Chapter 4

Steven's POV

It wasn't long before I was pelted with water bottles and cans. "How dare you lie to us! We already published our stories because of you, Steven!"

I remained on the spot. I merely gritted my teeth as I hunched over in shame, completely stripped of my dignity. I didn't even know how much time had passed before the reporters dispersed.

Just then, my phone started blowing up again. I clicked on one of the messages. "Your story is all over the Internet, Steven! Your part-time employer is furious about the publicity and is demanding compensation for the damage! Your parents are also on their way to the Walker residence!"

I felt dizzy as soon as I saw the message. I was frantically trying to call Mom and Dad when a cab pulled up outside the Walker residence.

Mom and Dad hurriedly got out and rushed toward me. "What on earth happened here, Steven?"

I fought back the nausea and said, "You two should head back first! It's nothing serious!"

Just then, Joseph came up from behind. "Why are you lying to your parents, Steven? Millie clearly passed out from an allergic reaction!"

Mom and Dad went pale with fear. "Millie had an allergic reaction? Where is she right now?"

Joseph was utterly shameless. "Haven't you heard? Your son is playing the other man in my marriage, and now he's trying to shake me down by falsely slandering me!"

I was so angry I could barely contain myself. "Shut up!"

Mom got so upset that her blood pressure spiked. She instantly passed out on the spot.

Half an hour later, once Mom was taken care of, Joseph sent me a message. "Come to the third floor—Millie is right here."

I rushed up to the third floor and saw Millie lying on the floor inside one of the rooms, looking weak. "Millie!"

Millie rasped, "I-I don't feel so good, Daddy…"

I was heartbroken after hearing Millie's cry for help. I immediately turned around and punched Joseph hard on the face.

I suddenly felt uneasy after noticing how Joseph didn't bother to dodge.

Just then, Sophie came rushing over. "Steven!"

Upon hearing that, my hand—still raised from punching Joseph—trembled slightly.

Sophie's best friend and the others, who were standing behind her, quickly came to Joseph's defense.

"Haven't you taken this far enough, Steven? Joseph offered to adopt your daughter out of the goodness of his heart, yet you repay him by badmouthing him and hitting him! You really are a shameless, freeloading homewrecker!"

I ignored them, grabbed Sophie in a panic, and yelled, "Millie is in that room! Save her, Sophie!"

"Alright," Sophie replied.

Yet, before I could even feel relieved, she gently touched Joseph's cheek and said, "I'll do it on one condition—you have to appease Joseph first."

Joseph feigned reluctance and said, "I know Steven didn't mean to, but even my parents have never laid a hand on me. I'll let you off if you get down on your knees and shine my shoes!"

I looked at Sophie, then at Millie. I gritted my teeth, got down on my knees, and used my clothes to shine Joseph's shoes.

Joseph seized the moment when no one was looking to stomp down hard on my right hand.

I gasped sharply as the pain shot through my hand.

Joseph grinned at me and said, "Hurry up, Steven."

He continued grinding his foot against my hand after saying that, refusing to stop.

In that instant, an agonizing pain surged through me. I groaned through the pain. "I-It hurts…"

Joseph pulled his foot away, looking surprised. "What do you mean it hurts? I didn't even step on you, Steven!"

Sophie looked at me with pure disgust. "Oh, cut the crap, Steven! You're clearly shameless enough to fake being hurt if you're callous enough to exploit Millie just to get my attention!"

She then turned to Joseph and said, "Let's go get that bruise on your cheek taken care of first, Joseph."

I rushed toward where Millie was the moment Sophie and Joseph walked away.

Jeremiah suddenly let go of his pet dog's leash.

I widened my eyes in fear, as every single time that dog saw me, it looked as if it wanted to tear me apart. I frantically tried to back away, but I was too late—its sharp fangs sank deep into my flesh. I writhed on the ground in pain, repeatedly yelling, "Help me!"

Sophie stopped for a moment, then continued walking away.

Just as I broke down in despair, a burst of laughter came from nearby. Millie, who had been lying on the floor in the room just moments ago, was now jumping around energetically. "That was so fun! I love playing tricks on Daddy!"

I was slightly stunned after hearing that. I looked at Millie, my lifeless eyes gradually widening. It turned out that they had tricked me. Millie, whom I had always been so proud of, had been acting alongside Joseph all along.

I smiled wryly, my tears blending with blood on the floor. I saw a familiar figure sprinting toward me just before losing consciousness.

Two hours later, Sophie was heading downstairs with her arm linked through Joseph's. When she turned her head, she saw a blood-stained severed finger in the corner of the stairwell. She instantly froze in her tracks.