Chapter 465

Stella Valentine was adjusting Luna's hair bow when a shrill taunt pierced the air.

"Look! Those are the kids without a dad!"

Her head snapped up. A stocky boy stood by the basketball court, pointing and laughing at Luna and Celeste. His parents flanked him—a man with a cast on his right arm, and a woman stamping their son's activity card.

Celeste bristled like an angry kitten. "That's not true! Our daddy loves us!"

The boy stuck out his tongue. "Nah-nah! At least I have both parents here. You're just unwanted!"

Stella's chest constricted. Luna's eyes welled up instantly, fat tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Don't cry, sweetheart." Stella knelt to wipe her daughter's face, fingers trembling. Bringing them to this family event had been a mistake.

Celeste's face flushed crimson. "Take it back!"

"Make me!" The boy hurled a basketball at her.

The ball grazed Celeste's sleeve. She retaliated by throwing it back.

Before Stella could intervene, Ethan lunged forward. Known for his calm demeanor at school, he now gripped the boy's collar with uncharacteristic fury.

"Let go of my son!" The mother shrieked, charging toward them.

Chaos erupted. The father, despite his injured arm, bellowed: "Wild brats with no upbringing!"

Stella shielded her children, voice quivering. "We'll apologize if your son does the same."

"Dream on!" The woman pointed at a scratch on her son's cheek. "My boy's Harvard material! You think you can afford to ruin his face?"

Celeste peeked out. "It's not like he was cute to begin with—"

"Celeste!" Stella clamped a hand over her mouth.

The woman exploded. "Ten thousand! Pay up or make your brats kneel in apology!"

The father eyed Stella's lone-parent status with disdain. "Just a housewife, huh? Bet your husband doesn't know you're wasting his money."

Her nails dug into her palms. Then a tall figure stepped between them and the hostile family.

The man's voice cut through the tension like ice. "If you have a problem," he said, "come at me instead."