Chapter 2

Tyler bolted down the stairs with an unconscious little boy in his arms. His eyes were red with tears.

Hannah didn't spare Samuel another glance before hurrying to take the little boy from Tyler. Her voice was laced with urgency. "We'll go to the hospital right away."

At once, they got into a car and sped off. Only then did Samuel remember the boy in his arms. He tried to chase after Hannah and Tyler's car, but Charlotte stopped him again.

Samuel shoved her aside and ran all the way to the hospital like a maniac, cradling Benjamin close.

Alas, he was too late. Benjamin had stopped breathing by the time they reached the hospital.

The doctor was sympathetic. "He might have stood a chance if you'd gotten here ten minutes sooner."

It was all over now.

Samuel couldn't help but sit on the floor and break down in tears. Those around him simply let him be. There was no telling how much time had passed when he dried his tears, shrugged off his shirt, and wrapped it around Benjamin's ice-cold body.

"Come on, Benjamin. Daddy'll bring you home."

He scooped Benjamin into his arms. When he passed by a hospital room, he heard someone laugh while teasing a child, "You just got your tummy pumped, Tristan! What a good boy! You'll also be getting a shot later. If you don't cry, Mommy will grant you a single wish."

Samuel glanced over his shoulder and saw the imposing goddess of the commercial world: Hannah Garber, wearing a cotton dress and carrying a child that looked a lot like her. Her expression was one of gentle indulgence and attentiveness as she tickled the child's chin.

Benjamin had never enjoyed such motherly affection in his four years of life.

In the past, Samuel had lived in the bungalow with Benjamin. He'd been the one to bring Benjamin to get his shots and drips. Hannah hadn't participated even once.

When Benjamin asked that she celebrate his birthdays with him, she'd tell him she was busy. In retrospect, she hadn't been lying; she'd been busy taking care of her other child and spending time with another man.

Even more absurd was the fact that Benjamin had died just for calling her "Mommy" in front of everyone.

Samuel chewed his lower lip, willing the sob to die in his throat.

The laughter in the room continued.

"Then, I want you to kiss Daddy. Please? Daddy loves it when you kiss him!" a childish voice rang out.

Tyler blushed. "Tristan, we're at the hospital. Watch what you say—"

Before he could finish protesting, he felt something warm brush against his forehead. It disappeared just as he snapped out of his daze.

Hannah's lips curved up. "Right, Mommy has already kissed Daddy."

Tyler's face grew even redder.

Seeing this, Samuel froze in place. Then, a self-effacing laugh escaped him as a bitter thought crossed his mind. "Oh, Hannah. At this rate, you're doing more than just repaying Tyler's favor."

As if sensing someone's gaze, Hannah looked toward the door. Her face darkened when she saw Samuel. She handed Tristan to Tyler and said gently, "Wait for me here. I'll be right back."

The moment she rose, her scowl returned, and her long strides carried her out the door. She grabbed Samuel's arm and dragged him into a corner. She didn't even bother with pleasantries before unleashing a torrent of abuse at him.

"Samuel, I can't believe you'd follow us all the way here after you let Benjamin sneak out of the apartment and triggered Tyler's condition! What the hell do you want?"

Samuel stared at the woman before him with red-rimmed eyes. "Why don't you tell me what you're up to now, Hannah? What did you do to Benjamin? And how is it that you have a child with that guy in there?"

Hannah stiffened, and so did her tone. "It's a long story. Look, take Benjamin home. I'll explain everything some other time and apologize to Benjamin as well. Didn't he want me to watch the newly premiered cartoon with him? I'll take some time off so we can watch it together."

"Apologize?" Samuel snorted, his eyes bloodshot. "And how do you propose to do that, Hannah? Because of you, Benjamin—"

Died.

"Samuel, why won't you just leave us the hell alone?"

Samuel hadn't finished his sentence when a shrill voice cut him off. Before Samuel could react, Tyler lunged forward. Tyler's eyes were red, and his expression was full of jealousy and madness. He slammed into Samuel.

With unsteady feet, Samuel staggered backward until his back hit the wall with a heavy thud.

"You're shameless, Samuel! You tried to get close to Hannah and seduce her when she was my girlfriend, and you're still trying the same tricks even after all these years? You even had some strange mongrel of a child call her 'Mommy' last night!"

The resentment Samuel had bottled up over the years exploded when he heard Tyler's usual slew of insults. "Take a good look, Tyler! She's not your girlfriend!"

Tyler saw red. "She's my girlfriend—no, she's my wife! You're the shameless prick who keeps harassing her—"

"Your girlfriend was killed in a car accident," Samuel said, raising his voice and cutting him off. "For so many years, the only homewrecker here is you!"

"You're lying!" Tyler blanched. He charged forward, grabbed a fistful of Samuel's hair, then beat him. "My wife isn't dead! She's right here! She's the mother of my child! You're the shameless prick who wants to seduce her!

"I'll beat you to death right here, right now! I'll rid this world of a filthy homewrecker like you!"

Tears sprang from Samuel's eyes as the pain hit him. He freed himself from Tyler's grip and ground out, "Your girlfriend donated her corneas to Hannah after she died in a car crash years ago, Tyler. All this time, you've been—"

A thunderous crack split the air. Hannah had slapped Samuel across the face, cutting him off. "Shut up, Samuel!"