Dumping The Ice King His Mini-Tyrant novel Chapter 436

Gemma’s lips parted in disbelief, while Liam stared at his son, just as bewildered.

They truly believed Dames was only speaking out of childish ignorance. Did Harrison really mean to challenge Leo’s authority—was he trying to place himself above Leo?

Liam’s heart pounded in his chest. As the older brother, he too had felt the sting of standing in Leo’s shadow, watching him ascend ever higher, leaving the rest behind.

But Liam would never let that show. He knew all too well how much Leo meant to the Vaughn family.

“Leo, it’s our fault for not raising Dames properly.”

Liam quickly stepped forward, trying to smooth things over. “Dames, come here.”

But Dames clung to Gemma, reluctant to leave her protective embrace in such a tense moment.

Liam shot Gemma a look, and she had no choice but to lift Dames to his feet and set him down.

Taking Dames by the hand, Liam turned with him to face Leo. He placed a firm hand on Dames’s head.

“Dames, you’re going to apologize to Great-uncle Leo and to Altair with me.”

He pressed gently, guiding Dames to bow his head.

Dames stayed silent, but Liam’s voice was steady and sincere. “Leo, it was my failure to discipline Dames. I promise you—he won’t make the same mistake again.”

Leo’s reply was merciless. “I want them to learn their lesson.”

Liam pressed his lips together, barely breathing.

A heavy silence filled the family chapel, thick and stifling, like the air just before a thunderstorm—so dense it felt impossible to draw breath.

At last, Patriarch Vaughn spoke. “Leo, what do you intend to do with them?”

Leo had no patience for pointless debate. When the patriarch addressed him directly, he answered at once:

“Harrison, Damien, and Gemma—you’re all going to Serenity Church. You’ll climb to the top, kneeling and praying at every step, and you’ll pray for Altair’s well-being.”

With Altair by his side, Leo turned and left.

Harrison rose unsteadily from his own cushion, calling after him:

“Uncle Leo, Selene and I are already divorced. Isn’t it inappropriate for you to let Altair spend so much time with her?”

Leo hadn’t answered Harrison’s earlier challenge, and the silence gnawed at him. Was it possible his suspicions were true—that his Uncle Leo had feelings for his ex-wife?

Leo’s wheelchair came to a stop. He didn’t turn around. “Are you questioning me?”

Harrison drew himself up, trying to keep his composure. “I hope you’ll consider my and Dames’s situation. Dames is just a child—he’s already lost his mother. He only acted out of jealousy, seeing how close Altair and Selene have become.”

“From now on, however close I am to Selene—or Altair is—you and everyone else in this family will have to accept it. Whether you like it or not, you’ll just have to live with it.”

Leo wasn’t just warning Harrison and Dames; he was sending a message to everyone in the Vaughn family.