Chapter 4

Fifteen days.

I didn't know how my baby had survived these fifteen days.

When I left, he was a chubby, healthy little boy.

Now, when I held him, his tiny bones poked painfully against my chest.

His eyes were deeply sunken, his lips were cracked and bleeding, and dried vomit was crusted all over his clothes.

"Where is the nanny? Where is the private nurse I hired for Leo?!"

I grabbed the butler, Thomas, like a madwoman.

To keep me from touching his money, Ethan made sure his fortune had nothing to do with me. Even the family maids were forbidden from serving me.

I had paid for Leo's private nurse with the money I earned from working part-time.

But now, her phone wouldn't even go through.

"The nurse... she was dismissed, ma'am. Miss Scarlett said she was hired with stolen money, so she let her go. She said you should take care of your own child."

I stared at him in utter disbelief.

Without a second thought, I scooped Leo up and headed for the door.

"Where are you going, ma'am?"

"To the hospital!"

"Ma'am, Miss Scarlett said Leo cannot be taken anywhere."

"But look at him! He's dying!"

"I'm sorry, ma'am," Thomas looked at me with pity. "Mr. Vance told us to obey Miss Scarlett's orders."

"What?!"

I looked around. The maids had gathered near the staircase.

They pretended to do chores, but their eyes were fixed on me.

If I tried to run, they would stop me.

"Ma'am, please don't make things difficult for us."

"Chloe, you just got whipped. Why are you making a scene again?" Scarlett suddenly appeared.

Clutching Leo tightly, I gritted my teeth and slammed myself hard into Scarlett.

"Ah! Chloe, what are you doing?!"

"Miss Scarlett!"

The maids rushed to help her, leaving the staircase wide open.

I dashed down without hesitation.

Suddenly, Scarlett started sobbing loudly:

"Ethan, save me!"

"Chloe?"

Ethan was walking up the stairs. I was blocked once again.

"Ethan! Save me!" Scarlett lay on the floor, crying as she reached out to him. "Chloe tried to kill me!"

"Scarlett!" Ethan rushed to hold her, then barked at the guards, "Hold Chloe down!"

"Let me go! I need to go to the hospital! Let me go!" I thrashed wildly.

A dozen bodyguards easily pinned me to the floor.

I screamed like a lunatic:

"Ethan! She is trying to kill our son! I have to take Leo to the hospital! Tell them to—"

Slap!

A harsh slap cut me off.

Ethan stood over me, looking down coldly:

"I was the one who ordered Scarlett to punish you. If you want revenge, come at me!"

"Mr. Vance! Your son!" a bodyguard gasped, holding Leo out to him.

At first glance, Ethan's pupils dilated in shock.

"Chloe Vance!"

Ethan lunged forward and choked me in a frenzy:

"Is this how you take care of our child?!

"Is this what you meant by 'stealing money to cure him'?!

"You used our own child just to extort money from me!

"Is there anything you won't do?!"

My throat was squeezed so tight I couldn't breathe.

I could only make weak, choking sounds.

"Thomas!" Ethan roared.

"Give the baby to Scarlett!"

My eyes widened.

Ethan glared at me through gritted teeth:

"You don't deserve to be his mother.

"From today on, Scarlett is Leo's stepmother!"

Scarlett's eyes lit up, quickly hiding her smugness.

She took Leo into her arms with a look of fake concern.

"Ethan! Don't give him to her! Give him back to me! Give Leo back!!"

"Lock her in the basement!" Ethan growled.

"No water for three days! Let her stay there until she realizes our child is not her cash cow!"

Scarlett held Leo, her eyes red:

"Don't worry, Chloe. I'll take good care of Leo for you."

"Ethan! No—ah!"

A bodyguard shoved me down into the dark basement.

The heavy door slammed shut, plunging me into complete darkness.