Chapter 15
To win Samantha back, Harry spent all his time at the office. Still, he was always met with obstacles.
While Harry wasn’t home, Lydia, who was frustrated from being locked up, finally had the perfect opportunity to let loose. She had acted kindly to worm her way into the family. Since he was no longer around, she didn’t have to put on an act anymore.
Whenever Joseph cried or did something that displeased her, she would grab his arm and dig her nails
into his delicate skin.
“What are you crying for?” Lydia hissed under her breath, her lips twisted into a venomous sneer. “Do you really think your mommy will come back and save you? She doesn’t even want you!”
Joseph bit his lip and dared not make a sound, tears welling up in his eyes.
She sneered before twisting his ears hard. That wouldn’t leave any visible bruises, yet Joseph would still be in great pain.
“Go and get my slippers.” Lydia gleefully let go of him and watched him stumble around.
When Joseph came back with her slippers, she deliberately kicked the glass over. “You clumsy kid! Wipe it dry!”
As Joseph kneeled on the ground to wipe the puddle with his sleeve, Lydia suddenly stepped on his fingers. She ground her stiletto heel into the back of his hand, yet her voice sounded kindly and gentle.
“Next time, if you tattle to your father again, I’ll lock you up in the basement.”
The room was instantly filled with Joseph’s screams and sobs.
Lydia heard the butler’s footsteps outside the door and quickly acted concerned. “Joe, what happened? Let me help you up.”
The next day, Joseph huddled in a corner of the kindergarten, holding a crayon. He had drawn a picture of Samantha wearing a pretty dress, holding his hand as they stood in a field of flowers.
“Joe, why are there only two people in your drawing?” the teacher asked softly.
Joseph lowered his gaze as he dragged the red crayon across the paper. “Daddy’s no good, and Ms. Yeager’s evil.”
His voice grew softer before breaking into a choked sob. “I miss Mommy…”
The teacher sighed at his words before wrapping him in her arms to comfort him.
It was evening when Samantha heard a child’s sobs outside her apartment building, and she stopped in
her tracks.
“Mommy!” Joseph crawled out of the bushes. His school uniform was dirty, and his knees were bruised. He ran over and hugged her leg, crying while trembling all over.
“Mommy, I was wrong… It’s all my fault…”
The teacher stood behind them, looking apologetic as she explained, “Apologies, Ms. Knott. The kid kept crying for you, so I brought him here to see you.”
Samantha crouched down. Just as Joseph pulled away, she deftly caught his wrist. Under his sleeve, there were several harsh bruises on his inner arm.
“What happened?” Her voice grew cold.
Joseph shook his head while sniffling. “Ms. Yeager said she’ll lock me up in the basement if I tell Daddy she hit me…”
“She’s gone too far…” Samantha’s expression hardened, and the hatred she felt for Harry and Lydia grew deeper.
Lionel quietly handed Samantha a wet wipe, his expression unreadable.
In a kid-friendly restaurant, Joseph wolfed down some strawberry pancakes. Samantha used to make those for him every week.
“Take your time.” She wiped the cream away from the corners of his mouth with her thumb. Although still gentle, she shook her head in response to Joseph’s hopeful gaze.
“Joe, your daddy and I are already divorced. We can’t go back to how things were before, but I’ll always love you. If you run into any problems, you can always come to me.”
Joseph’s spoon fell to the plate with a clang. He stared at Samantha before looking at Lionel, who always remained by her side, as protective as ever.
Suddenly, Joseph understood something. Perhaps after everything that happened, Samantha eventually lost all hope in the family.
With tears in his eyes, he quietly finished the last of his pancakes.
