Doris froze.
Then, tears welled in her eyes as she covered her mouth, the very image of a wronged, delicate beauty.
Lillian’s expression turned icy. She stood abruptly, her voice sharp and cold.
“This is how you raise a child? Teaching him to disrespect his elders?”
My heart was already in turmoil.
I didn’t have the energy to argue with Lillian.
Still, for Rowan’s sake, I said calmly, “He’s just a child. Can’t you at least give him time to process all this?”
“Hmph.” Lillian sneered. “You think I don’t see what you’re up to? Don’t play innocent, Sophia. We’re both women–I see right through you.”
“Old Fu!”
The butler, Mr. Fu, rushed over. “Yes, Madam?”
“Take the young master away! I won’t let a scheming woman like her manipulate the bloodline of the Williams family!”
Mr. Fu hesitated, visibly conflicted–but he still reached for Rowan, gently trying to pry him from my arms.
“No! Let go of me! Mommy, take me home!”
Rowan wailed and clung tighter.
I frowned, unable to bear seeing him like this.
“He has asthma. Can you please not handle him so roughly?”
My voice was low, but carried weight.
Lillian faltered for a moment.
Doris stepped forward, voice trembling with emotion. She clutched Lillian’s arm.
“Auntie, please… let Mr. Fu release Rowan. It’s okay, really. I failed as a mother–that’s why he doesn’t recognize me. It’s my fault.”
Lillian sighed heavily. Worried about a potential asthma attack, she waved Mr. Fu off.
Freed, Rowan immediately flung himself into my arms.
“Mommy!”
The force nearly knocked me back. As he crashed into me, I felt a sharp pain in my lower abdomen. My face turned pale.
“Mommy, Grandma was lying, right? You’re my real mom! I don’t want anyone else–I just want you!”
He sobbed, breath hitching in broken gasps.
I gently stroked his head, my heart aching.
He’d always been a fragile child. His asthma meant he couldn’t cry too hard. But right now, he was spiraling.
“Sweetheart, no one’s leaving you, Mommy’s here, okay? Don’t cry…”
I was only trying to calm him down
Chapter 10
But Lillian wasn’t having it.
“Sophia, have you no shame? Rowan isn’t even your child! How dare you say something like that?”
Gone was the dignified matriarch–her voice dripped with disdain.
“No wonder he’s never taken to me. I finally understand why he only calls you mommy–you’ve clearly been brainwashing him behind our backs!”
That was it.
Even for Rowan’s sake, I couldn’t stay silent anymore.
I turned, my tone icy.
“Mrs. Williams. When Vincent and I got married, I never asked for your approval. If you never accepted me as your daughter–in–law, that’s your right. But if you’re going to lecture about respect, perhaps you should first ask yourself–have you been a good example?”
“Are you calling me disrespectful?” Lillian snapped, eyes narrowing.
“I’m simply saying–between you calling me manipulative and
My gaze was steady. Unflinching.
Woving your five–year–old grandson into a meltdown–maybe we should both reflect.”
“As for the divorce, that’s between Vincent and me. If you wish to keep Rowan, you can. I won’t fight for custody.”
“No! No!”
Rowan panicked, clinging even tighter. “Don’t leave me, Mommy! I hate it here–I hate Grandma’s house and that mean woman! Please take me home!”
His voice cracked from crying so hard.
I had never seen him like this. Never let him cry this much.
I took a deep breath and looked at Lillian.
“He’s too emotional right now. I’ll take him with me and talk to him when he’s calm.”
Before anyone could stop me, I turned and walked away, Rowan’s small hand in mine.
Rowan rushed beside me, his tiny legs stumbling as he tried to keep up–terrified I’d leave him behind.
“Rowan!”
Doris called after him, quickly chasing us into the courtyard.
She reached out and grabbed Rowan’s arm.
“Rowan, don’t go. I’m sorry–I know I hurt you. But I had no choice back then. I love you. I do.”
“Let go, you bad woman!”
Rowan cried, trying to jerk free. Her grip tightened, making him wince.
“Mommy! Help! She’s trying to take me away!”
My gaze sharpened as I watched Doris hold on to Rowan.
Doris, now unable to get through to the boy, turned to me.
Her beautiful face was streaked with tears, her voice trembling with desperation.
“Miss Sophia, please… Rowan is my son. I carried him for nine months, nearly died giving birth to him. I know you’ve raised him well–and I’m
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Chapter 10
grateful–but you can’t use him to bind Vincent to you. Please, don’t manipulate him this way.”
I stared at her in disbelief.
Manipulate?
I hadn’t done anything but protect the child 1 raised.
Why was it so easy for them–Lillian, Doris–to accuse me of using a child, when it was they who had used me all along?
Lillian now stormed into the courtyard as well.
Seeing Rowan still clinging to me, she lost patience.
“You there–push her away!”
A servant stepped forward and shoved me hard.
I stumbled back, barely catching myself before I hit the ground.
I clutched my abdomen, the sharp pain intensifying with every second.
I watched helplessly as the maids dragged a sobbing Rowan back toward Doris and Lillian.
“Let go of me! I want to go home with Mommy! Mommy-!”
His cries were raw and piercing, echoing through the courtyard.
My heart sank. I suddenly felt… tired.
One was the child’s biological grandmother. The other, his biological mother.
Compared to them, I–an almost–divorced woman–was nothing. Just an outsider.
A sleek black Bentley rolled through the gates.
The sound of the engine pulled my gaze.
The rear door opened.
Vincent stepped out, clad in a tailored black suit. Cold. Impeccable. Distant.
His eyes flicked over me–expression unreadable.
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