"Noah!"

My eyes burned, bloodshot. I lunged forward, but the guards held me back. All I could do was watch.

They threw me at the kindergarten entrance. I didn't register the pain—just crawled toward my nephew.

Serena scanned the crowd, a vicious smile spreading across her face.

"Everyone, I'm so sorry. Today is the children's first day of check-in—such an important day—but someone had no sense and brought a bastard child here, crying and making a scene. For the kindergarten's reputation, I had no choice but to have them removed."

The sympathy in the onlookers' eyes curdled into contempt.

"Shameless. She has a bastard and still shows her face in public—probably a mistress herself."

"Get out already. If her kid stays, what if mine gets influenced?"

"Exactly. Trash like this shouldn't be here embarrassing themselves."

"Bad enough the adult has no shame—now she's teaching the kid to act."

The voices piled on top of each other. I knelt beside my nephew, on the verge of shattering.

"Noah! Please—someone save him!"

I looked desperately at the crowd. A few calmer parents finally noticed something was wrong.

"This kid's color isn't right!"

A woman pushed through and crouched beside him. Her face went pale.

"Severe asthma. Where's his medicine? Give it to him—now."

It hit me. I wiped my tears and rushed toward the kindergarten, but the guards blocked me.

"Please. Have mercy. His medicine is in my bag. Just let me get it."

I begged. They didn't even blink—just looked to Serena.

She covered her nose in disgust.

"How unlucky. We can't let you in. What if you disturb our feng shui?"

I had no choice but to go back to my nephew. The woman had already called an ambulance.

I watched them load him into the vehicle. The guards exchanged glances, guilt flickering across their faces.

"Principal Fox, what if… what if something actually happens to him? Then we—"

Serena laughed.

"This kind of trick only fools idiots like you."

She twirled a strand of hair, utterly indifferent.

"Besides, I have Jason. If something happens, he'll cover for me. What's there to be afraid of?"

I'd been about to follow the ambulance, frantic. But her words ignited something in me that couldn't be suppressed anymore.

I turned and walked toward her. She glanced at me, her smile taunting.

"A perfectly good kid, and you raised him into this. What kindergarten would want him?"

I didn't hesitate. I slapped her across the face.

She stood there, stunned, for a long moment.

"Alex Weiss! What are you doing?"

My brother appeared out of nowhere. He rushed to Serena's side, shielding her.

I stared at him, eyes bloodshot.

"Jason, Serena hurt a child so badly an ambulance had to come. And you're still protecting her?"

My voice cracked. He froze, then glanced at the ambulance still parked nearby.

"Jason, I just didn't want a bastard affecting the school's reputation." Serena's voice turned pitiful. "How was I supposed to know she'd have the kid fake being sick to frame me?"

Serena covered her red, swollen face and glared at me with pure venom.

The guards beside her nodded eagerly. "Mr. Weiss, you didn't see how arrogant this woman was just now."

My brother withdrew his gaze and looked at Serena, his expression softening with concern. "Alex, you're not a child anymore. Pull something like this again, and you're out of the house."

With that, he pulled Serena toward the ambulance and ordered the guards to drag my nephew off.

The paramedics mid-resuscitation froze in disbelief. "Mr. Weiss, this patient's condition is critical. If we don't act now—"

Serena shot me a smug glance, then let out a theatrical scream and collapsed into my brother's arms. "Jason, my face! Will I be disfigured?"

He cradled her with aching tenderness, scooped her up, and carried her through the side door into the ambulance. Before climbing in, he cast an icy look at the stunned doctors. "The biggest donor to your hospital is me, Jason Weiss. Cross me, and—"

He didn't finish. He got in and slammed the door. The doctors stood there, paralyzed.

"Please, you have to stop them. My nephew is dying." I rushed forward, desperate, but they kept their heads down. Silent.

My heart dropped. Before I could say another word, they abandoned my nephew on the pavement and scrambled into the vehicle. They didn't even take the stretcher.

I stood there, frozen. My composure cracking.

I pulled out my phone to photograph my nephew—evidence to send my brother—but one of the guards "accidentally" bumped into me. My phone hit the concrete with a sharp crack.

No time for anger. I crouched to grab it. Dead screen. Wouldn't turn on.

I looked helplessly at the crowd of onlookers. In the end, it was the woman who'd spoken up earlier who couldn't take it anymore. She offered to drive us to the hospital.

We raced there. I didn't stop for a second—just scooped up my nephew and charged through the entrance.

Only after he disappeared into the ER did I realize my clothes were drenched with sweat.

"The patient is critical. Surgery is required immediately. Family members—go pay now."

My voice shook. It took forever to force words out. "Doctor, please save him. I'm his aunt. I'll pay right now."

I grabbed the critical condition notice and rushed out. The payment line crawled. My skin burned with urgency—and then I saw them. My brother and Serena, emerging from another wing.

I froze. But the line had reached me. No time. I pulled out my phone to pay.

Insufficient balance.

I stared at the screen in disbelief. Every single one of my bank cards—frozen. By him.

I sprinted to my brother, still gasping for air. "Jason, why did you freeze my cards? Forget it—just pay. Now."

He barely glanced at me. "What happened today was a lesson for you and that illegitimate child. Learn to behave, and I'll restore them."

I went rigid. "Jason Weiss. The one in the ER is your biological son." My voice cracked. "He had an asthma attack because of the woman standing next to you. And you don't care at all? You're just going to let him die?"

My eyes burned. My brother looked momentarily stunned by my intensity.

That's when Serena chimed in. She stroked her nearly-healed face and pouted. "Jason, didn't you say this woman has nothing to do with you?"

"Why is she suddenly claiming her kid is yours?"

My brother paused, eyeing me with suspicion.

"Alex, you know what I hate most—liars. My son is safe at home. There's no way he's in the ER."

I panicked completely.

"If you don't believe me, come see for yourself. See who's barely hanging on in there!"

At the ER doors, a nurse stepped out.

"Family of Noah Weiss? Has the surgery fee been paid?"

My nephew's name hit my brother like a slap. His face shifted, and he started to respond—

But Serena grabbed his arm, stopping him.

"Jason, she's lived with you long enough to know your son's name. Don't fall for her tricks."

I dropped to my knees. Tears streamed down my face.

"Jason, Noah's really in there. Please—pay first so he can have surgery. Please."

If anything happened to my nephew, I'd never forgive myself. And Elena had always been so good to me—how could I ever face her again?

I'd never knelt before my brother. Not once in all these years.

We were blood. He nodded and stepped forward—

Serena let out a piercing scream.

"Jason, my face—my face hurts so much!"

Then her eyes rolled back and she collapsed.

My brother panicked. He scooped her up and turned to leave. I grabbed his pant leg, but he kicked me away hard.

"Get lost! If anything happens to Serena, I'll pretend I never had a sister!"

I struggled up, eyes burning, body screaming with pain.

"Nurse, please—can you make an exception? Do the surgery first. I'll find a way to pay, I swear—"

The operating room doors swung open behind her.

My heart dropped. The doctor's voice was heavy with regret.

"I'm sorry. The patient missed the optimal treatment window. We did everything we could."

My head went hollow. My body crumpled.

Across the hall, my brother emerged from another doctor's office with Serena clinging to him, still sniffling.

"Alright, stop crying. The doctor said your face will be fine—just needs proper care. Too much crying might slow recovery."

He was gentle. Serena nodded obediently, then her tone shifted, edged with meaning.

"Why are you so generous with outsiders? Buying a solid gold locket for some random kid on a whim."

My brother froze.

"What gold locket?"

Serena pulled it from her pocket.

"This one. I ripped it off that illegitimate brat."

The moment he saw it, his expression changed.

His hands trembled as he took it. He read the engraving. His face went white.

He flipped it over. Read it again. Disbelief cracking through him.

Then something clicked.

He kicked Serena square in the chest.

"You bitch!"