jack's face darken further. “Max, come here. Even a little girl says you're a coward. What are you doing hiding behind her? Are you even a man?” Max had grown up being pampered and spoiled. He never cared abo