Chapter 4

My eyes burned with unshed tears.

I suddenly remembered that not long ago, when Max first reached out to me for a consultation, Julian had been furious.

He had demanded to know how I got in touch with Max.

He had even started toxic rumors: "Max's wife died shortly after giving birth, and he hasn't remarried. Are you trying to sleep your way into a billionaire family?"

We had a huge fight over that, and he slammed the door, staying out all night.

When he came back the next morning, there was a glaring hickey on his neck.

At the time, he claimed it was an insect bite.

I was so focused on Noah's therapy plan and so hurt by his wild accusations that I didn't look into it.

Now it was obvious that Julian and Grace had already hooked up back then.

I had been with Julian for years. He had always told me he was an illegitimate child who grew up without a father's love.

I felt so much pity for him back then, trying my best to make up for his childhood trauma.

I completely forgot that I was just a young girl myself back then.

Later, he said he wanted to start his own business to prove himself to the father who abandoned him.

So, without hesitation, I quit my high-paying job at a major hospital to help him build this clinic.

But as the clinic grew and we hired more staff, his heart changed.

He didn't want to be a therapist anymore. Maybe we had already started drifting apart back then.

Yet, like an idiot, I thought he was just getting closer to his dreams!

Over the years, I had healed so many patients, but I completely ignored the rot in my own relationship.

The sticky note with the wrong address was undoubtedly a setup by the two of them.

They wanted to bypass me, strike a deal with Max, and get Julian back into the Sterling family trust.

From then on, he would have an easy life, leaning on the Sterling empire.

Sitting in my car, tears finally streamed down my face.

These two were rotten to the core!

For their own selfish gain, they had harmed a defenseless seven-year-old child!

During my weeks with Noah, I knew he was an incredibly sweet boy.

The signals he gave me showed he wanted to survive, he wanted to get better.

But now, that tiny spark of hope had likely been crushed by Grace.

Even though Max's trust in me was at rock bottom, I couldn't just stand by and watch Noah walk into a trap.

I called Max repeatedly, hoping to talk to him.

But Max just yelled at me again and blocked my number.

I understood Max's desperation.

He was known to be a deeply devoted husband who had never been with another woman since his wife passed away seven years ago.

Noah was the proof of their love, so of course he would protect him at all costs.

I couldn't bear to think of what would happen to Max if Noah actually got hurt.

To prevent a tragedy, I had to try one more time.

After all, Max had come to me first. I couldn't let an innocent child become collateral damage in their greed.

I went back to the Sterling estate, hoping to see Noah.

I needed to know how Grace was treating him.

If I could figure out her method, I might be able to find a way to reverse the damage.

Unsurprisingly, Max refused to see me, and his security wouldn't let me near Noah.

After being kicked out, I stood on the sidewalk and looked up at the window with security bars.

Noah was standing right there.

I forced a warm smile and waved at him. Noah tilted his head, watching me.

I saw his lips move, silently saying, "Not scared."

That was what I had told him every day for the past month. He remembered.

Tears of relief rushed to my eyes!

He was still in there! He could still be saved!

Even from a distance, I tried my best to communicate with him, trying to give him the will to hold on.

But Julian quickly caught up to me.

He dragged me toward his car, ignoring my struggles.

When I resisted, he slapped me across the face.

I cried out in pain. In the next second, Noah began banging violently on his window.

He had been mauled by wild dogs; he couldn't stand witnessing violence.

The trigger sent him into a panic, and he pointed at me, screaming at the top of his lungs.

I knew he was trying to protect me, but Max, who rushed in hearing the noise, completely misunderstood the situation.

"Do you have to kill my son to be satisfied?!" Max roared.