The next second, the boy collapsed to the floor.

His body was burning with fever.

Panicked, I shouted toward the house, telling someone to call an ambulance. Seth saw us, stood up, and walked over.

Without warning, he yanked the boy up and threw him down hard.

“What are you doing?!” I froze in shock.

Seth curled his lips into a cruel smile.

“How can such a filthy kid be allowed in our home?”

He kicked the boy several times and raised his hand, ready to strike him.

I grabbed his arm in disbelief. “Seth! How can you bully someone so helpless?!”

Seth’s expression twisted. He shook me off forcefully.

“You don’t get to teach me anything! You’re not even my real mother!” he yelled.

My heart sank. I knew I hadn’t been around for him enough, but I never had a choice.

Still furious, Seth tried to kick the boy again.

I couldn’t hold back anymore—I slapped him.

The sound echoed across the living room.

Garry stormed in to scold me, and Natasha rushed over to check on Seth.

“Jane! How dare you hit your own son for the sake of someone else!” she snapped.

My hands trembled as I stood frozen, stunned by what I had done.

Seth glared at me with hatred. Seeing me still shielding the injured boy, he suddenly grabbed the fruit knife from the table.

“Go to hell!” he screamed.

The blade plunged into the boy’s body multiple times.

Blood quickly spread across the floor.

I gasped, paralyzed for a moment, then shoved Seth away.

As the bleeding worsened, I turned to Garry in desperation. “Drive us to the hospital—now!”

He scowled. “Let that little beast die! But how could you hit Seth like that?”

Clenching my jaw, I lifted the boy into my arms and ran out the door.

I sprinted nonstop until I found a car willing to help.

Thankfully, the hospital wasn’t far. Watching the boy being rushed into emergency, my knees gave out.

Moments later, the doctor emerged with a grim look. “The child’s lost a dangerous amount of blood. He needs a transfusion immediately.”

When he mentioned the blood type, I froze.

It was the same as mine.

A wild, impossible thought struck me.

Later, I returned home in a daze, clutching the paternity test results in my hand—only to hear laughter from behind the door.

“Seth, you did great,” Natasha said, kissing his forehead. “That little beast deserved to die.”

“Honey, what if Jane finds out the boy is actually hers? If she stops giving us money, then what?”

“Let’s not tell her yet,” Garry said coldly. “Her bank card was nearly empty last time—she must be hiding funds. Once we get it all, we’ll throw her and that brat out.”

I stood outside, frozen as if lightning had struck me.

Every muscle is locked. My blood turned to ice.

Then I flung the door open.

Like a madwoman, I rushed to Seth and yanked up his sleeve.

His arm was smooth—unmarked.

Tears streamed down my face. I collapsed in sobs.

“Garry! That’s your real son! He was dying! How could you be so heartless? How could you lie to me?”

Garry scoffed.

“What son of mine? I only have one child—Seth,” he said coldly.

Natasha chimed in mockingly. “You think that boy’s yours? He’s obviously the nanny’s kid!”

Still crying, I handed Garry the paternity test, but he tossed it aside without even looking.

Natasha picked it up instead and let out a theatrical gasp.

“Oh my god, Jane! Don’t tell me—you had a child with another man behind Garry’s back?”

Garry believed Natasha’s lies and began questioning the origin of the child we raised together.

Back then, we met at a university banquet, and after getting drunk, he barged into my room.

I was terrified at first, but when I saw it was him, I calmed down—because Garry was the boy I had secretly loved for three years.

Though he remembered nothing about that night the next morning, I assumed that would be the end of whatever happened between us.

But I got pregnant unexpectedly, and when Garry found out, he came to me and proposed.

We raised the child together, and with deep affection, we named him Seth…

I sobbed uncontrollably, unable to understand why Garry, knowing everything, was still so easily swayed by Natasha.

He acted as though he’d been deeply betrayed.

I laughed bitterly, finally seeing Garry’s true nature.

He thought I was challenging his authority as a man and ordered the bodyguard to tie me up.

“Jane, you only have one child—Seth. He’s starting school soon and needs money. How much do you have? Give it to me!”

I refused. Then Natasha stepped forward, grabbed my face, and slapped me hard.

My cheek swelled instantly, but I didn’t give in—I bit her hand with all my strength.

She screamed as blood dripped from her fingers.

“You still won’t talk? Then you can feed the sharks with that little beast in the hospital!”

Garry laughed and ordered the bodyguard to go fetch the child. I am truly terrified now.

I clung to the bodyguard’s pant leg, trying to stop him from leaving.

Garry responded by stomping on my hand.

My scream echoed through the house once again.

The bodyguard still left. Watching him disappear, sobs broke free from my chest.

“Take her away and lock her up!”

Garry stared at me with disgust and waved for them to drag me off.

They threw me into a small room with no lights—the bulbs were all broken.

I remembered telling Garry once that I feared the dark more than anything.

He smiled at me then and said,

“Don’t worry, I’m here. I’ll always leave a light on for you.”

But those words meant nothing now. Garry had long since forgotten everything we once shared.

No matter how hard I shouted or banged on the door, he ignored me.

Finally, when my voice was hoarse, the door opened.

I thought Garry had come to set me free, but instead—

“Seth!” I cried when I saw the child being dragged from the hospital. My heart shattered.

I rushed over and snatched him into my arms.

Garry looked pleased. “Let this little bastard reunite with you. Happy now?”

Seeing Seth still on the verge of death, I panicked.

“Where’s the money?” Garry demanded, blocking the doorway.

Tears filled my eyes as I stared at him.

I couldn’t understand why money meant so much to him—enough to ignore a dying child.

“All my money is in my phone! How much do you want? Check it yourself!”

I screamed and threw the phone away from me.

Garry’s eyes widened slightly with excitement.

In the pitch-dark room, it was hard to find. He ordered everyone to search immediately.

Seizing the chance, I ran. Holding Seth tightly, I dashed out.

I didn’t stop running.

I only collapsed when my legs gave out completely.

But before I could catch my breath, Garry and his men caught up with me.

“How dare you lie to me!” he shouted. “Natasha said there’s no money in your account!”

The bodyguards pinned me down again.

Enraged, Garry ordered them to drag us to the nearest shark pool.

“I told you to hand over the money! Since you won’t, I’ll feed that bastard to the sharks!”

I stared at him, horrified. “No! There’s money in there—Garry, I’ll show you! Please!”

But his face was dark with rage. He was convinced I’d lied to him again and again.

This time, he wasn’t going to back down.

He tied both Seth and me beside the shark tank. Below us, sharks thrashed in the water, jaws gaping, ready for the feast.

I was beyond terrified. I cried, pleaded, begged—but Garry wouldn’t listen.

Someone held me down so I couldn’t move.

Garry stared coldly. Then, without hesitation, he picked up Seth, ready to throw him in.

“No!” I screamed, closing my eyes as despair consumed me.