Chapter 2

Hearing my hurried footsteps, Chloe immediately wrapped her arms tightly around Ethan's shoulders.

"Ethan, are you going to leave me?"

When Ethan looked up, all the warmth in his eyes vanished. He stared at me with pure disgust and coldness. "Are you seriously throwing a tantrum here? Aren't you embarrassed?"

His tone was so harsh, as if I were some pathetic stalker desperate for his attention.

I didn't want to play the role of the jealous wife. My mind was filled with my dying son. In a frenzy, I grabbed his arm.

"Come with me, now! Leo was kidnapped this morning. He's in the hospital. The doctor said he might not make—"

Before I could finish, a sharp slap echoed through the hallway.

Ethan shoved me away, his face twisted with rage. "I drove Leo to school myself this morning! Can you stop lying about everything? You're disgusting, do you know that?"

My brain went numb. I couldn't even feel the burning pain on my cheek.

Chloe stepped in, placing herself between Ethan and me.

"Clara, he's your son. How could you say such horrible things about him just to get Ethan home?"

Her words only fueled Ethan's hatred toward me.

He put his arm around Chloe’s shoulders and glared at me. "Stop embarrassing me. Get the hell home and act like a proper wife."

Tears blurred my vision.

Thinking of Leo lying in that pool of blood, I lost all my pride.

I fell to my knees, grabbing Ethan’s hand, crying hysterically. "Ethan, I can lie about anything, but how could I lie about our son? I beg you, please come and see him one last time!"

Seeing him stand there unmoved, I bowed my head to the floor.

"If you come with me, I’ll agree to anything. Divorce, no alimony, nothing! I’ll sign whatever you want! Ethan, he is your son!"

Maybe my sheer desperation finally shook him a little.

Ethan’s expression softened for a split second. But just as hope flickered in my chest, Chloe extinguished it with a few soft words.

"Clara, your acting is getting too realistic. If your son were really dying in the hospital, wouldn't the doctors have called Ethan directly?"

"I know you hate me, and I don't want to ruin your marriage. Ethan is just staying with me for the dog's surgery. Is that really so hard for you to accept?"

"Why do you have to be so selfish?"

She picked up her purse, pretending she was about to leave.

"Ethan, don't worry about me. Just go with her."

"It's all my fault. I don't want to cause trouble between you two."

What a manipulative bitch.

She sighed and shook her head, making me look like a hysterical, pathological liar.

The image of my son's pleading face flashed in my mind. I lost control and screamed at her, "Shut the hell up!"

Hearing this, Chloe immediately burst into tears and hid in Ethan's chest. "She's yelling at me... Even you've never raised your voice at me."

Ethan's face darkened instantly. "Have you had enough? Get the hell out of here before I lose my mind."

Then, he kicked me. He kicked me away like I was a piece of trash.

The physical pain in my chest was nothing compared to the agony in my heart.

His voice was freezing. "Clara, I am done with you. We are getting a divorce the moment I get back."

He walked away with Chloe. No matter how loudly I screamed and begged, he never looked back.

Their figures disappeared around the corner.

I collapsed on the floor, my heart feeling like it was being ripped out of my chest.

Just then, my phone rang. It was the hospital.

"Ms. Clara, you need to come back right now! Your son... he isn't going to make it. Come say your last goodbyes."

I shook violently. I tried to stand, but my legs gave out, and I fell again.

Somehow, I dragged myself back to the hospital.

Leo was hooked up to countless tubes, his tiny body looking so fragile on the massive hospital bed.

I was so useless.

I couldn't even fulfill his very last wish.

I wanted to apologize, but when I opened my mouth, no sound came out.

Leo’s tiny fingers weakly curled around mine. "It's okay, Mommy..."

"Don't... don't forget me..."

"I know... Daddy doesn't love me... but having Mommy... is enough."