Chapter 536 - 132 Caught Little Mouse

Chapter 536: Chapter 132 Caught Little Mouse

Lila’s POV

An afternoon at Thorne Corporation dragged endlessly. My mind wandered to the artisanal pastries from the exclusive Italian bakery across the plaza that served the city’s elite families. I hadn’t indulged in their delicate cannoli in quite some time.

"I think I deserve a little afternoon treat," I murmured to myself.

"Talking to yourself again, Lila?" Sybilla appeared in her doorway, espresso cup in hand—a habit she’d picked up recently.

"Old habit," I smiled. "Since you’re here, would you mind covering the reception desk for a bit?"

"No problem," she replied, checking her encrypted phone. "I’ve got it covered."

"Thanks, won’t be long." I grabbed my designer purse and headed toward the private elevator that served the upper floors of our building.

"Wait—Lila! Are you leaving the building?" Sybilla’s voice carried genuine alarm. "Daniel specifically instructed—"

"Relax, Sybilla. I’m just crossing the plaza to the bakery," I reassured her. "Beckett has his associates monitoring Claire’s movements. He’d alert me immediately if she or her Sullivan family allies made any moves toward the city. Since he hasn’t, there’s nothing to worry about."

As the elevator descended to the marble lobby, I savored this brief taste of independence. "Freedom tastes sweeter than any pastry will," I thought, smiling to myself. How desperately I longed for the day Claire would abandon her twisted scheme of dragging me back into the Sullivan family’s money laundering empire to cement an alliance with a gambling syndicate through marriage to their sociopathic heir.

I purchased my cannoli and tiramisu from the bakery, feeling genuinely content as I exited onto the pristine plaza.

"Caught you, little mouse!" The vicious yank on my hair came without warning.

"Claire! Stop! You’re hurting me!" I cried out, recognizing my adoptive mother’s manicured claws instantly.

"Behave yourself or the pain gets worse." She tightened her grip with practiced cruelty, nearly sending me tumbling as she dragged me toward an unfamiliar black luxury sedan with tinted windows.

When she released my hair to reach for the car door, maintaining her iron grip on my arm, I seized the opportunity. I twisted desperately away, but before I could break free, her razor-sharp acrylic nails—weapons she’d always used to maintain control—dug into my flesh like talons. I struggled frantically as her nails tore through my skin.

"Please, Claire, let me go!" Tears streamed down my face as I fought against her practiced restraint techniques.

"The more you resist, the more severe your punishment will be once we’re back at the family estate," she snarled with the cold authority she’d always wielded.

I frantically scanned the plaza, but it remained eerily deserted—unusual for this time of day. Even the bakery staff remained oblivious to the violent struggle happening just outside their elegant storefront.

Claire’s nails gouged deeper as I writhed in her grasp. She raised her hand to deliver a punishing slap just as my designer heel caught on the cobblestone and snapped. I tumbled toward the unforgiving pavement, then felt unfamiliar hands steadying me. I thrashed instinctively until a familiar voice cut through my panic.

"Ladies, step back! Police business here." I turned to see the plainclothes detective—one of the officers from Daniel’s unit who regularly maintained surveillance around Thorne Corporation.

"Get your filthy hands off me, you government pig!" Claire shrieked as the officer’s partner moved to restrain her, attempting to secure the specialized restraints they carried for high-profile arrests.

"No!" I shouted desperately. "Don’t arrest her—she’s still my legal guardian. Just escort her beyond city limits and help me back to the office."

"Inspector Martinez won’t approve of this decision," grumbled the detective as he struggled with Claire, who glared at me with pure, undisguised hatred.

"I’ll handle Daniel personally. Please, just get her away from here." My voice cracked with exhaustion and pain.

The officers exchanged concerned glances—they understood the complex politics of dealing with rival family members.

"This decision will create complications," the detective’s partner muttered, helping secure Claire. "Are you absolutely certain about this course of action?"

"Yes, please! I’ll explain everything to Daniel myself." They reluctantly agreed, following the same protocol they’d implemented with Justin and the other Sullivan family enforcers—placing Claire in their unmarked patrol vehicle while one officer took possession of the sedan she’d arrived in.

I approached the patrol car window, tears flowing freely. "Don’t come hunting for me again, Claire. Next time, I’ll allow Daniel’s people to process you through proper channels." I watched through blurry vision as they drove away, escorting her to the city’s edge.

The detective supported me back to Thorne Corporation’s executive floor. Sybilla and Jude’s faces transformed with shock when they witnessed my condition. Caleb appeared moments later, his expression darkening before he immediately ordered them to escort me to the private medical suite and summon our family physician while he contacted Daniel directly. I couldn’t even protest through my uncontrollable sobbing.

The physician arrived shortly and began treating my wounds with professional efficiency. Each antiseptic application felt like fire against the raw scratches.

"Tell me, Lila," Caleb asked gently, his voice carrying the authority of a family patriarch, "what storm hit you today? Daniel will demand blood when he sees these injuries. Have you contacted him?"

I shook my head weakly.

"I’ll handle that communication now, sir," the detective volunteered nervously.

Caleb stepped out briefly, returning with both Daniel and, surprisingly, Katarina. They both froze completely at the sight of me. Daniel’s expression transformed from shock to murderous rage instantly.

"What the hell happened to her?" he growled at the detective with deadly quiet authority.

"Inspector, we failed to recognize the woman initially—hat and designer sunglasses concealed her identity completely. We were monitoring Ms. Lila, but before we could intervene effectively, the assault was already in progress. By the time we reached her, the damage was done," the detective explained, clearly dreading Daniel’s response.

"Daniel," I called between sobs. "Don’t blame them for my decision."

He knelt beside me with surprising gentleness. "Tiny one, was it Claire?" I nodded weakly. "What did she do to you?"

"She tried to force me into that car... they protected me," I managed through fresh tears.

Daniel stood abruptly, confronting the detective with barely controlled fury. "I expect that woman is currently secured at headquarters awaiting my personal interrogation."

The detective shifted uncomfortably under his superior’s gaze. "Inspector, she specifically requested we not arrest her adoptive mother—just escort her beyond city limits, similar to the protocol we used with those Sullivan family soldiers previously."

Daniel punched the reinforced wall but remained ominously silent.

"Why did you leave alone, little one?" he asked, kneeling beside me again with infinite tenderness.

I explained about the pastries, my misguided confidence that Claire was being properly monitored by his network. "It was supposed to be just a moment of normalcy," I whispered.

As I recounted the attack, the physician finished cleaning the deep lacerations from Claire’s weaponized nails, prescribing anti-inflammatory medication and painkillers before departing discretely.

"Lila, you’re going home immediately," Caleb stated with absolute finality.

"Come on, little one. I’ll retrieve your pastries and take you to safety." Daniel kissed the top of my head with protective gentleness.

Jude appeared, carrying the bakery bag. "Already secured your order, Lila."

"I’ll collect Sybilla later," Daniel informed his sister.

"No need—I’ll drive Sybilla home and check on Lila’s condition while I’m there," Jude offered diplomatically.

We departed—Daniel, Katarina, and I—after I thanked everyone for their unwavering support. Every inch of my body ached from the assault, but nothing compared to the devastating pain in my heart.

How could someone who claimed to be a mother inflict such calculated cruelty on her own child?