Chapter 4

Austin lunged forward to grab Leo. Chloe helped him, pulling at my son's legs. "Leo, come to Chloe. If you stay with your crazy mother, you'll end up homeless on the streets!"

Leo screamed in terror, reaching his tiny hands toward me. "Mom! Mom! Help me!"

When I saw the bright red friction burns forming on Leo's pale arms, I had to let go. If I kept pulling, they would dislocate his shoulders.

With Leo in his arms, Austin smirked triumphantly. "You want a divorce? Go ahead. But you're not taking Leo with you."

Leo sobbed hysterically, choking on his own tears.

I stared at my son, my mind racing with desperation.

Austin was smug. He was certain that because of Leo, I would eventually crawl back on my hands and knees, begging for mercy, just like the last five times.

But this time, I was calculating my chances in a custody battle.

"You can't divorce! You absolutely cannot divorce!"

The front door burst open, and my in-laws, Richard and Martha, hurried into the apartment.

"The neighbors are already whispering that Chloe is a homewrecker!" Martha gasped, grabbing my hand with fake affection. "Claire, sweetie, I'm on your side." She leaned in close, whispering in my ear, "How about this? I'll have Chloe and Lily move in with us for a while. You and Austin can have some couple time. Just don't divorce."

I gently but firmly pushed Martha's hand away.

She didn't care about my marriage. She was just terrified of losing her free, 24-hour caregiver and maid.

When Martha was hospitalized last year, I was the one who cooked every meal, washed her clothes, and bathed her.

The year before, when Richard broke his leg and refused to stay in the rehab center, I was the one who studied physical therapy videos to help him walk again.

Where was Chloe during all of this? She and Lily left the house in a complete mess for me to clean. I was so exhausted my back was constantly spasming, yet I still had to cook gourmet meals for them.

When I complained to Austin, he just snapped, "You're a housewife. You don't have a real job. What else are you supposed to do all day?"

My in-laws had broken my heart. During their illnesses, Chloe never visited them once. After they recovered, she simply bought them two cheap sweaters from Wish.

And yet, my in-laws had turned around and scolded me. "Look at Chloe! She's so thoughtful, unlike you."

Richard slammed his cane against the floor, making a deafening crack. "If anyone dares to get a divorce in this family, I will throw myself off a bridge!"

Chloe immediately rushed to support Richard. "Please don't say things like that." She shot me a victimized look. "Claire didn't mean it. It's just that Lily was upset because Leo kept calling Austin 'Dad' right in front of her."

Richard sneered. "Leo is just a child, but what about you, Claire? Aren't you an adult? Don't you have any common sense?"

A wave of bitter fury surged up my throat. I couldn't hold it back anymore.

"Is Austin dead?" I spat out. "If he's not dead, why the hell can't his own son call him Dad?"

"You bad woman! My daddy isn't dead!" Lily, prompted by a subtle nudge from Chloe, rushed forward and began hitting my legs with her fists.

Chloe quickly scooped her up, fake-panicking. "Yes, sweetie, Daddy isn't dead. He just went on a very long trip."

Austin, completely ignoring his own sobbing son on the floor, rushed over to comfort Lily.

Leo ran to my side, grabbing my hand. I squeezed his hand, preparing to slip out of the apartment in the chaos.

But the commotion had drawn a crowd of neighbors in the hallway, who were now whispering and pointing at us.

Losing face in front of the neighbors made Richard furious. He raised his heavy wooden cane, aiming it straight at my head. "You ungrateful, disobedient bitch! I'll teach you a lesson!"