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 voic