Chapter 346: Breaking Point

After an entire night of chaos, Maddox arrived just as the sun was rising. He had someone prepare congee and light dishes suitable for a patient. When he got there, Draven, Mateo, and a few others were just about to leave. Stone had been suspicious all along, and one look at Maddox’s face told him everything he needed to know. He frowned and said, “We’ll go in with you.” At the very least, if Johnathan lost control, they could try to hold him back.

“What are you talking about?”

Mateo hadn’t caught on yet, but Draven had. His mind clicked into place. “Trev?”

Maddox nodded.

Now Mateo understood too. His face turned to shock. “No way—Trev? Where the hell did he get the balls? Has he lost his mind?”

Their voices were a little too loud. The door to the hospital room swung open. Johnathan stepped out, his face cold as ice. “What about Trev?”

Maddox took a deep breath and met Johnathan’s gaze. “The one who nearly hurt Sierra yesterday—it was Trev.”

The words had barely left his mouth when a fist slammed into him. He didn’t dodge it; he took the blow head-on. Johnathan’s lips were pressed into a tight line, his entire body radiating rage. His eyes were bloodshot. He’d trusted Maddox. That’s why he’d brought Sierra to his birthday party. But Maddox had betrayed that trust. Sierra had been drugged and nearly assaulted by his own cousin. The thought of the bruises on Sierra’s body sent Johnathan into a fury—though most of that rage was aimed at himself. He raised his fist again, but this time Stone and Mateo stepped in to stop him.

“Johnathan, calm down.”

Stone added, “Maddox didn’t want this either.”

But Johnathan, in full rage, wasn’t someone they could easily restrain. Maddox didn’t want them to…

“Let him go. This is my fault. I was arrogant,” Maddox said. He’d assumed nothing would go wrong under his own roof. That arrogance had led to disaster.

Stone and Mateo exchanged a look and let go of Johnathan, thinking they’d step in again if things got too bad. But in the end, Johnathan didn’t throw another punch—because Sierra came out.

The ruckus had woken her. She glanced at Maddox, then at Johnathan. “If you want to talk, come inside. No need to make a scene.”

“Sorry I woke you.”

Johnathan felt guilty. He shouldn’t have handled this here. He bent down and carried Sierra back into the room. Stone and the others followed. Maddox walked in last. Just now, he’d seen the marks on Sierra’s hands and face—proof of everything Trev had done last night. Even he could barely hold back his anger.

“Maddox, did you find out who it was yesterday? Someone you know?”

Sierra had caught a bit of what was said outside but hadn’t heard clearly.

“Yes. I found out. He’s my uncle’s son—my cousin. His name is Trev.”

Now that the hardest part was out, the rest wasn’t as difficult. He repeated everything Trev had told him. “I believe he wasn’t lying. He didn’t recognize you at first. If he had, he never would’ve dared touch you—he’s not that bold.”

“So if the person hadn’t been me, it would’ve been fine? Just another incident, right?” Sierra asked suddenly.

Maddox froze. He couldn’t respond. Trev had always been like this. Maddox had heard rumors over the years, but those women had all been paid off. He’d turned a blind eye. Now, with Sierra’s words hanging in the air, he had nothing to say.

Thankfully, Sierra hadn’t asked for an answer. She’d always known she wasn’t like them. She wasn’t special—only important because Johnathan had looked her way. She’d known that all along, but hearing it now still stirred something sharp inside her.

The way she said his name—Maddox—drew a line between them. Maddox gave a bitter smile. He’d hoped to appeal to Sierra, to convince her to help soften Johnathan’s anger. But he’d been naive. Sierra wasn’t one of those women.

He steadied himself and said, “Trey was in the wrong. He’ll face the consequences. The Treno family has no objection to that. But there’s more—Trey wasn’t the mastermind. He’s just stupid, and someone used that against him. We haven’t found who’s behind it yet, but their goal was clearly to drive a wedge between you and me.”

As he said this last part, Maddox looked straight at Johnathan, waiting for his response.