Chapter 3

"Tell me! Who's the bitch?" Jacinda demanded.

Seeing her face twisted with jealousy, I sneered coldly inside.

Betrayal? She actually had the nerve to question me about betrayal? Wasn't she the one who deceived me into marriage to begin with? If Jaden hadn't come knocking on our door, I would never have known she had another family abroad!

I hadn't even settled the score with her yet, and here she was accusing me of cheating?

The mockery in my eyes was so obvious that Jacinda instinctively looked away. That was when she noticed that she had been unconsciously choking Benson. His face had turned purple, and he was struggling, unable to utter a single word.

Jacinda jerked her hand back as if shocked, then glared at me, saying through gritted teeth, "I'll deal with you later! No one is going to stop Benny from being publicly acknowledged today!

"I'm warning you, Vincent, if you try any more tricks, don't blame me for showing the Fuller family no mercy!"

Hearing her blatant threat, I was so angry I let out a bitter laugh. How did she even have the audacity to say that?

All these years, if not for the Fuller family backing her and investing in her company from behind the scenes, how could she ever become the president of a company and be praised by all?

Now that the company was on the right track, she was throwing her weight around in front of me? How ridiculous!

If I could lift her to where she stood today, I could just as easily pull her back down!

…

When we arrived home, the household staff immediately came forward to greet us attentively.

Jaden's eyes were naked with greed as he took in the huge villa.

"Please try to hold still…" the maids attempting to handle Benson said.

But Benson cried out in pain at the slightest touch, so the maids didn't dare lay a hand on him.

Seeing how Benson kept reaching out toward Jaden and calling him "Daddy", Jacinda shot me a mocking look. "Vincent, you're a failure of a father! Even Timmy trusts Jay after meeting him just once and reaches out to him for help. I really wonder what kind of a father you are!"

At her words, the uncertainty on Jaden's face instantly softened into tenderness.

He quickly helped Benson up and said with a smile, "It's nothing. I've just always been naturally good with kids! Vincent is a busy president, after all. It's understandable that he isn't close with Timmy. He's just occupied with work!"

"Hah! What could he possibly be busy with? It's just a tiny, worthless company—"

"Ow! That hurts! Let go of me!"

Before she could finish, Benson shrieked and pulled away from Jaden's grip before collapsing to the ground, crying in pain.

Jaden put on a wounded expression. "I-I didn't do anything! Where did Timmy learn to frame others at such a young age? It'd be disastrous if he grows up to be so vindictive!"

From where I stood, I had seen everything clearly. Jaden had deliberately pressed down on Benson's wound when he helped him up.

But Jacinda, oblivious to it all, suddenly turned and slapped me hard across the face. "Vincent! Is this how you've been raising him? As expected from a small, lowly family—you can't rise above your station!"

My cheek burned with pain. I looked at Jacinda indifferently, feeling as if something inside me had completely shattered.

Had Benson not decided to come over to play on a whim, I might never have seen her true colors.

Jacinda looked down at Benson and ordered the maids, "Take him and lock him up in the basement! No one is to bring him any food or water. He stays there until he learns what he did wrong."

One of the maids cautiously stepped forward to persuade her otherwise. "Mrs. Fuller, he's covered in wounds. The basement hasn't been used in ages, so it's full of dust. If his wounds get infected…"

Jacinda frowned and impatiently said, "He's faking it! Ignore him and do as I say!"

"Yes, ma'am."

The maids said nothing more and, ignoring Benson's struggles, tossed him into the basement.

"Ow! That hurts! Let me out!" Benson yelled, coughing.

I looked at the two smug faces in front of me and suddenly let out a snigger.

"What are you laughing at?" Jacinda looked at me, puzzled.

"Have you ever considered that he really is your precious son, Benson?"

Jacinda hesitated for a moment, but still refused to back down.