I gently assured my mother, “Don’t worry, Mom. I’m here now.”

But she gripped my arm tightly, her voice filled with fear. “Jason, you need to leave quickly! Emily isn’t the same person she used to be. She’s changed.”

Without waiting for a response, she added bitterly, “All she cares about now is that pretty boy.”

Hearing her words, my heart ached. I held her hand and said softly, “Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, no one will hurt you.”

Just then, Tyler stepped forward, his eyes sharp and cold. “So, you’re Jason Whitaker?” he sneered. “I thought you were dead.”

He glared at me with clear hatred. “I never expected you to actually come back.”

Then he smirked. “What do you think showing up now will make Emily change her mind?”

He took a step closer and spoke with venom, “Let me tell you something, Emily is mine now. If you’re smart, you’ll sign the divorce papers, take your blind mother, and disappear!”

His tone grew more arrogant. “You think you still have a place in her life? You’re nothing now. She’s far beyond your reach.”

I looked him in the eye, my voice calm but cold. “Whatever happens between me and Emily is none of your business.”

He let out a mocking laugh. “You really don’t know, do you?”

With a smug grin, he leaned in. “Emily is pregnant with my child. That’s right. She’s mine now.”

I stared at him without flinching, my eyes frosty. He had no idea how deep the trouble he’d stepped into really was.

As for Emily… I didn’t feel like saying another word about her.

The moment I saw how my mother had suffered, I knew Emily would have to pay for what she allowed to happen.

Tyler continued, his tone full of threats. “I’m Emily’s man now. She has powerful connections in high places.”

“With just one word from her, you’ll be finished.”

“You should kneel down with your blind mother right now and bark like a dog or I swear, I’ll make you regret it!”

I didn’t move. My gaze never wavered.

But my mother, terrified, tried to kneel. “I’ll kneel. Please, just don’t hurt my child!”

I quickly held her back and whispered, “Mom, don’t be afraid. As long as I’m here, no one will lay a finger on you.”

Then I turned to Tyler, my voice sharp and steady. “Even if Emily herself comes, I’ll make her pay for what she’s done.”

A cold female voice suddenly echoed from the doorway. “Oh? You’re going to make me pay?”

I turned and saw Emily marching in, surrounded by bodyguards.

The moment her eyes met mine, she stopped in her tracks, stunned.

Her belly was large, she was clearly pregnant.

“Jason?” she asked, visibly shocked. “You’re... back?”

She instinctively placed a hand on her stomach, panic flickering across her face.

But when she met my cold, emotionless eyes, she quickly regained her pride. Her tone turned sharp.

“You still have the nerve to come back?”

“All these years, you disappeared,” she snapped. “If it weren’t for me taking care of your mother, she would’ve died a long time ago!”

I let out a cold laugh. “This is what you call taking care of her?”

I pointed straight at the doghouse where my mother had been crouched.

Emily lowered her head, silent but the guilt in her eyes said it all.

Just then, Tyler jumped in. “Emily, he hit me the moment he showed up! Look, I’m covered in bruises!”

He rushed to her side, grabbing her hand like a helpless victim. “You have to stand up for me!”

Emily’s eyes instantly filled with concern. “Jason, how could you? You’ve gone too far!”

“How dare you attack Tyler for no reason?”

But as she yelled, I didn’t even feel angry anymore. I was done with her. I only looked at her with the same icy stare.

Seeing my expression, Emily faltered. But she quickly straightened up and snapped again, “Jason, just for laying a hand on Tyler, I could have you killed.”

“Apologize to him. Now.”

She folded her arms. “And since you’re back, let’s just settle this. Sign the divorce papers.”

I looked at her calmly. “Divorce? Fine. But do you really think I’ll just walk away because you say so?”

Before she could reply, Tyler cut in.

“What more do you want?” he spat. “Emily is being kind, and you're taking advantage of it.”

“She should’ve crushed you the moment you walked in!”

“Sign the papers and get lost!”

Then he turned to Emily with a confident smile. “Emily, why are you even wasting time on him? Once he’s gone, we can finally be together.”

He added softly, “Think about our child.”

Emily’s expression turned cold. She looked at me and said sharply, “Jason, sign the divorce papers now!”

“Take your mother and leave. If you don’t, I won’t be so polite next time!”

Then she turned to her men. “If he refuses, force him to sign!”

As soon as the words left her mouth, the bodyguards rushed toward me.

But I didn’t flinch. My expression only grew colder.

They had no idea the storm they had just called upon themselves.

Just as I was about to act, the villa’s front door was kicked open.

A group of armed men stormed inside.

“What do you think you’re doing?” someone shouted.

Emily and Tyler froze in place, stunned.

“Who let you in?!” Emily screamed.

The men didn’t answer. Instead, they walked straight up to me.

“General Whitaker,” one of them said, “we’ve been sent here under direct orders.”