Ken Lowell’s expression was incredibly dark. Her already sharp, glamorous features now looked terrifying. "Why keep this a secret? What is the Lancaster family playing at? Who gave them the nerve?!"
Peyton Joyce shook her head, her face pale, and forced a bitter smile. "Simon... didn’t let me tell you. He was worried that if the Hawthorne Residence found out, they would make things difficult for Zoe. After all, his arm was almost ruined—"
"Ridiculous!" Ken cursed furiously. "Something disastrous almost happened, and he’s still covering for Zoe Lancaster?! Does he have a death wish?
"Which hospital is he in?"
Peyton’s eyes flickered slightly. "Kingsward. Mrs. Hawthorne, Simon must have his reasons for doing this. Please calm down. He’s out of danger now."
Ken had already picked up her bag. "To the hospital!" she ordered grimly.
Peyton sighed. "Please don’t get worked up, Mrs. Hawthorne. I’ll take you there."
Zoe Lancaster had just given Simon a sponge bath. He was a slight germaphobe who insisted on bathing every day, but since his injury couldn’t get wet, she could only carefully wipe him down while avoiding his wounds.
By the time she finished, it was almost evening.
The VVIP ward provided specially made nutritious meals, but Simon wasn’t used to the taste. Instead, Linden had delivered food from one of Simon’s regular restaurants.
Zoe had just opened the takeout containers when the ward door was pushed open.
A woman’s anxious, troubled pleas filtered in. "Mrs. Hawthorne, please don’t be angry. There might just be a misunderstanding."
Zoe and Simon looked up as Ken walked in with a frigid expression.
Simon furrowed his brows, instinctively glancing at Peyton.
"Simon, I couldn’t keep it a secret anymore..." Peyton said helplessly.
Ken marched up to the bed. Seeing Simon’s left arm heavily bandaged, she finally grasped the severity of the situation. Her face darkened completely. "What is this? You didn’t tell the family about an injury this severe? Simon Hawthorne, since when did you lose your sense of propriety?"
Simon’s expression remained calm. "Mom, it’s just a minor injury. There’s no need to make a fuss."
"A minor injury?! Do you have to give your life for her before it counts as a big deal?" Ken glared at Zoe, her eyes brimming with disgust. "Just like Helen of Troy brought down a kingdom, we’ve got a siren right here making you lose your mind!"
Zoe pressed her lips together and stayed silent.
Simon frowned. "This has nothing to do with her. Why are you blaming her?"
"You’re awfully quick to make excuses for her," Ken sneered.
She turned and stepped right in front of Zoe, staring at her coldly. "When Simon married you, the Lancaster family must have thanked their lucky stars! Now, your unpresentable family has actually gotten him hurt! Even if you didn’t do it yourself, you can’t absolve yourself of the blame!"
Zoe knew she was in the wrong. As a Lancaster, she couldn’t shirk the responsibility. "I’m sorry."
"What good is an apology?" Ken retorted with a cold laugh. "Since he was a child, Simon has been revered and coddled wherever he goes, but getting stuck with you has only brought him suffering!"
She took a deep breath before speaking in an icy tone. "The Hawthorne family is too small a pond for a big fish like you. Make some time tomorrow.
"Get a divorce."
The words hung in the air.
Zoe abruptly clenched her fists. Her nails dug into the tender flesh of her palms, hurting so much they almost drew blood.
Peyton shot her head up, her heart pounding wildly in her chest.
Simon’s expression shifted as a chilling aura spread from him. "Mom, this is my business!"
Ken’s heart ached with anger. Even now, her son was still defending this vixen!
Blind with rage, she instantly raised her hand to slap Zoe across the face.
But Simon was faster. He bolted out of bed, lunging forward to grab Ken’s wrist. His voice was freezing and dangerously low. "She is also a beloved daughter to her own family. Getting hurt was my own mistake. You care about me and take it out on her, but don’t you think Zoe’s mother cares about her, too?"
Ken stared in disbelief at the son she had raised single-handedly. "You’re lecturing me for the sake of an outsider?"
Peyton rushed forward, looking anxious and worried. "Simon, don’t get angry at Mrs. Hawthorne. She’s just worried about you."
Simon’s frown deepened. There wasn’t a trace of warmth in his eyes, nor the slightest intention of backing down. "My injury was an accident. Besides, if you want to catch the true culprit, Sean Sheffield was the one who started this mess. Without him, I wouldn’t have been hurt. Since you care about me so much, Mother, why don’t you go demand an explanation from the Sheffield family first before we discuss this?"
Ken’s eyes widened in shock.
Simon maintained his unyielding stance. "Otherwise, what kind of logic is it for you to only target the weaker party to vent your anger? While worrying about me, are you also busy sparing the Sheffield family’s feelings?"
Although his words weren’t harsh—and could even be considered calm—they ruthlessly stripped away Ken’s dignity.
He stopped just short of calling her a bully outright.
"You!"
Simon released Ken’s hand, his haughty and detached attitude unchanging. "Zoe Lancaster is my wife. If I don’t protect her, am I even a man?"
Ken’s face flushed green and white. She was rendered completely speechless.
Peyton found the situation wildly unexpected.
She had thought that with Ken intervening, she could at least escalate the matter. Even if it didn’t result in an immediate divorce, Zoe would surely be punished. But looking at how things were playing out...
She pursed her lips and stepped forward to mediate, speaking in a heartfelt tone. "How could Mrs. Hawthorne think that way? She was just blinded by her concern for you. No one wanted this to happen. Simon, you’re still recovering, so please don’t get worked up over Zoe."
She then hugged Ken’s arm, her voice softening. "Mrs. Hawthorne, please stop being angry. If you get so mad that it affects your health, my heart would ache. Okay?"
Her natural coddling managed to extinguish some of Ken’s fury. She affectionately patted Peyton’s head. "I’m not angry. It’s just that I really look down on the Lancaster family. No matter the reason behind Simon getting hurt, I absolutely cannot agree with their family’s upbringing!"
Zoe didn’t offer a single word of defense.
The deed was done; she couldn’t change it.
On the surface, Ken was insulting Riley Lancaster, but in reality, she was scolding Zoe.
After all, she was a Lancaster too.
Displeased with Ken’s words, Simon pressed his thin lips together. "Mom, watch what you say."
Ken scoffed. "Where am I wrong? From the moment I walked in, through all our arguing, even Peyton knew to worry about us falling out and kept trying to mediate. What about Zoe? Did she utter a single word? She’s probably just itching for us to become bitter enemies so you’ll side with her entirely!"
Honestly, Zoe could understand why she would think that way. With Peyton standing right there as a living contrast, it didn’t matter that Zoe had never harbored such intentions—in Ken’s eyes, her crime of driving a wedge between mother and son was already set in stone. No amount of explanation would help.
Instead of defending herself, she spoke matter-of-factly. "I won’t deny the Lancaster family’s mistakes. I will give you an explanation. You can rest assured."
Her attitude was sincere.
Yet, her expression was neither haughty nor humble, entirely lacking any tearful display of guilt. This only intensified the displeasure in Ken’s heart. She coldly threw out one last remark. "I still stand by what I said.
"I want you two to get a divorce. I won’t say much else, but remember, the Hawthorne family can crush the Lancaster family with a single word. Think it over carefully!"
All the color drained from Zoe’s face.