Chapter 1

When my son was rushed to the ICU after being kidnapped, he was crying, begging to see Ethan one last time.

But when I called Ethan, his ex-girlfriend, Chloe, was the one who answered his phone.

"Ethan is busy right now. If there's anything, you can just tell me."

I didn’t care what they were doing. I could only scream in panic, "Leo is dying! Put him on the phone!"

Finally, Ethan’s voice came through the receiver.

He snapped impatiently, "I'm just helping Chloe take her dog to the vet. Do you really have to curse our own son just to get my attention?"

With that, he hung up.

When I tried to call back, his phone was already turned off.

That was the day my son died in the emergency room.

"Mommy, they all say Daddy doesn't want me anymore. Is it true?"

"Am I going to die?"

"I want to see Daddy..."

Looking at my son lying on the hospital bed, covered in blood, I panicked.

He was completely fine when he left for school this morning. How could he have been kidnapped and beaten so badly in just half a day?

I hadn't even received a ransom call from the kidnappers. Why did they hurt him like this?

Choking back my tears, I squeezed his cold little hand. My voice trembled as I promised, "Hold on, sweetie. Mommy is going to find Daddy, okay?"

Leaning against the hospital wall, I called Ethan three times before the call finally went through.

But it wasn't him. It was Chloe.

Her voice was disgustingly sweet. "Ethan is busy right now. You can talk to me."

I had no energy to care about what they were doing, nor did I have the patience for her petty provocations.

"My son is dying! Let Ethan talk!"

Ethan's voice finally came through, filled with annoyance. "I'm just at the vet with Chloe. Do you really have to curse our son like this?"

I could hear Chloe whining in the background, "Ethan, your wife wants you home. You should go. Don't worry about me."

She even squeezed out a couple of fake sobs.

"Chloe, I don't have time to play games with you! Let Ethan talk to me! Leo is really dying!"

Ethan let out a cold sneer. His next words felt like a bucket of ice water poured over my head.

"Isn't he your son too? What, can't you even buy a grave yourself?"

That was his own flesh and blood!

After saying that heartless line, he hung up again.

When I redialed, his phone was off.

I collapsed against the corridor wall, staring at the bright red "In Operation" sign. Tears streamed down my face.

My mind kept replaying my son’s hopeful, pleading eyes.

I slapped myself hard across the face, forcing myself to calm down.

Chloe’s dog was an expensive, pampered breed. She only ever took it to one high-end pet hospital. They had to be there!

Dragging my weak body up, I rushed to the pet clinic as fast as I could.

And there they were.

Chloe was leaning into Ethan’s chest, tears in her eyes. Ethan was gently wiping her face with a tissue.

They looked so loving, as if they were the married couple, and the patient undergoing surgery inside was their own child.

I didn't care about their display. I ran straight toward them.