Chapter 2

A sweet, childish voice rang out, and the iron grip on my throat vanished in an instant.

I collapsed to the floor like a kicked stray, gulping down air in ragged breaths.

Terence, whose eyes had burned crimson with fury just moments ago, softened the second he heard Ryan call out "Daddy".

He gathered every bit of strength to scoop up Ryan, who'd barreled into his arms like a cannonball, holding him as if he were a long-lost treasure.

His hands trembled as he murmured the name over and over. "Ricky… Ricky…"

It was the kind of act that could melt any heart, except mine. I kept my expression ice-cold, refusing to spare them even a glance.

If I weren't living this life for the second time, the crushing guilt would have driven me to beg for death. After all, I was the culprit who'd killed my son and shattered my husband's mind with unbearable grief.

Wendy noticed my cold expression and spoke up, her voice tentative.

"Rosalie, I had Ryan call Terence 'Daddy' for your sake. You saw what happened. After Ricky was gone, Terence's mind…"

Her expression had the perfect mask of worry.

I sneered inwardly. Whether that "Daddy" was for calming Terence or for some other ulterior motive, she knew the truth better than anyone.

"Is that so? How thoughtful of you, Wendy."

Wendy instinctively flinched at the sharpness in my gaze, then turned to soothe Terence and Ryan.

I didn't hesitate and strode out of the hospital room.

This time, no one even tried to stop me.

I stood in the public phone booth, drew a deep breath, and dialed the number I knew by heart.

"Hello? Dad… Mom… Ricky's missing…"

The moment I heard their voices, the tears I'd been holding back finally spilled over.

My parents, who had furiously cut ties with me the day I married Terence, panicked the instant they heard me sobbing.

After I choked out the whole story in broken pieces, a calm, steady male voice came on the line.

"Rosy, don't be scared. Mom, Dad, and I will help you find Ricky. Can you handle things on your own?"

It was my adoptive brother, Matthew Robinson. Even though he couldn't see me, I instinctively nodded the way I always had when we were kids.

"I can. My transfer notice came through. I'll be home the day after tomorrow," I replied.

"Good. We'll be waiting for you."

His warm baritone poured into my ear, wrapping me in a deep, unexplainable calm.

When I walked back to the hospital room, I found Terence and Wendy sitting on either side of Ryan. As they stared at each other, the air between them was thick with a cloying intimacy.

I shoved the door open, shattering their cozy scene.

Terence, back to his usual self, turned his head away without so much a glance in my direction.

Wendy, however, jumped to her feet in embarrassment and grabbed my hand.

"Rosalie, Mom and I talked it over. In a few days, we'll arrange to register Ryan under you and Terence."

Her face was overflowing with pity, yet her arched brows starkly betrayed her true feelings.

Before I could get a word out, a small boy slammed into my waist.

"You're a bad woman! Don't try to take me away from my mom!"

Ryan wailed and threw himself into Wendy's arms. Between hiccups, he sobbed, "Mommy, are you throwing me away?"

He was only eight, after all. No matter how much Wendy had prepped him, the fear of being abandoned by his real mother was too much to control.

I pressed a hand to my aching side and watched the heartwarming mother-son moment with a cold sneer.

Ryan's tears sparked a flicker of real pity in Wendy's eyes, but just as quickly, she hardened herself.

"What are you doing?" she snapped. "Apologize to your mom right now!"

Ryan jutted his chin like a defiant little beast.

Wendy raised her hand and slapped him hard across the face, then shoved him straight toward me.

The instant he was close enough, he grabbed my hand and bit down with all his strength.

A sharp pain shot up my wrist. On pure reflex, I flung him away, and he slammed hard into the wall.

The room instantly erupted into chaos.

Just then, my mother-in-law, Kamila Spencer, pushed the door in.

What she walked in on was Ryan bawling his lungs out, Terence and Wendy scrambling to soothe him, and me standing off to the side with cold indifference.

"Rosalie Parker! You evil wretch! First you murder Ricky, and now you're trying to kill Ryan?"

Her hand violently tangled in my hair, slamming my head repeatedly against the wall with sickening thuds.

Blood poured across my vision.

Wendy let out a piercing scream, pulling everyone's attention toward her.