But I was no longer that foolish girl who once revolved my world around Logan. I'd found someone who truly loves me.

Not wanting to see them another second, I dialed my favorite contact.

"Hi, honey. I'm tired of shopping. Please have the driver pick us up."

Logan frowned, his gaze sweeping over me from head to toe.

"You have a driver? These days, anyone who calls a ride thinks they can call it a driver?"

I glanced toward the familiar luxury car parked outside.

"My ride's here."

I pressed the remote and the headlights blinked on.

His eyes narrowed, his voice dripping with disdain.

"Didn't think you'd still be so vain. Back then, you clung to me like your life depended on it. Now you're nothing but a used woman, still dreaming of marrying into money. I'm not getting back together with a gold-digger like you. But Lily is my child, so I'm taking her."

He reached for my son again. My son's face stayed cool as he stepped behind me.

"Mom, I don't want to go with this strange guy."

Logan's expression darkened.

"Don't you want to claim your heritage, Lily? Keep acting this rude and you'll be stuck with your poor mother, laboring away for life. Now get over here!"

"My mom and dad are great. I'm not going with you. You're a bad man! Go away!"

My son, just like his biological father, wasn't the type to be cowed by a few harsh words. If anything, he stood even firmer by me.

Logan gave a short, cold laugh. "Fine. Keep mouthing off. When you're on your knees at my door, begging to be taken in, it'll be too late."

Then, looking at my son, he sneered.

"Sharp tongue, poor looks. Didn't inherit a bit of my good genes."

The moment he left, a driver in the same model car pulled up. My husband's messages came through.

[Honey, I'll have the driver take you and Caleb to the restaurant. I'll be late. Have a work meeting. You must be tired after shopping today. Next time, I'm skipping any business dinners that don't involve you. I miss you.]

When I reached the entrance of Moonview Restaurant, Logan happened to pull up at the same time. He had his arm around Joann's waist and gave me a sidelong glance.

"Trying to land yourself a rich husband here? Moonview is the most exclusive restaurant in the city. Not every random person off the street gets in."

The host blocked me with a look of open contempt.

"You there. Do you have no shame at all, coming here with your kid to seduce our clients? And dressed like that? If it weren't for the Rice Group's staff having manners, someone like you would've been thrown out already. What an eyesore."

His words made my face tighten.

"I have a reservation. Private room 888."

"888 is reserved for Mr. Shenton, liar. Do everyone a favor and take a look in the mirror. What a pathetic woman."

The host humiliated me in front of everyone. But when Joann walked over, his face transformed into a flattering smile. "Miss Walter, please come in. Your private room is ready. Please enjoy your meal."

She waved a hand and didn't go in. Instead, she rested it lightly on my shoulder.

"Bella, you may not be qualified to eat here, but this establishment falls under the Rice Group. If you ask nicely, I could arrange for you to work as a waitress.

"Our servers earn at least sixty dollars a day, excluding tips. Isn't that better than putting on airs here and making a fool of yourself? So? Have you decided how you're going to beg me?"

"Don't bully my mom!" My son stepped in front of me, his face serious and unyielding.

Logan hesitated as he looked at Caleb. "For Lily's sake, I'll let you in this time. But you're not to see Lily again. You're a bad influence."

"No need. I can get in myself."

Humiliated, Logan grabbed my wrist. "Don't you dare push your luck! What's with this fake coy act? You climbed into my bed just so you could marry me! Now that I've worn you out, you want to play the virtuous lady?"

I yanked my hand back and fixed him with a cold glare. "Logan, does slandering others make you that happy? I must have been blind to have ever fallen for you. But that doesn't mean I'm still blind and foolish now."

The whispers around us grew louder. Fingers pointed in my direction, as if I were the shameless mistress who had wrecked someone else's relationship.

Seeing my son still standing protectively in front of me, and knowing my husband, Nick Shenton, had yet to arrive, I ended the confrontation.

Taking Caleb's hand, I walked out. The restaurant was right on the riverside.

"Mom, I'm thirsty."

I smoothed my emotions and tapped him gently on the forehead. "Then Mom will go buy you some water. Sit here and don't move, alright? If anything happens, call me right away."

I kept glancing back at him as I walked, only taking out my phone when it was time to pay.

Suddenly, a sharp scream split the air. I spun around. Joann was shoving my son with all her strength!

I bolted toward them. The moment she saw me, Joann gave a vicious push, sending my son tumbling into the river, then slipped and fell in herself.

Without thinking, I dove straight into the water after him.

"Help me, Logan! Bella is trying to kill me!" Joann cried.

Without hesitation, Logan jumped into the river and rescued Joann. He wrapped his arms around her soaking frame, his face full of distress, and when I reached the bank, he viciously kicked me back into the river.

"Joann has been nothing but kind to you, and you try to kill her? You're downright vicious! Lily has become the way she is because of you. She's nothing like me!"

His boot struck me again and again as I clung to my son, coughing and choking on water.

I glared up at him, my eyes burning. "He's not Lily. He's Nick Shenton's son. If you don't back off now, Nick will destroy you!"

Caleb clung to me, crying. "You're a monster! Leave my mom alone! I'm not yours—go away!"

Logan sneered and ordered his men to drag us ashore.

"You think Nick Shenton would ever claim a cheap woman like you?" He sneered. "Fine. Let's see how much he cares when he sees you like this."

They hauled us into the kitchen, where the manager shoved us to the floor. "So you're the one harassing Mrs. Rice on our property? And you have the nerve to call yourself Mrs. Shenton?

"Mr. Shenton worships his wife. You think gutter trash like you belongs in his bed?" He barked at the staff, "Beat her—make it hurt. Then dump her in Mr. Shenton's private room. He'll pay well for the entertainment."

Joann's eyes gleamed when she spotted the tank of live Australian lobsters. "Look how filthy they are. Wouldn't want to offend Mr. Shenton's eyes, would we? Toss them in—let the lobsters clean them up."

The manager gagged Caleb and bound his wrists before hurling us into the tank. The enraged crustaceans struck instantly, their claws slicing into Caleb's skin.

I held him tight, my eyes blazing as the massive pincers ripped our flesh until the water turned a faint shade of red.

Just as I was on the brink of blacking out from blood loss, the familiar growl of an engine echoed outside.

Nick stepped out of the car, casually dismissing Logan's flattering text message before lifting his head with a faint grunt.

At that moment, my son bit through the gag and screamed, tears streaming down his face.

"Daddy! Save Mom!"