Chapter 2

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.