Chapter 4

Bryan's mother, Grace Malen, looked me up and down with open contempt. "Bringing someone else's bastard into the house, yet shameless enough to cling to Gwen's husband. I wonder what kind of parents would raise a son as shameless as you."

Bryan's father, Paul Thatcher, sneered beside her, "Enough talking to trash like this. Just looking at him makes me feel dirty."

They hauled several large suitcases upstairs as though they already owned the place.

As I watched them disappear up the staircase, I could not help wondering how parents like that had managed to raise a son even more shameless than they were.

Once the living room emptied, Bryan walked over with the baby in his arms. A smug smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "So what if you two got married? So what if she gave birth to your child? You still can't compete with me and my son."

He shifted Sam on his shoulder and leaned closer. "Oh, right. Gwen said that once we get back from our trip, she'll register my child under her household as the eldest son. As for your bastard, she'll only keep her as an adopted child. She'll remove her from the household register."

I looked at Bryan's irritating grin and felt nothing but boredom. I had already seen this little performance too many times.

I stepped aside and prepared to leave.

Suddenly, Bryan staggered backward and shouted, "I'm sorry! This is all my fault! But I'm holding the baby. You can't push me like that!"

His shout brought his parents running down the stairs. Paul charged at me like a madman.

At that exact moment, the villa door burst open and Gwyneth rushed inside. I barely had time to open my mouth before Paul slammed into me.

His palm cracked across my face. Filthy curses poured from his mouth as he struck me again.

Gwyneth moved to stop him. For a brief second, something like concern flickered in her eyes.

"Mr. Thatcher—"

Before she could speak, Bryan grabbed her arm. His eyes were already red. "Gwen, you promised that after our trip, my parents could come here and help take care of Sam. The place I live in isn't a good environment. I just want my child to grow up somewhere better."

His voice trembled. "I only asked Mr. Garrison if he would mind us staying here. But he suddenly pushed me…"

Bryan fussed over Sam, checking him again and again. Then he deliberately jostled Sam until he began to cry.

The wailing made my head spin. The spot where Paul had struck me throbbed with a dull ache. My cheek had probably already swollen.

Meanwhile, Bryan and his child had not suffered a single scratch.

I felt Gwyneth's conflicted gaze settle on me. I let out a cold laugh and slowly pushed myself to my feet.

The wife who once promised to love me forever, who swore she would always stand by my side, now stood there as the shield another man used to lie without restraint.

Perhaps our marriage had been a mistake from the beginning. She could not let go of her childhood sweetheart, so she had to let go of our marriage.

After all, I only had one day left before I left her.

Bryan insisted Sam might be hurt and demanded that they go to the hospital. Paul shouted that I should apologize.

Gwyneth stood between us. Her eyes lingered on my swollen face. In the end, she chose the man she could not let go. "Nick, I'll take Bryan and Sam to the hospital first. His parents just came back from overseas. When I return, I'll send you and Prudence to stay with them.

"I promised Bryan. You have to understand. I don't want to break my word."

I looked at the woman who had shared my bed for three years. She spoke with such sincerity about the promises she had made to another man, yet she had long forgotten the vows she made to me on the day we married. She had promised that she would love me forever. She had made countless other promises as well. Some she fulfilled only halfway. Others she never kept at all.