Alexander paused for a beat, his piercing gaze locked onto Amy. "With countless cake varieties available, why specifically choose one with nuts?"

Amy didn't flinch. She met his stare head-on. "And? Are you implying I intentionally tried to harm Liam?"

"You wouldn't have ordered that kind of cake," Alexander countered, his voice low and probing. "If I had to guess, Oliver was the one who picked it, wasn't he?"

It took Amy a second to process his insinuation.

Instead of anger, a dry laugh escaped her lips. "Oliver saved your son just yesterday, and today you're accusing him of deliberately triggering Liam's allergy? Alexander, listen to yourself."

His brow furrowed. "Appearances can be deceiving. He's tormented Liam behind the scenes before. More than once."

A flicker of mocking amusement danced in Amy's eyes.

"So you're saying Victoria is the innocent one, and a five-year-old is somehow more cunning than a grown woman?"

She tilted her head, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Would you dare say something so absurd in front of anyone else?"

Alexander fell silent.

Amy smirked, unimpressed.

Ridiculous accusations like that—they only ever came her way.

Disgusted, she pulled her wrist free from his grip. "As for why I confronted Victoria earlier, maybe you should ask your perfect angel why she thought it was a brilliant idea to serve seafood chowder to Liam—knowing he's still recovering and had his stomach pumped yesterday."

Seafood chowder?

Alexander's gaze flicked to the spilled soup on the floor.

It looked harmless—just a plain white broth.

"Amy, are you certain?"

She was sick of having to justify herself every time.

Her reply was icy. "I cook daily. My senses are sharp. The seafood scent in that chowder was faint, but it was there."

"Test it if you don't believe me. See for yourself."

Victoria paled instantly.

"Alex, I—I did add... a little seafood..."

His disbelief was palpable. "You put seafood in it?"

She hadn't wanted to admit it, but if Amy insisted on testing it, the truth would come out anyway. Better to confess now and spin an excuse.

Tears welled in her eyes. "I found recipes online. They said a touch of seafood enhances the flavor, so... I added some. I didn't know it would be harmful."

Amy's smile was glacial. "Didn't know? Even children know patients shouldn't eat raw, spicy, or seafood." A deliberate pause. "Or is Ms. Langley less informed than a ten-year-old?"

Victoria's head dipped, tears falling. "I thought... just a little wouldn't hurt..."

Amy let out a hollow laugh. "Before, you knew Liam was lactose intolerant, yet you let him have 'just a little.'"

"Now, with his stomach still weak, you serve him seafood chowder and claim 'just a little' is fine."

"Liam loves sweets—you could argue he begged for them. But he hates seafood."

Her voice sharpened, eyes hardening like steel.

"Victoria. What was your real reason for sneaking seafood into that soup?"