Chapter 2

“What does that mean?” Robert was stunned.

I clenched my fists, knuckles white, my voice flat. “It means you’ll have to submit a request for anything you want to buy. Any expenditure over two dollars must include an explanation of its purpose, and I’ll release the funds only after my review.”

Robert roared, his voice venomous, “Are you crazy? We did all this for your son’s own good. Don’t be ungrateful!”

I cut him off. “The more complicated the approval process, the more you’ll learn your lesson, learn to be frugal, and become as sensible as Brandon. I’m doing this for your own good, too…”

*Click.* Before I could finish, Robert, furious, hung up the phone.

Leo was still clinging to me, his face terrifyingly pale.

I gently peeled back his pants. His skin and the fabric were peeling away together. The jeans were stained bright red with blood, a blinding sight that burned into my eyes.

Leo gasped in pain, his little hands clutching my shirt tighter.

My chest felt like it had been violently slammed, my throat tight.

Seeing my expression, Leo looked up, clumsily brushed his small hand against my face, and whispered, “Daddy, did I cause you trouble?”

“Daddy, I wanted to ride the carousel again just because the horses sing, and I wanted to learn their song to sing to you.”

I touched his feverish forehead, my throat aching as if cut by a knife, unable to make a sound.

I quickly called a cab and rushed him to the hospital.

The diagnosis came back: Leo didn’t just have superficial wounds; he had a fractured sacrum.

The words on the diagnosis sheet shredded my sanity. Clutching the report, I punched the wall, smashing my knuckles until they bled.

If I hadn't taken Leo to Martha and Robert’s, he wouldn’t have been abused like this!

Every month, at the end of the month, I’d deposit twenty thousand dollars into their account without fail. Month after month, never an excuse.

Besides that, they never lacked fresh fruit or expensive supplements.

This time, with heavy overtime at work, I had no other choice but to send Leo to my parents’ house. I never imagined that because of two dollars, my son would be beaten to a fractured sacrum!

Martha and Robert came to the hospital on Leo's third day of admission.

“Oh, the child is just delicate. It was just a few switches with a stick. Why is he even in the hospital?” Martha’s sharp voice reached my ears before she even entered the room.

Robert pushed open the door, his gaze immediately falling on Leo, who was sitting on the bed.

Leo’s eyes darted away, nervously looking at me.

I patted his shoulder, assuring him he was safe.

Robert placed a bag of fruit on the table and then sat on the edge of the bed. A forced smile stretched his lips as he reached out to touch Leo. “Leo, are you feeling better? Martha and I did it for your own good. You don’t blame us, do you?”

Leo hastily recoiled, hiding behind me, biting his lip tightly, his eyes filled with fear.

I stood in front of Leo and said calmly, “What are you doing here?”

Martha said softly, “Of course we came to see my precious grandson. Even though he broke our rules, I won’t blame him. So, the allowance, it’ll be sent at the end of the month, right…?”

I cut her off, glaring. “Rules? What bullshit rules? Rules just for Leo, right? Brandon gets to ride a two-thousand-dollar helicopter without a second thought, but Leo rides a two-dollar carousel and you beat him until he has a fractured sacrum?”

I spoke through gritted teeth, forcing each word out.

Martha froze, startled by my outburst. After a moment, she put her hands on her hips. “That’s because… because Leo’s application form was problematic. His name wasn’t written properly, and the reason wasn’t clear.”

She rolled her eyes. “Unlike Brandon, who has neat handwriting and solid reasons.”

Martha showed no hint of guilt; instead, she was self-righteous.

I took a deep breath, pulled out my phone from my bag, and called the police in front of them.

“I want to report child abuse. My son has a fractured sacrum and is currently at the City Children’s Hospital, Orthopedics Department.”

Martha’s face instantly changed. She lunged forward, trying to grab my phone. “Are you crazy?! Why call the police?! We’re your parents!”

Robert also stood up, pointing a finger at my nose and yelling, “Ethan, are you serious? All this for two dollars?”

“For two dollars? You could beat my son like this for two dollars. Why can’t I send you to the police station for two dollars?!”

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