Chapter 3

My head buzzed. Forgetting all about Rebecca, I stumbled out of the room.

I found my mother lying on the floor while a doctor performed CPR on her.

Fortunately, she had been found in time, and Mom came around.

The doctor kept warning me, "Your mother has high blood pressure. It could set off a heart attack or a stroke. She absolutely can't be put under any stress."

I nodded over and over.

As soon as she was fully awake, Mom grabbed my hand. "Son, I came the moment I heard. The Allens have gone too far!"

I helped her to Melissa's room. Melissa had already fallen asleep, and there was no sign of Rebecca.

Mom wiped away her tears, heartbroken. "Son, I don't care how powerful the Allen family is. Even if it costs me this old life of mine, I'm going to make sure you divorce her today!"

A lump rose in my throat.

In all the years I'd been married to Rebecca, I had thought about divorce.

But back then, Mom always told me to think of my child.

"Mom, I'll divorce her. You don't need to go."

But Mom wouldn't hear it. After asking the ward nurse to keep an eye on Melissa, I went with her to the Allen estate.

The moment we walked through the door, I saw my mother-in-law and Rebecca.

Rebecca's eyes met mine, but she quickly looked away.

I took a deep breath and laid the divorce agreement down in front of them. "I brought the divorce agreement. I want a divorce from Rebecca."

Rebecca stared fixedly at the document.

Mom raised her voice. "And we're taking Melissa with us. She'll never live with your family again."

Sasha's face flushed red with rage. "You think you can come and go from the Allen family as you please? If you want a divorce, go kneel in the chapel before our ancestors first!"

Without reading it, Rebecca tossed the document into the trash. "Mike, stop bringing your mom here to stir up trouble. Melissa can't be without me."

Mom's eyes turned red, and her whole body shook. "You were the one who wanted to marry my son. You went through so much to give birth to Melissa. How can you stop loving her now that she's here?

"Yes, your sister died, but what does that have to do with a little child?"

Rebecca's face went pale. Her hand, hanging at her side, trembled.

Before she could say a word, Sasha cut her off. "The Allen family has only one grandson.

"If it weren't for that wretched Melissa, Hailey would never have died. When it comes down to it, you owe our family.

"You want a divorce? Fine. But first, you'll get rid of every last bit of that bad luck clinging to you. I won't have it rubbing off on my family!"

Before I could react, bodyguards swarmed in from outside and began tearing at my mother's clothes.

I rushed forward to protect her. The next second, pain exploded across my cheek.

A fist slammed into my face and sent me crumpling to the floor.

Rebecca stood up and caught Sasha's arm. "Mom, this is going too far..."

Before she could finish, Sasha shot her a vicious glare. "So your sister just died for nothing? How could it be such a coincidence? She died right after you gave birth to that wretched girl!"

At the same moment, the sound of tearing fabric rang in my ears.

A huge basin of dog's blood was dumped over my mother's head and mine.

The rank stench made me gag again and again.

Mom couldn't catch her breath. Her eyes rolled back, and she fainted.

In a panic, I searched her for her pill bottle, my voice hoarse as I shouted at Rebecca, "My mom has a heart condition! She already collapsed once today!"

Even Sasha was afraid someone might actually die. She had the maids carry my mother off to a room, her face full of disgust. "Get her out of here. I won't have her dying in our house."

My whole body went limp. The foul dog's blood dripped from my hair.

Just then, Sebastian came back carrying his son.

Sasha and Rebecca both visibly relaxed.

"Did the transfusion go well? Melissa didn't make a fuss, did she?"

The blood in my veins seemed to freeze. My head snapped up.