Chapter 4

Quinn shot to her feet.

“What did you say?”

She rose too quickly, nearly stumbling.

Declan quickly steadied her, his voice full of exasperation:

“Quinn, he’s lied to you before. How can you still believe him?”

“This afternoon, I clearly saw Leo wandering around the kitchen with a bag of peanuts, and then Grandma Evelyn picked him up.”

Quinn immediately breathed a sigh of relief. She pulled out her phone and video-called Grandma Evelyn:

“Grandma, is Leo with you?”

Leo was dead. She would soon realize how terrible her actions had been.

On the other end of the line, Grandma Evelyn smiled warmly:

“Yes, he’s with me.”

“Leo, do you want to talk to Mommy?”

I lunged forward.

And then, on the screen, I saw a child, crouched among a pile of toys, shaking his head, burying himself in his play.

Grandma Evelyn sternly chided Quinn:

“It’s all your fault for being so harsh on Leo. Now he doesn’t even want to talk to you.”

My face turned ashen.

I almost forgot. Quinn’s Grandma Evelyn had the most authoritative high-tech team in the world.

Years ago, even before AI was prevalent, she’d used AI in a video call to let me assume Julian’s face, allowing Quinn to say her final goodbyes to him.

Now, she was using someone else’s child to impersonate Leo, just to keep Quinn at ease.

In this house, Leo and I were nothing more than tools, completely insignificant.

It’s okay, Leo. Even if the whole world doesn’t love you, Daddy will always love you.

I stroked the urn, speechless with grief.

Quinn’s face darkened. She hung up the phone and snapped:

“Caleb, you dared to lie to me again!”

“Fine, your son is with Grandma Evelyn, so I can’t punish him. Then I’ll punish you.”

“Declan, smash that useless thing in his hands.”

I fought desperately to stop them, but I was no match for several bodyguards who quickly overpowered me.

Seeing Declan raise the urn high, I fell to my knees, pleading:

“Quinn, I beg you, give Leo back to me.”

“I’ll do anything you want, please!”

Quinn’s heart twisted in her chest.

Just at the crucial moment, she suddenly called out, stopping Declan, and waved her hand:

“Forget it. It’s just a broken box, no fun smashing it. Give it back to him.”

Declan, looking disappointed, practically threw the urn back at me.

I lunged forward, catching the box securely. With Leo back in my arms, I clutched the urn tightly, a mix of relief and despair washing over me.

Declan sighed:

“Quinn, you’re truly too kind.”

“It’s okay. I’ll keep a closer eye on things from now on. After all, protecting you and the baby is my job.”

Quinn’s hand went to her stomach. She suddenly called out to me as I was about to leave:

“Wait. I said I wouldn’t punish Leo, but I didn’t say I wouldn’t punish you.”

“Since you love taking the blame for your son so much, you can experience what an allergic reaction feels like.”

“Order ten thousand lobsters for him. He’s not allowed to leave until he’s shelled every single one.”

She knew I had a severe lobster allergy; even touching it would make me break out in hives.

Even when our relationship was at its worst, she never allowed a single lobster on the table.

Now, she must be completely insane with rage.

I clutched the urn tightly.

Looking at the enormous basin of lobsters before me, my eyes stung.

The moment I picked up the first one to shell, my fingers began to turn red from the allergic reaction.

Quinn turned her face away, standing with her back to me:

“I’m tired. I’m going to rest. Don’t even think about slacking off. I’ll have someone watch you.”

Declan helped her to the room.

Facing the row of muscular bodyguards, I didn’t resist. I numbly continued shelling lobsters.

As time passed, my entire body became covered in red hives, and my breathing grew increasingly difficult.

In a haze, a pair of gleaming leather shoes appeared before my eyes.

Declan grabbed my chin, his voice cold:

“Just shelling lobsters is too light a punishment. You’re allergic, right? Then eat them.”

He grabbed lobster meat and tried to force it into my mouth.

With one quick move, I easily pushed him away.

With his weak physique, he was no match for me. His only reason for being a bodyguard was Quinn’s longing for Julian.

Seeing my resistance, Declan’s anger flared:

“If you struggle again, I swear I’ll smash your son’s ashes.”

I glared at him.

He knew. He’d been deliberately trying to provoke me earlier!

Declan saw me compromise and viciously shoved a handful of lobster meat into my mouth.

For Leo, I didn’t dare to resist.

Just at that critical moment, Grandma Evelyn appeared behind me, tapping her cane.

She angrily confronted Declan:

“You dare bully my family’s son-in-law? Get out.”

Declan looked like he wanted to say more but eventually left, defeated.

Grandma Evelyn dismissed all the outsiders. Ignoring the grease on my hands, she helped me up:

“Caleb, stop shelling. You’re severely allergic now. I’ll take you to the hospital first, then help you leave.”

I nodded, wiping the grease off myself before picking up the urn.

A flicker of shame crossed Grandma Evelyn’s eyes. She explained:

“Quinn is pregnant. Her emotions can’t be too volatile. I thought I’d wait until she’s more stable to tell her about Leo’s death.”

“You and Leo have suffered so much again, Caleb. You *must* take this money.”

As she spoke, she pushed two more cards toward me.

I shook my head:

“No, thank you. You’ve given me more than enough. I just want to leave peacefully with Leo.”

Grandma Evelyn pressed the cards into my hand with more force, hinting:

“Take it. Years ago, when Quinn’s first love ran off with her money, I forced you to switch the IVF samples, to make Quinn pregnant with your child.”

“But I never imagined that my decision, the decision of this old woman, would lead to poor Leo’s death.”

“I regret it deeply. I shouldn’t have forced you back then.”

“This money isn’t much, but it’s my apology. I hope you’ll accept it.”

“And please don’t blame this old woman. Quinn is my son’s only daughter, after all. She is my life.”

She seemed to be pleading, but in reality, she was threatening me.

If I didn’t take this hush money, I wouldn’t be leaving with Leo today.

“Then, thank you, Grandma Evelyn.”

I had no choice. Just as I was about to take the cards,

*Crash!*

A glass shattered.

Quinn, in her pajamas, stood frozen in the doorway.