Warning 2
551 Words
The temperature in the room seemed to drop the moment Devon appeared at the entrance.
Maple hadn’t even heard him walk in.
He stood there quietly, his eyes fixed on her father. His expression was dark, cold, and completely unforgiving.
Then his gaze shifted to Maple.
His eyes stopped on her reddened cheek.
His expression remained calm.
Too calm.
“Devon…” Maple whispered.
He didn’t answer.
“What happened?” he asked.
“This is a family matter,” her father replied.
“I wasn’t asking you.”
Devon’s voice was low, but there was something about it that made the room go silent.
He turned his attention back to Maple.
“Who slapped you?”
Maple lowered her eyes.
She didn’t answer.
She didn’t have to.
Devon already understood.
“Bring out what she asked for,” he said.
Her father scoffed. “I told you, this is a family matter.”
Devon slowly looked at him.
His gaze darkened.
“I won’t ask again.”
Silence filled the room.
Her father looked uncomfortable under Devon’s stare before finally turning to Julia.
“Julia, go get the box.”
Julia gave him an aggrieved look but said nothing. She turned and headed upstairs.
Devon looked back at Maple.
She was still holding her cheek.
“Does it hurt?” he asked softly.
His tone was completely different from the one he’d used with her father.
Maple nodded.
Something in Devon’s expression changed.
His jaw tightened.
A few moments later, Julia returned with the wooden box in her hands.
Maple’s eyes immediately fell on it.
The small brown box looked exactly as she remembered it. Her mother’s initials were still delicately carved into the lid.
Julia handed it to her husband.
He stared at it for a moment before reluctantly holding it out to Maple.
She stepped forward and took it.
Her fingers trembled as she pulled it against her chest.
For a moment, she simply stood there, holding the only things she had left of her mother.
Devon looked at her father, his expression cold and unreadable.
“There’s something you should understand.”
Her father met his gaze.
Devon’s voice remained quiet.
“I don’t care about whatever disagreements exist between you and Maple. But what happened today will not happen again.”
Her father stiffened.
“This is my family—”
“She’s my wife.”
Devon cut him off without raising his voice.
The room went completely silent.
“And if you ever raise your hand to her again,” Devon continued, “you won’t be dealing with your daughter.”
He paused, his eyes never leaving her father’s face.
“You’ll be dealing with me.”
No one said a word.
Devon turned toward Maple.
“Let’s go.”
Maple followed him out, clutching her mother’s box tightly against her chest.
Neither of them spoke as they walked toward the car.
She was still trying to process everything that had happened.
Her father had slapped her.
Julia and Chloe had watched.
And Devon…
Devon had stepped in without hesitation.
For the first time since marrying Devon Kingston, Maple understood something clearly.
He might be cold.
He might be distant.
He might not even want this marriage.
But no one dares mess with his wife.
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