Dumping The Ice King His Mini-Tyrant novel Chapter 273

“Besides, what’s a man’s guilt really worth, anyway?”

Matilda puffed out her cheeks, clearly annoyed by Selene’s words. “Selene, you must be hitting menopause. Only someone who can’t get a man’s love would say something like that.”

Selene snapped her phone shut, suddenly losing all interest in calling Clayton.

“Daph, let’s go upstairs.”

“Mom!”

A child’s voice rang out, clear and trembling. Selene’s heart leapt in her chest, then quickly sank.

She didn’t need to turn around to know exactly who it was.

Daph spun around, eyes wide with surprise. “Dames?!”

Dames sat in his wheelchair, bundled up so tightly he looked like a child-sized mummy.

A neck brace held his head stiffly in place. He wore a knit cap—something he’d always refused before, claiming hats would ruin his carefully styled hair. But now, his head had been shaved for surgery, a fresh wound still healing beneath the wool.

His face was chalk-white, lips tinged with blue, making him look like a battered rag doll.

“Ma’am,” Nadine said softly, pushing Dames’ wheelchair. She glanced at Selene with a mix of worry and hesitation.

“Dames, why aren’t you in the hospital? Are you okay? Does it still hurt?” Daph blurted out, her usual rivalry with Dames forgotten at the sight of his fragile state. All she could think about was whether he was all right.

This was just how children were—grudges flared and faded in a heartbeat. Even if Dames weren’t her brother, just an ordinary classmate, Daph would still be worried seeing him like this.

But Dames only had eyes for Selene.

He opened his bruised lips, and his voice shook. “Mom, please. Just look at me. Just once.”

His plea was barely more than a whisper, desperate and pleading. “You haven’t come to see me since I woke up. Not once.”

Nadine, seeing Selene’s resolute retreat, tried to intercede. “He’s been asking for you ever since he woke up, ma’am. Please, just turn around and look at your son.”

But Selene’s answer was cold. “He’s not my son anymore. And I’m not your employer.”

Dames’ panic broke through his pain. “Mom, I know I was wrong! Please, can’t you forgive me?”

The words came out awkward and halting; this was the first time he’d ever humbled himself to apologize.

“I really know I was wrong! I shouldn’t have gotten close to Felicity, I shouldn’t have gotten on her bike. I fell off, and it hurt so much… I just wanted my mom… Mom, please come back. I want you to come home.”