Chapter 4

She leaned in and whispered a secret about Rachel Hayes, Leo's mother.

I felt like I'd been struck by lightning, trembling uncontrollably.

I choked, hugging her, barely able to utter a complete sentence.

"Thank you for saving me and my baby..."

That night, the baby suddenly started running a fever, his tiny face sickly pale.

I stumbled downstairs, holding the child, only to find the living room filled with guests.

All eyes turned to me.

Leo's face was dark. He raised a hand and called Jenkins.

"Lock her up."

I walked straight to him.

"Leo, I want a divorce."

Leo raised his eyebrows, looking me up and down, his gaze settling on the baby in my arms.

I clutched the baby tightly, looking at him warily.

"Leo, I told you I'm innocent. I can prove it to you, I really..."

Leo yanked my hair, forcing my mouth open.

The lit cigar in his hand seared my throat, rendering me unable to speak another word.

He looked at me coldly.

"Anya, you're doing this on purpose, aren't you? You know tonight is the gala where Willow and I announce the partnership between the Hayes and Reed families, and you're here to stir up trouble with the baby again?"

I shook my head repeatedly, desperately trying to explain.

"No."

He chuckled.

"This bastard won't last much longer, and you want to take him to the hospital, do you?"

He snatched the child from me and threw me into the crowd.

"These guests here are all executives from companies that cut ties with us because of the scandal you caused. If you can get them to forgive you, I'll let you take this bastard to the hospital."

I trembled, kneeling on the ground, looking pleadingly at the people whose faces were etched with disdain.

Leo's friend scoffed.

"An apology needs sincerity, right? How about she gets on her knees and crawls around like a dog? Crawling in circles isn't enough, though. Why doesn't she crawl under a few of the executives' legs?"

Leo scoffed, tossing a divorce agreement onto the floor, his voice laced with mockery.

"Anya, if you crawl, I'll let you and this bastard go to the hospital."

I trembled, gazing deeply at the baby clutched in Leo's hand.

I lowered my head, my raw throat squeezing out a pathetic, ugly sound.

"Woof."

I numbly began crawling towards the man closest to me.

Leo's grip on the baby's blanket gradually tightened, the baby's faint cries tearing at my heart.

I frantically sped up my crawling.

"Enough." Leo threw the blanket bundle at me. "So disgusting."

I trembled, holding the baby, and tried to walk out, but a maid blocked my way.

Leo sneered.

"I've changed my mind."

I screamed, trying to lunge forward, but the maid held me back.

I could only watch, numb, as he carried Willow up the stairs.

A bolder guest dared to ask, "Mr. Hayes...and your wife?"

Leo drawled, "She's all yours."

I fought, screaming, clawing at the hands that grabbed me. They just laughed, hauling me deeper into the crowd.

"Cooperate, bitch, and we'll get this bastard to a hospital. Make trouble, and we'll put it out of its misery. Save Mr. Hayes the trouble."

I gave up all resistance in despair.

I don't know how long passed before a shrill scream cut through the noise.

"Someone's dead..."