I didn't miss Robert in the slightest. I wanted nothing more than for him to disappear from my life at that moment. "Get out of the way; otherwise, I'll call the police!"

Just then, Anson suddenly bit down on Claire's wrist, causing her to yelp in pain and let go. He rushed back to my side, spread his arms wide, and stood squarely between Robert and me. "You're a bad man! You're not allowed to bully Mommy!"

Claire clutched her wrist and immediately broke down in tears. "I know Winona is angry with me because I was with you back then, but that child is innocent, Robert. I'm sure Winona has been teaching him not to recognize us; otherwise, that child couldn't possibly treat me like this."

That sentence completely set Robert off in rage. He rushed forward, seized Anson, and hoisted him up. "You ungrateful brat! How dare you bite your own mother? I'll make sure you learn your lesson properly today!"

Anson was held up in the air, his face turning pale. He struggled wildly, kicking and flailing as he cried out in fear.

I turned deathly pale at Robert's actions. Anson's clothes were made of fine silk and couldn't withstand that kind of rough tugging. "We can talk this through calmly, so put Anson down first, Robert!"

In that instant, a crowd of travelers grew around us, whispering back and forth. I couldn't hear a thing right then, because my eyes were fixed entirely on Anson's collar, which was about to rip apart.

Claire suddenly fell to her knees and clung tightly to my legs. "You can hit me or yell at me if you're angry with me, Winona. How could you corrupt my child like this?

"How could you teach him to resent his own father, even if you refuse to let him recognize me as his mother? Robert has always been thinking of you and the child…"

Robert turned to look at me, his eyes brimming with disappointment and rage. "We left the child with you back then because we trusted you to treat him well, but you actually turned him against his biological parents! How can you be so malicious, Winona!

"Claire and I have returned now, so the child will be coming with us. You won't be interfering in his life ever again!"

I found the whole thing incredibly ironic after hearing that. He had abandoned that child with congenital heart disease without a single word of explanation back then, eloping abroad with Claire. If Joshua hadn't stepped up and married me, I probably would have become the laughingstock of the city.

Claire and Robert—the biological parents—didn't even want to raise that nameless, illegitimate child. What made Robert think I would raise a child on his behalf?

Anson was still in Robert's hands, though, so I suppressed my panic and tried to calm him down. "We can talk this through slowly, so put Anson down first, Robert."

Upon hearing that, Robert assumed I had given in and used Anson to coerce me into entering his car. He began rambling as he observed my silence throughout the journey. "I get it, Winona. I know you've grown fond of that child after taking care of him for five years, making it hard for you to leave him behind.

"He's already been led astray, though, so it'd be better for us to have another baby together instead. I'll personally raise the child myself this time around, Winona."

I didn't register anything he said, as my eyes were only fixed on Anson in his arms, his face turned deathly pale with fear.

Claire, who was sitting beside them, grew visibly sullen the moment she heard that, a trace of malice flashing quickly across her eyes.

I immediately reached out for Anson the moment we arrived at Robert's place, but Claire beat me to it and grabbed him away.

I was just about to run after them, but Robert stopped me, saying, "I've returned this time to take over Jensen Group, Winona.

"If you behave yourself these next few days and stop spreading lies about you and Uncle Joshua, I'll make it up to you with a proper wedding and give you back your place as the rightful Mrs. Jensen. What do you think, Winona?"

I felt both sickened and confused. "Isn't Jensen Group Joshua's? What's it got to do with you?"

Robert scoffed, looking completely entitled. "Uncle Joshua doesn't have any children, so as his only nephew, Jensen Group is bound to be mine sooner or later. He's currently out of the country on business as well, so as long as I get my parents on board and team up with a few shareholders, it's a done deal."

I suddenly remembered what Joshua had said before his business trip—that he needed to handle some internal issue happening in Jensen Group. I had thought about it back then, wondering what kind of trouble could arise since Jensen Group had consistently remained secure under his management.

I now realized that the trouble was the arrogant and foolish trust-fund brat right before me.

Just then, Anson's piercing, heartbroken cries suddenly echoed from inside the house.

I felt my heart sinking instantly, and regardless of Robert, I stumbled as I rushed inside.

In the dining room, Claire was forcing spoonfuls of steaming oatmeal into Anson's mouth. She pinched his arm whenever he refused, causing his pale, delicate arms to be covered in several red marks.

"Get away from him!" I rushed over and scooped Anson into my arms, feeling his hot skin the moment I touched him.

I pulled open his collar and saw that his back was already completely covered in a dense layer of red hives. "Who permitted you to feed him oatmeal? He's allergic to oats!"

Anson sobbed softly and burrowed deeper into my embrace, his face flushed with distress. "I-It hurts so much, Mommy…"

I lifted Anson into my arms and turned to leave, but Claire immediately stepped in front of the door and blocked my way. "Where do you think you're taking my son? Robert and I aren't allergic to oats, so how could he possibly be allergic to them? Did you feed him something you shouldn't have today, Winona?"

Ashton squirmed uncomfortably in my arms, his breathing starting to quicken.

I was so frantic that my voice was trembling. "Get out of the way! Anson needs to go to the hospital right now!"

Claire spread her arms to block my path, her eyes brimming with tears as if she were the victim in the situation. "I used to respect you and give you a pass before because you looked after my son for five years, Winona.

"I never expected you would deliberately ruin my son like this, teaching him to hate his parents and feeding him food he's allergic to. What are your intentions, Winona?"

Robert hurried into the dining room, catching everything Claire had just said. He looked completely furious as he barked, "Didn't I just tell you to stop causing trouble, Winona?

"You ought to know that taking over Jensen Group from Uncle Joshua is very important to me! I don't have time to deal with your tantrums right now, Winona!"

Anson, who was lying in my arms, suddenly began to cough violently, his tiny body racking with spasms.

I couldn't hold back anymore and yelled at them. "Your Uncle Joshua is my husband and Anson's father! Joshua will absolutely destroy you if you stay in my way and keep Anson from getting to the hospital!"

Claire acted all delicate, saying meekly, "You can say whatever you want to us, but please don't go around repeating that crazy talk to anyone else.

"Robert has been working so hard to get control of Jensen Group, so if Joshua ever finds out that you're using his reputation to lie to everyone, he might take his frustration out on Robert."

Robert's expression grew visibly more grim as he stepped forward to block my path. "I've obviously let you get away with way too much. If I don't teach you a lesson right now, you're just going to keep spouting whatever crazy nonsense that pops into your head, Winona!"

He yanked Anson out of my arms and roughly pushed him toward Claire. "You take the kid!"

Anson fell hard against the edge of the coffee table with a heavy thud. He slumped limply to the floor and remained entirely motionless.

"Anson!" I shrieked in absolute agony, throwing myself over him.

Claire rushed ahead to grab Anson, blocking his face to keep me from seeing his condition. She then leaned close to me and murmured in a tone audible exclusively to the two of us, "I've known for a very long time that Anson isn't my child, Winona."

She then completely ignored my terrified look and looked up at Robert, who was coming over to drag me away, and said, "You should have a proper talk with Winona, Robert. I'll take good care of the child."

I went completely cold as everything suddenly clicked—the reason Claire had harbored no compassion whatsoever for Anson from the outset was that she had long since known the truth.

Anson's face had already turned faintly blue. He still forced himself to speak out when he saw me being held back by Robert. "L-Let go of Mommy, you bad man!"

Robert, provoked by Anson's remarks, got up and kicked him, yelling, "You bastard! Who are you calling a bad man? I'm your father!"

Anson rolled across the ground a few times, spat out a mouthful of blood, and then stopped moving entirely.

Robert still wasn't satisfied, raising his foot as he intended to kick Anson again.

I threw myself forward to hold his leg, yelling, "Please stop kicking Anson!"

Robert kicked me away in annoyance. "Get out of my way! I'm going to teach him a lesson today! I'll let him know who his real father is!"

He was just about to kick Anson when the door slammed open from the outside with a loud bang, and a chilling voice rang out. "I'm his real father!"