707  Chapter 706

Lewis’s brow furrowed as he stepped in front of Oliver. His voice was icy, but his words hit like a sledgehammer. “You think you can disturb Grandma’s rest? Try it, and I’ll take your legs off.”

The intensity in his gaze sent a chill down Oliver’s spine, and for a moment, he just stood there, frozen.

He had never seen Lewis like this before.

Sure, Lewis had always been intimidating, but he was usually calm, collected, and within the bounds of reason. This version of him, though, looked like he had just crawled out of hell.

Oliver’s legs nearly gave out under him, and he had to steady himself to avoid collapsing.

Keira, noticing the tension, quietly walked over and slipped her hand into Lewis’s.

The second she touched him, the icy rage around Lewis seemed to melt away, and a sliver of calm returned to his eyes. It was like he had been pulled back from the brink of something dark and dangerous.

Keira had long realized Lewis wasn’t just an ordinary man. He played both sides—legal and not-so-legal—but he always kept a clean image in his own country, playing by the rules at home and being the voice of reason within the family.

But now? Now was different.

Keira had always sensed that beneath the surface, Lewis had a darker, more obsessive side—one that his grandmother had managed to keep in check all these years. She was the one thing holding him together, the one person who kept that darkness at bay.

And Keira couldn’t help but wonder: what would happen once Grandma was no longer around? What would Lewis become then?

Her mind flashed back to something old Mrs. Horton had once said to her while holding her hand tightly. “If I’m gone, Lewis won’t have anyone. He won’t be able to handle it…”

At the time, Keira had thought old Mrs. Horton was talking about emotional pain, but now she realized there might be something much deeper going on.

She remembered the time they spent in Country A, where Lewis had promised to safely return the people who needed to be dealt with. Despite everything, the trip felt more like a quiet vacation without any real danger.

Then there were the late-night meetings—Lewis speaking in languages she didn’t understand, always on the phone, conducting business she could only guess at.

It hit her suddenly: she didn’t really know this man at all.

Startled, Keira’s grip on Lewis’s hand loosened slightly, but almost immediately, he tightened his hold on her.

Lewis took a deep breath, his cold expression slipping back into place as he faced Oliver. “I’ll allow your people to visit Grandma in the mornings and evenings,” he said, his tone controlled but firm. “But if Selena keeps stirring up drama about company shares or family relationships, I don’t want to hear it again. And if Grandma tells them to leave, they’d better go immediately. If they pull any tricks, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

This was clearly a concession on Lewis’s part, and Oliver, still shaken, let out a breath of relief. “Fine,” he muttered.

Without another word, he turned and walked off. Only after he was a good distance away did he realize he was drenched in sweat.

As Oliver was leaving, he heard a soft voice. “How did it go, Oliver?”

It was Marisa Walsh. Her gentle tone made Oliver pause for a second before he turned to face her. “It’s done. Starting tomorrow, you and Selena can visit Grandma morning and night.”

He sighed, reaching out to take her hand. “Grandma’s always been cold toward us. You might face some tough situations when you visit.”

Marisa smiled softly, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. “It’s okay. I can handle it. I’ve put up with worse for you. Being your mistress all these years, I’ve had to endure so many harsh looks, so what’s a little more?”

Her words struck a chord, and Oliver felt a wave of emotion. “Marisa, I’m so sorry for everything…”

“There’s no need,” Marisa said, shaking her head gently.

Just then, Selena walked over, timing her entrance perfectly. “Mom, why haven’t you ever told Dad about the things you’ve been through?”

Marisa immediately frowned. “Selena, don’t start.”

But Oliver’s curiosity was piqued. “What is it? What’s she talking about?”

Selena sighed dramatically. “Back when your wife was around, she would go out of her way to humiliate Mom, even telling the stores not to let her shop. She made sure all those society ladies knew Mom was your mistress, Dad, and because of that, none of them would ever invite her to anything. Mom’s spent all these years cooped up in that empty house, just waiting for you.”

Hearing this, Oliver’s expression darkened. “That wretched woman! I told her to treat you better, but behind my back, she was pulling stunts like that!”

Selena let out a long sigh. “Mom didn’t want to cause any trouble, so she always avoided events where Mrs. Horton might show up. But no matter how hard she tried, she’d still run into her, and every time, Mrs. Horton would bully her, even getting the other ladies to gang up on her. They all look down on her, calling her a homewrecker, saying she broke up your marriage.”

Marisa immediately tried to downplay it. “Selena, enough. In a marriage, the one who isn’t loved is the real outsider. I’ve never cared about what people say.”

Tears welled up in Selena’s eyes. “I know you don’t care, Mom. And I don’t care about being called an illegitimate child either.”

Marisa quickly wiped at her own tears. “Sweetheart, why are you talking like that? Have you been treated unfairly because of your background?”