Chapter 6

Logan's sudden appearance startled Lumi.

I watched as anger slowly took over his still-handsome face, and I smiled bitterly.

He was the CEO of Bowen Group. He had already fallen for me once. There was no possibility that it would happen again.

"Long time no see, my love," I said with feigned flirtatiousness.

My frivolous attitude only angered him more. He dragged Lumi over and handed her to the bodyguards standing behind him. He then walked up to me, wrapped his fingers around my neck, and slammed my head against the pillow.

"Don't call me that! You're not worthy, Rafaela!"

My face turned a deep crimson, and my consciousness started to fade. Through the haze, I heard Lumi wailing and apologizing.

"I'm sorry, Daddy! I was the one who didn't listen and snuck out here to find Mommy. Please let Mommy go!"

Lumi's cries made my heart ache, and I used all the strength I had left to squeeze out, "You're… s-scaring… her…"

Logan froze when he heard this. Then, he quickly loosened his hold on my neck before going over to hug Lumi while reassuring her in a low voice. But through it all, his vicious gaze remained fixed on the still heavily panting me.

"Rafaela, do you even have a conscience? How could you use your own child to scam me for money?"

I shrugged nonchalantly. "She came here on her own. I had nothing to do with it. And she's your child too. There are so many people in the Bowen household, yet none of you can keep an eye on a child?"

Logan fell speechless at my retort. He patted Lumi on the back and said, "Lumi, don't come see this woman anymore. She's a big liar, and you'll only learn bad things if you stay with her.

"Daddy will find you a new Mommy, and she'll teach you how to play the piano and how to paint. You'll grow up like a little princess."

Lumi stopped crying, and her red-rimmed eyes flickered between Logan and the pale-faced me.

My sweet daughter tried to defend me. "I don't want a new Mommy. I have a Mommy. She's very good. She hasn't done anything wrong—"

Worried that Lumi would say too much and ruin my carefully crafted image of a bad mother, I quickly interrupted Lumi.

"Have I ever told you that I really hate children? If you stay with me, I'll teach you how to steal things when you grow older. And when you're even older, I'll teach you how to dance in strip clubs and how to lure men in.

"Your life will be a complete mess just like mine. You should be thankful that you escaped and made it back to your father, or—"

Before I could finish, Logan stepped forward and slapped me so hard that my head whipped to the right, hitting the railing on the side of the bed.

Lumi was stunned and scared. One of the bodyguards hurried forward and carried her out of the room.

Blood trickled from the corner of my mouth. Before I could say anything, I felt an intense pain in my chest which then caused me to start coughing violently. A metallic taste rose in my mouth, and I quickly covered my mouth with my hand, just as I coughed up a mouthful of blood.

I quickly spun around, and I only relaxed when I didn't see Lumi. It was a good thing she hadn't seen this.

At that moment, a nurse rushed in. She noticed the IV needle that had been dislodged during my struggle earlier, as well as the man standing close by who was exuding a chilling presence.

She dared not say much, so she only whispered to me, "Ms. Wayning, even though the medication won't be able to treat your illness, it'll at least lessen your suffering."

She then scuttled off after that reminder of hers.

Logan, who had stayed silent through that, finally let out a cold scoff as he watched the nurse leave.

"You even hired actors this time? Let me guess. You're going to tell me that you've contracted some terminal illness and are about to die? Then, once Lumi and I have bonded, you'll have her come beg me for money so you can get treatment. In the end, you'll take that money and disappear?"

My face was still hurting, but I pulled the corners of my lips up into a smirk as I looked at Logan.

"You've gotten smarter, Logan."