My husband's first love's child broke an antique intended as a gift, yet blamed my son for the mishap. Enraged, my husband punished Cassian by making him kneel for twenty-four hours in our chapel.

I pleaded with him, tears streaming down my face. "Cassian didn’t do it! He’s honest and takes responsibility for his mistakes!" I sobbed. "He’s just recovering from a fever, and it’s only 17 degrees outside—he’s only in pajamas! He can’t endure a whole day without food or drink!”

But my husband coldly brushed my hand aside. "Cassian is always energetic and gets into mischief—who else could it be? Are you really suggesting Brody set him up?" he shot back. "I know you're upset about Ruth staying here, but I didn't expect you to accuse a child maliciously!"

That night, Cassian’s fever worsened, leading to heart complications and severe arrhythmia. From 5 a.m. to noon, I sat outside the emergency room, shivering on a cold metal chair. Meanwhile, my phone buzzed with a notification—a cheery family photo sent by the woman who now occupies my place. When my sister arrived at the hospital, I clung to her, my face drenched in tears.

“I can’t be with him anymore…”

The red light above the emergency room seemed to stab into my soul, every tick of the clock felt like a dagger in my heart. Cassian, my Cassian—I failed to protect you.

"Kairi!" My sister, Kairi Young, rushed inside, holding my trembling body tightly. Her warm hands met my icy skin, her voice quivering with emotion. "Don’t be afraid; Cassian will be okay."

I mechanically lifted my head and showed her my phone. On the screen, Ahmir Ford held Brody on a carousel, while Ruth grinned sweetly beside them. The caption boldly stated, "Long-awaited family time; Brody is ecstatic." It was posted half an hour ago, when Cassian was in critical condition.

My sister’s breath halted and her eyes burned with fury. "Despicable! What a jerk!" she growled, clenching the phone with white knuckles. "Gabriela, once Cassian gets better, you need to end this marriage! That loser doesn't deserve to see you or the child again!"

I shakily dialed Ahmir’s number, putting it on speaker. Laughter and Brody’s giggles pierced through like daggers.

"Hello, Gabriela? What now? Didn't I say I’m with Brody?" Ahmir's voice was sharp and impatient, as if I were a nuisance.

“Ahmir…” My voice cracked, hoarse. “Cassian is in the emergency room…”

“Emergency room?” He scoffed, dripping with disdain over the phone. "Quit exaggerating. It's just a little fever! He's only kneeling for a day; how bad could it be? Are you that kind of mother, making a fuss over nothing? Brody was scared by your antics, and Ruth feels horrible for her son—you didn't comfort us and instead disrupt me with these cheap tactics? You’re seriously becoming irrational!"

The call abruptly ended, leaving the cold beeps echoing down the empty corridor. My sister’s face turned ashen, her hand trembling against mine as she tried to support me. I couldn’t hold on any longer; my knees hit the cold tiles of the hospital floor.

“Sis… I can’t do this anymore… I really can’t…”

Just then, the light over the emergency room flickered off. My heart stopped, and my eyes locked onto the door. A weary-looking doctor emerged. I crawled over, clutching at his pants with desperate fingers.

“Doctor! My son! How is my son?”

The doctor sighed, eyes bloodshot. “The fever triggered heart issues, severe arrhythmia…” he explained. “But after resuscitation, he’s temporarily out of immediate danger. He still needs close observation; it's a delicate situation.”

I sank to the ground, feeling as if my broken heart had been momentarily mended. Cassian was alive; my child was still breathing. In that instant, all the bottled-up worry and rage flowed into a torrent of tears. I clutched my sister’s hand, choked with sobs.

“Sis, Cassian survived…”

My sister was tucked away in the corner, speaking in hushed tones on the phone. Only snippets reached my ears, each one searing my heart like a knife targeting the man who betrayed me.

“Kenneth Meyer... custody... proof of cheating…”

Her voice was cold and relentless, filled with a quiet fury. Meanwhile, hospital staff hurried down the hallway, their footsteps echoing. I sat there numbly, awaiting Cassian’s emergence. When my sister returned, she took my hand, and I rose mechanically, feeling as though my spirit had already departed.

When they wheeled Cassian out, my world fell apart. His small body was covered in tubes, his face pallid and devoid of color.

“Cassian!”

I rushed over, clutching his cold little hand tightly. “Mom’s here, don’t be scared…”

My sister wrapped me in a comforting embrace. “He'll pull through, he has to…”

I stayed at his bedside for five days. Cassian would occasionally wake, but his awareness was blurry, mumbling for his mom and dad. Each call of his tore at my heart. How could I tell him that during his illness, his father was busy with other children? It was too harsh.

I stroked his head, soothing him back to sleep, promising him that mom was here, and dad would be there soon. Over those five days, I sent countless messages to Ahmir, pleading for him to come to the hospital to see Cassian. He responded by completely shutting me out.

On the sixth day, Ahmir finally called.

“Where are you? You’re always making a big deal out of things, where did you take Cassian? Ruth wants those muffins you bake.”

My heart was nearly consumed by fury and sorrow as I let out a bitter laugh. “I’m at the hospital. Is she even worthy of eating anything I make?”

Ahmir exploded, his language crude and cutting. “Damn, Ruth is a guest. Whatever she wants, shouldn't we, her hosts, give it to her? You talk like you've got garbage smeared over your mouth, ruining the mood.”

Once, he had cherished me, holding me as his treasure. Now, he insulted me and neglected his child for another woman. I felt as though my heart had been pierced by needles, leaving gaps that let in the cold wind from outside.

In my daze, anger and malice surged within me, my voice raspy and deliberate. “Cassian’s in the hospital. If you don’t come today, I’ll go home and toss Brody into the lake. Let him feel what a fever tastes like.”

“What the hell does Brody have to do with this? You crazy…”

I hung up, the last piece of my heart shattering. In just six years, the man I once loved had become unrecognizable.

“Sis, I’m certain I want a divorce.”

My sister's hand pressed firmly on my shoulder, squeezing reassuringly. “Alright, I’ll help you break free from this monster.”

Gazing at Cassian's pale face in the hospital bed, memories of Ahmir's sweet promises flooded back. “Gabriela, we’ll have the perfect family.”

Now, all that remained was coldness and impatience, and his affection was given to the woman who once walked away from him. Cassian is my last hope. I won’t let anyone hurt him again, not even his father, nor the man I once loved.

Six o'clock in the evening.

The hospital room door swung open, revealing Ahmir with Brody in his arms and Ruth following behind. They appeared like a picture-perfect family. Unbelievably, Ahmir had brought that mother-and-son pair here to the hospital, seemingly intent on berating Cassian and me!

My vision blurred, and my heart felt as if it were gripped by an invisible hand.

Ahmir frowned. "What's going on? Is Cassian really in the hospital?"

Ruth stood elegantly by the doorway, a fake smile plastered across her face. I recognized the coat—it was an anniversary gift from Ahmir to me years ago. She noticed my gaze and let out a laugh that sounded too rehearsed.

"Oh, sorry, Ella. I ran out of clothes, and it’s cold. Ahmir grabbed one from your closet, saying it suits me well. Hope you don’t mind."

I returned her empty smile and stayed quiet. Ruth stepped closer, her eyes gleaming with spite.

"What happened to Cassian? Isn't it just a little fever? Why all the drama?"

I ignored her, staying beside Cassian and holding his small hand tightly.

Seeing my silence, Ahmir's brows furrowed deeper. He walked over to the bed, intent on pulling the covers off Cassian.

"Right, just a slight fever. Are you exaggerating his illness to force me back home?"

The blankets were pulled back, exposing Cassian's pale cheeks. I lunged forward, slapped his hand away, and quickly covered Cassian up again.

Ahmir spotted Cassian's pallor and paused, but his frustration grew. "How did Cassian get so sick? Gabriela, I didn’t expect you to be not just malicious and jealous but also incapable of taking care of your child! Letting Cassian fall ill like this!"

Ahmir roared, his spit flying in my face. "He kneels at the family grave for a moment and ends up like this. Poor Cassian, having a useless mother like you!"

Brody peered out from Ruth’s embrace, pointing at Cassian on the bed, puzzled. "Mommy, is brother going to die soon? Will he get smelly?"

Ruth feigned concern, gently patting Brody’s back, her eyes coldly malicious. "Brody, you shouldn't speak like that. You might upset Auntie."

Turning to me, her voice dripping with condescension, "Ella, while you might not excel at anything, I thought you’d at least be able to look after your child."

"Brody’s never been this sick. Not everyone is blessed with maternal instincts."

I clenched my fists so tightly my nails dug into my palms. Cassian's weak voice echoed in my mind.

"Mommy, I didn’t break the vase. Brody pushed me, and I fell into it..."

"Mommy, the grave is cold. I’m scared..."

"Mommy, I want to go home..."

Ahmir suddenly reached to pick up Cassian. "The child's condition is serious. He needs to go to a better hospital!"

"This place can’t possibly treat him properly!"

I jumped forward, shoving him away with all my strength. "Don’t touch my son! Where are you planning to take him?"

I screamed hysterically, my whole body shaking as I blocked the bed. "My son is my responsibility! I’m the one who decides if I’ll send him to a better hospital!"

Ahmir’s eyes were ablaze with fury, incensed at being repeatedly opposed. "You’re insane! Do you want to harm my son or destroy our father-son relationship?"

"Relationship?" I sneered, my voice strained through clenched teeth. "You may share blood, but when have you ever acted like a father?"

"What have you given Cassian besides a last name? You nearly caused his death yourself!"

Ruth stepped up, her smile intact, trying to diffuse the situation. "Gabriela, calm down. The child is still sick."

"Ahmir, he shouldn’t be moved while he's in this state. We can think about transferring him later."

She coaxed him, tugging at his sleeve in a mockingly playful manner. Ahmir’s chest heaved as he kept his glare fixed on me.