However, Xavier had already raised the cleaver. Without hesitation, he brought it down on Lucas’s right leg.

“Ah!”

I screamed, my voice sharp with terror.

I could only watch as the blade sliced through Lucas’s flesh, cutting straight through bone. Blood splattered everywhere.

The pain was too much. He didn’t even have time to cry out before his small body went limp. He passed out instantly.

I stared in shock, frozen, my heart feeling as if it had been slashed open, the agony spreading through every inch of my body.

It hurt. It hurt so much. So, so much.

But Xavier acted as if he saw none of it. He gripped the cleaver again and aimed at Lucas’s other leg.

Only when both legs were severed did he finally stop. He wiped the blood off his hands and quickly wrapped Lucas’s wounds with a bandage.

When he looked up at me, his expression softened with guilt.

“Summer, I know this isn’t fair to you or to our son. But I just… I can’t let anything happen to Wendy.

“Don’t worry. Once she’s safe, I’ll make it up to you.”

“Make it up to me?”

I tried to move toward Lucas, to hold him in my arms. But I hesitated, afraid of making his injuries worse.

Instead, I turned to Xavier, my voice laced with bitter mockery.

“You can’t let anything happen to Wendy? Then why don’t you just die with her?

“If she means that much to you, why did you marry me?”

For a brief moment, guilt flickered in his eyes. But it disappeared as quickly as it came.

He sighed impatiently. “Enough!

“It’s just a child. If you’re that upset, we can have another one.

“But Wendy is different. I can't just stand by and let something happen to her.”

I stood up and ran to the kitchen. Desperately, I grabbed some ice and packed Lucas’s severed legs, trying to preserve them.

The sight of all that blood only made my anger sharper.

“Right. You can’t let anything happen to her,” I spat. “So you decided my son had to be sacrificed instead.

“Xavier Smith, you’re truly something else.”

He was about to lose his temper but hesitated, recalling what he had just done. Instead, he glanced at me and apologized.

“Summer, I know this has been hard for you,” he said, his voice softening. “But trust me, I’ll make it up to you and Lucas.

“You always wanted a proper wedding, didn’t you? Once Wendy is safe, we’ll do it. We’ll have the ceremony, and you’ll officially be Mrs. Smith. No one will ever dare to disrespect you again.”

I laughed.

A cold, hollow laugh.

I met his gaze, my voice steady, my words sharp as a blade.

“Xavier Smith, no one has ever disrespected me. No one except you.

“And I don’t need your so-called compensation. Because from this moment on, we’re done.

“Let's break up.”

His expression darkened instantly. His grip on my arm tightened, his fingers pressing painfully into my skin.

“Summer Carter!”

His brows furrowed, disbelief flashing in his eyes. But after a moment, he let go of my arm and stepped back.

His voice was low, cold. “I know you’re upset. I’ll let it slide this time.

“But remember—my patience has its limits. Say this again, and we really will be over.”

With that, he grabbed the memory card from the camera and walked toward the living room.

Every second counted. He couldn’t afford to be late. Not when Wendy was in danger.

I watched his retreating figure, my heart hollow. Then I grabbed my phone and called for an ambulance.

...

Xavier and I met in college.

During my freshman year, I barely had enough money for tuition. For days, I survived on nothing but a single slice of bread.

One day, I passed out from low blood sugar. Xavier was the one who caught me.

He told me he had fallen for me at first sight, that he had been secretly watching me for a long time. He said he had known me for a while.

Then he asked me to give him a chance.

I was moved by his sincerity. When I said yes, his eyes lit up like stars in the night sky, shining with pure joy.

But after we got together, I started to see the truth.

He loved me but he loved Wendy more.

One phone call from her, and he would leave without hesitation.

He would always take her side.

Even on our wedding day, the moment Wendy showed up, it was like nothing else mattered to him.

He locked me alone in the dressing room.

Outside, snow fell endlessly.

Inside, I stood in a thin wedding dress, shivering in a room with no heat for hours.

But all he said afterward was, “Wendy has always been frail. What’s a little patience from you?”

He claimed he didn’t know who had turned off the heat.

But he knew one thing—he and Wendy had grown up together.

And that was enough for him. Enough to protect her at all costs.

Just like now.

All it took was a letter from Wendy, and he was willing to sever his own son’s legs.

But had Wendy even been kidnapped?

He didn’t know. He didn’t care to know.

All he knew was that he couldn’t let her get hurt.

No matter the price.

But why?

Why did my son have to be the one to pay that price?

Why did he have to lose his legs—maybe even his life—just so they could be together?

Xavier knew.

He knew I had always wanted a family.

A home. A child of my own.

And still, he did this.

After hours of emergency surgery, Lucas was finally saved.

He spent three days in the ICU before being moved to a regular ward.

During that time, Xavier never called—not even once. I didn’t care.

All I could hear were the doctor’s words, echoing in my mind.

“The surgery was successful, but there are a lot of nerves in the legs. Healing won’t happen overnight.

“He’ll likely need long-term rehabilitation. As his parents, you’ll need to be prepared.”

Hope flared in me. “Will he be able to walk again?” I asked immediately.

The doctor hesitated, his expression heavy with uncertainty.

“It will be… very difficult. But if the recovery goes well, there’s a chance.”

His words crushed whatever little hope I had left.

But when I looked at Lucas lying in that hospital bed, pale and fragile, I refused to give up.

From the beginning, all I ever wanted was for him to grow up safe and happy. Even if he would never be like other children, he was still my most precious boy.

Just then, the hospital room door swung open.

Xavier walked in with Wendy right beside him.

The moment our eyes met, Wendy smiled smugly. Without a trace of guilt, she spoke as if nothing had happened.

“Summer, how’s Lucas doing?”

Xavier, as if sensing the tension, walked straight to me. His expression was full of regret as he looked at Lucas, lying pale and lifeless in bed.

His voice was heavy with guilt. “Summer, I’m sorry. I failed you both.

“I’ve already covered the medical expenses. Don’t worry, I’ll make it up to you and Lucas.”

He turned to Wendy, and without missing a beat, she stepped forward and placed a fruit basket on the bedside table. Her eyes, filled with mockery, met mine.

“Thank you, Summer. And thank you, Lucas, for sacrificing so much for me. I’ll never forget your kindness.”

I let out a cold laugh. Stepping in front of Lucas, I blocked them from even looking at him.

My voice was ice. “Wendy, were you actually kidnapped? Or was this just another one of your little performances? You, of all people, know the truth.

“You didn’t come here to see Lucas. You just wanted to rub it in my face that Xavier chose you.”

Wendy’s face paled. She immediately shrank behind Xavier, her expression pitiful.

“Xavier, I didn’t—"

Xavier pulled her into his arms without hesitation, stroking her hair as if comforting a frightened child. Then, he turned to me, eyes burning with anger.

“Summer, I know you hate me, but Wendy is innocent. She’s been through so much, yet she still came to check on Lucas.

“You don’t have to be grateful, but at least don’t be so cruel.”

I laughed. A bitter, hollow sound.

He wanted me to believe Wendy was innocent?

Just days ago, she had come to me, looking down at me with disdain, her voice dripping with arrogance.

“Summer Carter, so what if you had his child? Do you really think that matters? One word from me, and your son won’t live to see another day.”

I had ignored her then, thinking she wasn’t worth my time.

But now, I realized the joke was on me.

I grabbed the fruit basket and threw it onto the floor. Then, without hesitation, I hurled the baby bottle in my hand at Wendy.

She let out a cry of pain and immediately hid behind Xavier.

“Xavier, I’m scared…”

Xavier quickly pulled her behind him, kicking the broken glass aside. His face darkened with fury.

“Summer Carter, are you insane?

“Wendy was scared enough as it is, yet she still came to see you first. And this is how you treat her?

“I get that you and Lucas have suffered, and I told you I’d make it up to you. So why are you acting so unreasonable?”

I looked at him, my heart devoid of emotion.

“Unreasonable? She came to ‘see me’ and brought mangoes.

“Xavier, have you forgotten? I’m allergic to mangoes.”

Xavier froze. For the first time, doubt flickered across his face.

Guilt flashed in his eyes, but he still forced himself to speak.

“Even so, that doesn’t mean you can throw things at Wendy. She’s innocent.

“I’ll let this go this time. But if you keep acting like this, we’re getting a divorce.”

I let out another cold laugh and cut him off before he could say more.

“Divorce? We never even registered our marriage, Xavier.”

“Xavier, consider this your official notice—we're done. For good.”