Chapter 4

"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!"