Chapter 5

“Seraphina, I’m tired.” I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. “Since you two aren’t leaving, I will.”

“Anyway, you’ve been wanting to replace your husband, haven’t you? I might as well clear the spot for you!”

*Slap!*

A stinging slap landed on my face. Seraphina’s eyes were red. “Liam, what nonsense are you spewing? Jaxon and I are just ordinary brother and sister!”

“Don’t use your filthy mind to speculate about us, to tarnish my and Jaxon’s innocence!”

I covered my stinging face. My anger faded, replaced by overwhelming disappointment.

This was the second time Seraphina had hit me. The first was when I’d impulsively said I wanted to break up. This second time was for Jaxon.

“Aren’t you leaving?”

Seraphina shoved me hard, pushing me out of the house. Along with me came a pile of my clothes and shoes.

“Take your disgusting things with you! Go wherever you want, die for all I care!”

“Oh, and by the way, remember to return the dog before you die!”

The door slammed shut mercilessly. I stood in the dim hallway, bending down to silently pick up my belongings. Then I went to the institution and retrieved the shares my mother had left me.

I looked at the thick stack of documents, my shoulders trembling.

These were my mother’s last possessions. They were her final protection, earned through years of frugality and sacrifice.

“Mr. Turner, Hayes Industries claims to have made a breakthrough in brain death recovery and can offer your mother free treatment. The condition is that you join their group with your shares.”

I knew Hayes Industries. A new pharmaceutical company, a fierce rival of Seraphina’s company. But because of their limited resources, they’d always been suppressed.

“Okay.”

I pondered for a moment, then signed the contract.

That same evening, I transferred my mother to the city’s top hospital. At the same time, I prepared the divorce papers.