When Emery walked into the room, Jaxon didn’t even bother to look up. Instead, he simply turned the volume of his game up louder.

Calla smiled, her expression playful but taunting. She reached out to pat Jaxon on the shoulder. “Jaxon, your mom’s here. Don’t be rude. Have you forgotten everything Auntie Calla taught you?”

Immediately, Jaxon dropped his tablet, his face shifting into the obedient expression he knew was expected.

It was a deliberate move from Calla, pushing Emery to the sidelines and making her feel like a stranger in the room.

A wave of regret washed over Emery. With both Jaxon and Elliot so cold and indifferent, she wondered why she had bothered to come at all.

Placing the container of chicken soup on the table, Emery spoke, her voice flat. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll leave.”

Her detachment only seemed to fuel Jaxon’s anger.

He jumped off the bed in a flash. “I don’t want your soup!”

His face flushed with frustration, leaving Emery momentarily speechless.

She had always taken such care of Jaxon. Since he was three, she had made it her mission to prepare nourishing soups for him every week. She’d adjusted recipes, added extra ingredients and even continued the ritual when she was sick herself.

But now, the little boy who used to smile and say, “Mommy’s the best!” after finishing his soup was gone. How had he turned into this ungrateful child?

Seeing Jaxon’s outburst, Calla quickly grabbed the thermos with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Well, since Jaxon doesn’t want it, Miss Carter can take it back. He’s not feeling well, after all. It’s only natural for children to be a little temperamental at times.”

She added, as if to ease the tension, “Don’t worry, Jaxon just had the Fish Tacos I made. I made sure he wouldn’t go hungry.”

Fish Tacos? The words hit Emery like a cold slap. Her gaze flicked to the empty bowl on the table and a chill ran through her.

Jaxon had always despised fish. The mere scent of it had been enough to send him running for the door. For years, Emery had never once served fish at the dinner table, even though it had been one of her favorites, all to avoid upsetting him.

Yet here he was, eating Fish Tacos made by Calla.

Emery’s mind raced. Was it the fish Jaxon hated, or had it always been her, the mother who had sacrificed so much for him?

Sensing the shift in the air, Calla pushed the thermos toward Emery again, her gesture seemingly innocent. But as Emery reached for it, Calla let go of the thermos too soon.

It tumbled to the floor, spilling the hot soup with a violent splash. Emery instinctively recoiled, narrowly avoiding the scalding liquid.

Calla didn’t miss a beat; her voice was smooth but biting. “Miss Carter, there was really no need to let go so suddenly, was there? If you didn’t want it, you could have just said so.”

Jaxon immediately sprang to his feet, his small body blocking Calla like a fierce little protector. “Don’t bully Auntie Calla! If you keep doing that, I’ll tell Daddy to divorce you!”

The word divorce fell from his lips with a surprising force and Calla couldn’t hide the smirk that tugged at her mouth.

Emery didn’t even flinch at the spectacle. She knew the game Calla played all too well and had no interest in being part of it. Without a word, she turned and walked out of the ward, her steps steady, refusing to look back.

But Calla, never one to let an opportunity slip, followed her into the corridor. She blocked Emery’s path with a sly smile.

“Seeing Mr. Carter and Jaxon both on my side must sting, doesn’t it? A smart woman knows when to let go. Clinging to the title of Mrs. Carter isn’t always as glamorous as it seems.”

She leaned in, voice dripping with malice. “Let me tell you something. I knew Jaxon was allergic to mangoes. I just wanted to see if Mr. Carter would blame me for something so trivial.”

The words hit Emery like a slap in the face. She couldn’t believe Calla would go so far as to risk a child’s health to test Elliot’s loyalty. Her composure, always so steady, shattered in an instant. Without thinking, she slapped Calla across the face, the sound ringing in the quiet hall.

“Do you know a severe allergic reaction could be fatal?! A human life isn’t a game to play with!”

Calla’s eyes widened, shock flickering across her face. “What’s wrong with you?!”

Before Emery could say another word, Elliot’s enraged voice echoed through the corridor, booming like thunder. “What’s going on here?”

He stormed toward them, his arrival timed to perfection, as always.

“Delilah said you were at the hospital. I thought you were here worrying about Jaxon, but it turns out you’re just playing your little game behind my back!”

Calla instantly covered her face, her body collapsing into Elliot’s arms, the picture of someone wronged. “Mr. Carter, I’m sorry about Jaxon. I never meant to cause any harm. If Emery’s upset, I’ll resign right now. Whatever it takes…”

Elliot’s hand patted Calla’s back in a gentle gesture of comfort. “The one who owes an apology isn’t you.”

He turned his frosty gaze toward Emery. “After all these years, is jealousy all you’ve learned? Apologize to Calla.”

Apologize? To someone who had nearly cost Jaxon his life?

Emery’s chest tightened and her teeth ground together. “I’ll never apologize. Do you even understand why Jaxon had an allergic reaction—”

Before she could finish, Elliot cut her off sharply, “Calla already said it wasn’t intentional and Jaxon’s fine now. Are you seriously asking her to pay for it with her life?”

Even though Emery had expected this exact betrayal, the sharp pain in her chest still cut deeper than she cared to admit. She hadn’t even been given a chance to explain.

Calla lifted her head from Elliot’s embrace, putting on her best-distressed expression. “It’s alright, Mr. Carter. Emery only acted out of concern. We don’t want to upset Jaxon anymore.”

Elliot’s features softened at her words as though someone had just turned the lights on in a dark room. “Alright, we’ll do as Calla says.”

But his gaze turned cold the moment it landed on Emery. “As for you, I think it’s time you reflect on your behavior.”

Without another word, he took Calla’s hand and led her back into the ward, leaving Emery standing there, her heart heavy.

As she watched them walk away, the storm in her chest finally broke. She turned, desperate to escape, but the crowd surged around her. The next thing she knew, she was stumbling down the steps, unable to stop herself, her knees scraping against the concrete as she fell. Her hands and legs burned with the sting of the impact, but all she could feel was the overwhelming ache of everything she’d lost.

A passerby rushed forward, his voice filled with concern. “Let me help you get treated.”

Emery waved him off weakly, her hand trembling. “No, I’m fine.”

The pain in her body was nothing compared to the turmoil in her heart.

Dazed and lost, she stumbled toward the parking lot, her mind foggy, when suddenly she collided with a warm, steady embrace.

She looked up, meeting Landon Kingston’s gaze. His eyes were dark with unspoken pain, the kind that only those who had been through their own suffering could recognize.

“This is how Elliot takes care of you?” he asked, his voice thick with anger.

Without waiting for an answer, Landon reached out as if to lift her but then hesitated, unsure what would make her feel more at ease. Instead, he moved quickly to get a wheelchair and wheeled her toward the emergency room.

The nurse was efficient, cleaning her wounds quickly and with practiced hands. “No bone damage, thankfully, but the wounds are deep. Take it easy for now. Keep them dry to avoid infection.”

Emery was barely aware of the words being said, as though she were behind a thick, invisible glass wall detached from everything. She nodded mechanically. “Thank you. And thank you too, Landon.”

Her voice was barely a whisper, drained of all its usual strength. Landon held back the words that burned in his throat but finally managed to speak. “I’ll take you home.”

Sitting in Landon’s car, Emery slowly began to collect herself. The events of the day seemed to swirl around her, but she forced herself to focus on the present. Glancing over at Landon, who sat calm and composed behind the wheel, she couldn’t help but speak. “You don’t have to stay, Landon. Go back to work. I’m fine on my own.”

Landon’s gaze flicked toward her, steady and unwavering, before he handed her a divorce agreement. “I came to deliver this. Your phone was unreachable and the housekeeper at the Carter estate said you were at the hospital.”

Only then did Emery notice the missed calls piling up on her phone. A wave of guilt washed over her and she muttered an apology. “I’m sorry, Landon. Things have just been so overwhelming lately.”

Landon shook his head, his voice calm and reassuring. “It’s nothing, just delivering a document.”

His gaze lingered on Emery’s injuries, but his thoughts seemed to wander elsewhere. Deep down, he was thankful he had come today.

Back in their university days in the US, Landon had been a step ahead of Emery. He had already secured a place in the graduate program at Evergreen University while she had just begun her studies. Though they shared the same passion for debate, their paths hadn’t crossed much.

It wasn’t until much later, when Landon returned to the US as a lawyer, that they reconnected. He brought her news of her biological mother, a revelation that brought them closer.

Emery sat in silence, lost in thought, as they made their way to the Carter house.

When they arrived, Landon was taken aback by the emptiness of the sprawling estate.

Noticing his confusion, Emery shrugged lightly. “Elliot doesn’t like having people around. The housekeepers don’t stay overnight.”

Her voice was casual, but there was a flicker of something in her tone that made Landon feel a pang of sympathy.

Once he made sure she was settled in, he left to get some food.

When he returned with a table laden with Grilled Grouper with Wild Rice Pilaf and a box of butterfly pastries, Emery couldn’t help but feel a little embarrassed. “Thank you for all your trouble today, Landon. Once I’ve sorted things out, I’ll treat you to a proper meal.”

Landon smiled gently, pouring her a glass of warm water. “I’ll hold you to that. I still have work, so I’ll head back. But if you need anything, call me. If you’re feeling uneasy, I can ask Nathaniel to stay with you.”

Emery blinked in surprise. She hadn’t expected Landon to remember her timid nature from their university days. The thought brought a soft, nostalgic smile to her face.

“Don’t worry, Landon. I’m not a kid anymore.”

The timid girl Elliot had once known was long gone, buried under the weight of years of hardship.

As Landon disappeared from view, Emery sat down on the sofa, her mind still reeling from the conversation. She absentmindedly flipped through the divorce agreement while taking small bites of food.

There was no need to fight for custody of Jaxon nor any desire to claim any of Elliot’s wealth. The Carter Family had raised her and for that, she was thankful.

Just as she neared the end of the document, the sudden sound of a door creaking open shattered her focus. She looked up, startled to see Elliot standing in the doorway, his expression thunderous.

Her voice caught in surprise. “What are you doing back?”

Elliot slammed the door behind him, his stride purposeful and furious as he advanced toward her. “Was it Landon who brought you back? Emery, can you really not live without a man?”

“If I hadn’t come back for some files, I would never have known you were involved with him too.”

In a fit of rage, Elliot grabbed her face, his grip fierce. “First, it was that student you sponsored. Now it’s Landon. How many other men are you hiding from me?”

Emery didn’t flinch. Instead, she opened her mouth and sank her teeth into the base of his thumb, the sharp taste of blood filling her mouth as his grip loosened.

Her voice was low, raw. “The charity work was your mother’s trust. I’ve only met that student once. Why are you so determined to suspect me? If you don’t believe me, hire a private investigator.”

Elliot’s lips curled in a mocking sneer. “Still in denial, huh? Do you think I don’t have proof, Emery? I had Calla investigate you long ago.”

The mention of Calla’s name sent a cold shock through Emery. Suddenly, everything she hadn’t understood before began to click into place.

Elliot’s eyes then caught the divorce agreement on the sofa. His expression twisted into something ugly. “Oh, Landon the Great Lawyer, giving up criminal cases just to draft your divorce papers? It must’ve cost a fortune, huh? Or maybe... how many times did you sleep with him to get these papers?”

“Emery, you’re despicable.”

Looking at Elliot’s disheveled, menacing figure, Emery felt completely drained. The man she had once known, the one who trusted her without question, was long gone. Only the remnants of her painful past remained, a haunting shadow she couldn’t escape.

Every word he spoke pierced her like a sharp blade, leaving her soul raw and bleeding.

At that moment, she felt no desire to argue. With a heavy heart, she picked up the pen from the table and handed it to him. “Let’s divorce, Elliot. Just let me go.”

Her eyes, cold and unyielding, sent a chill through him, but his fury flared, overtaking any sense of reason.

He leaned in, pinning her beneath him and grabbed her wrists with brutal force. “Since you’re willing to trade yourself for everything else, why not see how far you’ll go to get me to sign this?”