Chapter 141: Chapter 141: One Slap

Nathaniel was in a bind. He knew Sophia Zobel was deliberately making things difficult, but it wasn’t a son’s place to reprimand his own mother.

“Rachel, my mom just has a sharp tongue but a soft heart. She doesn’t really have any ill intentions, so don’t take it to heart. She’s getting older, so just try to go along with her more. We’re the younger ones; we have to know how to be respectful.”

Sophia Zobel smiled and nodded, extremely pleased with what Nathaniel had said.

Renee Jennings felt incredibly wronged, and a fierce glint flashed in her reddened eyes. “It’s obviously your mom’s fault, so why am I the one who has to be understanding? Nathaniel, how can you do this to me? Didn’t you promise you’d treat me well forever?”

“I…”

Sophia Zobel snorted. “I only said a few things to you. Who is this crying performance for? I see right through you! I bet you think you’re hot stuff after appearing on some trashy variety show, completely disrespecting me.”

Nathaniel’s eyes filled with pain for her. He was just about to wrap an arm around Renee Jennings’s shoulders when Sophia Zobel’s furious roar stopped him. “Are you doing this just to spite me? I raised you all this time, and now you’ve forgotten your mother for your wife?!”

As soon as she finished speaking, Sophia Zobel clutched her chest. Nathaniel immediately forgot about Renee Jennings and rushed over to check on his mother. “Mom, do you need to take your medicine?”

Sophia Zobel shook her head. “I’m fine. It’s just a fit of anger. I’ll be okay after I rest for a bit.”

Renee Jennings was so furious her voice trembled. She pointed accusingly. “She’s faking it, Nathaniel! If you don’t believe me, let’s get a doctor over here to have a look!”

Nathaniel stared at her in disbelief. “Rachel, what kind of thing is that to say? How can you suspect my mother of something so vicious?!”

Renee Jennings was so livid she could have spat blood. She had to fight the overwhelming urge to curse Nathaniel out, but what little reason she had left told her not to be so impulsive. ’If I lose Nathaniel’s support, I won’t be able to maintain my footing in the Lynch Family or the entertainment industry.’

She tried to squeeze out a smile, but it was impossible.

Renee Jennings couldn’t help but think, ’Is this the life of luxury I schemed and fought so hard to marry into?’

For the first time in her life, she doubted her own decision.

Ultimately, Nathaniel couldn’t bear to see Sophia Zobel treat Renee Jennings so harshly. He tried to reason with his mother. “Rachel has many wonderful qualities; she’s not as terrible as you make her out to be. Mom, I wish you wouldn’t be so prejudiced against her. It puts me in a really difficult position. I just want the two of you to get along.”

“Wonderful qualities? You mean her talent for being two-faced?” Sophia Zobel sneered, clearly unwilling to discuss it further. “I’m sick and tired of hearing about her. I haven’t seen my grandson in over two weeks. Go get Nathan. Tell him his grandma brought him lots of his favorite toys.”

Renee Jennings frowned at the word “toys.” Sophia Zobel always spoiled Nathan, constantly bringing snacks and toys to the house. Renee Jennings believed it would interfere with Nathan’s schoolwork and, sooner or later, ruin him completely.

But she didn’t dare contradict Sophia Zobel. ’I’ll just throw this pile of junk out after she leaves,’ she planned silently.

The subject was finally changed. Nathaniel led Renee Jennings to a nearby sofa, then instructed a maid to go upstairs and get Nathan Lynch.

Nathaniel reached for Renee Jennings’s hand, but she pulled away. An awkward expression crossed his face, and he remained still.

Several minutes passed with no sign of them. Sophia Zobel listlessly toyed with the jade bracelet on her wrist.

“Why hasn’t Nathan come down yet? That’s strange. He’s usually thrilled to see me. What’s gotten into him today…” Sophia Zobel muttered in confusion.

Renee Jennings suddenly felt a pang of anxiety.

’Nathan can’t still be crying, can he?’

Nathaniel stood up. “He’s probably sneaking in some game time. Not even coming down to see his grandma… he’s getting so rude. I’ll go get him.”

“Don’t you scold him,” Sophia Zobel added.

Nathaniel agreed, but before he even set foot on the stairs, the nanny was already leading Nathan Lynch down by the hand.

The broad smile on Sophia Zobel’s face vanished instantly. She stared in disbelief at Nathan Lynch’s cry-swollen eyes.

Nathan was the youngest of her grandsons, and she always doted on him the most. Seeing Nathan Lynch cry felt like a knife twisting in her heart.

She hurried over, squatted down, and clutched her heart. “Oh, my dear Nathan, what happened? Who bullied you? Tell Grandma, and I’ll make them pay!”

Nathan Lynch was still sniffling, and he threw his arms around Sophia Zobel, burying his face in her shoulder.

This just about broke Sophia Zobel’s heart. She cupped Nathan’s face in her hands and pulled out her handkerchief to wipe his tears.

“Oh, please stop crying, my little treasure. You’re breaking Grandma’s heart. Please tell Grandma what’s wrong.”

Nathaniel, standing to the side, was also stunned.

Renee Jennings came over. “Nathan, I know your teacher gave you a lot of homework today, but Mommy believes you can finish it if you just try a little harder. Crying about it won’t solve anything.”

The moment Nathaniel heard her explanation, he understood, and a fresh wave of anger surged within him. He hated seeing Nathan so sentimental and weepy—he was a spitting image of Victor Vance.

Sophia Zobel shot Renee Jennings a sidelong glance. “You be quiet. Was I talking to you?” She turned back to Nathan Lynch. “Nathan, you tell Grandma. Grandma will sort this out for you.”

Nathan Lynch said nothing, merely staring at Renee Jennings with profound sadness in his eyes.

’His mind replayed the scene of his mother coming to say goodbye. His stepmom had said his real mom didn’t want him anymore.’

’Mommy doesn’t want me anymore…’

Another glistening teardrop slid down Nathan Lynch’s cheek as he began to cry softly.

Sophia Zobel instantly understood. Her worst fears had come true.

Releasing Nathan’s shoulders, Sophia Zobel stormed toward Renee Jennings with a ferocious look on her face. Then, as Renee Jennings watched in confusion and terror, she viciously slapped her across the face.

“Let me tell you something! As long as I’m alive, you can forget about bullying my grandson!”

Her voice was as sharp and vicious as she was.

Sophia Zobel’s slap was powerful; half of Renee Jennings’s face was already red.

Just as a second slap was about to land, Nathaniel lunged forward and pulled Renee Jennings into a protective embrace. “Mom, what are you doing? Are you insane?!”

Feeling Renee Jennings tremble in his arms, Nathaniel’s heart ached for her beyond words.

Sophia Zobel panted, furious. “You fool! Can’t you see this viper has been bullying Nathan?!”

She pointed a finger at Renee Jennings. “I knew you were black-hearted from the moment I first saw you! We did you a great honor by letting you into the Lynch Family, and you dare to bully Nathan? Are you acting as if I’m already dead?!”

Nathaniel frowned; he was beginning to think Sophia Zobel had lost her mind. “Mom, you must be mistaken. Rachel cares so much about Nathan, how could she possibly bully him?!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep