Chapter 3

The moment my son came into my arms, he cried inconsolably.

His eyes desperately seeking Fiona, reaching toward her with whimpers, wanting her to hold him.

I swallowed the bitterness in my heart, repeatedly reassuring myself that this was just the system's deceptive effect.

He was the child I carried for ten months. How could he not be close to me?

But when I saw the red rash on my son's bottom from being left in a soiled diaper, my anger flared.

"How many days has it been since you changed his diaper? Two more days and his skin would've been raw!"

Fiona rolled her eyes impatiently, grabbed Liam's hand, and turned to leave.

"Liam, I want to get my nails done. This time I'm thinking of having gold embedded in them."

Watching their retreating figures, I wiped the tears from my eyes and hurried to take the baby to the hospital.

When the doctor saw the rash on his body, he scolded me thoroughly.

"What kind of mother are you? How did you let a perfectly good child end up like this? Are you deliberately abusing him?"

I couldn't defend myself and could only silently endure the doctor's reprimands.

After my son's wounds were treated and bandaged, my brother suddenly called.

"Fiona and Liam are at a hotel. She said the condom broke and needs you to bring another box."

"I'm busy with work and can't get away. You go deliver it. You know Liam's size, I'm sure."

I froze, never expecting he could say something like this.

"Ethan Williams, are you insane? Don't you like Fiona? You're actually okay with watching her with another man? And that man is my husband—your brother-in-law!"

Facing my heartbroken screams, he was silent for a moment before speaking with bitterness in his voice.

"What choice do I have? Fiona likes Liam. All I can do is try my best to protect her safety."

"She doesn't want children, so we need to be careful with protection. Hurry up and bring them a box."

My grip tightened on the phone.

I laughed coldly and refused.

"Impossible. If you want to be a lapdog, go deliver it yourself. I won't..."

Before I could finish, a scoff came through the phone.

"Sarah, I'm not asking you."

"You can't count on anyone right now. Don't you even want to go back to your family home?"

My whole body stiffened.

I let my hand drop helplessly.

Following his instructions, I went to the pharmacy, bought protection, and found the hotel using the address he sent.

Just as I reached the door, I heard laughter spilling out from inside.

I took a deep breath and knocked.

The door opened quickly.

Liam stood there bare-chested with a cigarette in his mouth.

Seeing it was me, he frowned and muttered:

"Why is it you?"

Then Fiona leaned against his back, deliberately revealing the red marks on her neck, and smiled.

"Thanks, Sarah. I'm surprised you still remember Liam's size."

"You two haven't been together in so many years—I thought you'd forgotten what size he wears."

I said nothing.

My gaze fell on the scratch marks across Liam's chest.

A wave of nausea hit me.

I couldn't help but lean against the wall and vomit violently.

Panic flashed in Liam's eyes and he instinctively reached toward me.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling sick?"

But the next second I slapped his hand away hard.

His body reeked of Fiona's perfume—I could smell it just getting close.

It made me sick.

Liam's outstretched hand froze.

He snorted coldly and pulled it back.

"You have time to wander around out here—I see you're just too idle."

"Get home and take care of the baby. And stay away from Fiona from now on."

With that, the door closed in my face.

Listening to the flirtatious laughter from inside, I turned and left numbly.