Chapter 4
Patrick wiped the corner of his mouth with a mocking smile. “Regret?
“Once Sadie joins the Quinlan Group and Brody supports our partnership, the Connery family’s future will soar. If you don’t start acting more respectfully, you’re the one who’ll regret it.”
I clenched my fists and held back my anger. “That child belongs to Brody. If you continue treating us like this, he won’t stand by and do nothing.”
Patrick’s expression darkened, and he tore off my pants like a hungry wolf. “Are you still talking nonsense? You’re clearly losing it. If I don’t teach you a lesson, you will start hurting Sadie!”
As he was about to take action, we heard a shriek and a child’s cry from
outside.
Patrick immediately zipped up his pants and walked out.
Sadie’s voice came from the hallway, panicked. “Patrick, I only asked the child to call me ‘Mommy,‘ but he kicked me in the stomach. I didn’t mean
to hurt him!”
My heart dropped, and I rushed out to see the child’s tear–streaked face. Overcome with emotion, I grabbed the nearest object to strike Sadie. I shouted, “If you ever hurt my child again, I will kill you!”
Patrick pushed me aside and ran to check on Sadie, who clutched her stomach with a pale face. “Sadie, are you okay?”
“Patrick, it hurts. Am I going to die with the baby?
“That would be fine too. If I die, I will not have to be a mistress. Patrick,
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please take good care of my child after I die. It doesn’t matter if he doesn’t
want his birth mother…”
“I won’t let anything happen to you,” he said, visibly shaken. “The doctor is on his way!”
He turned toward me with cold eyes and snapped, “You encouraged the child to act out, didn’t you?”
Then, he looked at the child, who was still crying and tied to a post nearby. My heart plummeted.
After that, I heard him say coldly, “Get me the whip soaked in salt water.”
Panic surged through me, and I went over to grab his arm. “Patrick, please don’t punish him! Take it out on me, not him!”
Before I could reach him, the bodyguards held me back.
Whip!
My child’s crying was so loud it felt like it was splitting my head open. I yanked myself free from the guards, dropped to my knees, and hugged Patrick’s leg, begging, “Please! Don’t hurt him! I’m sorry, it’s all my fault. Please stop!”
Patrick kicked me aside and whipped my child again. Then he grabbed the boy’s head roughly and said coldly, “Tell me, who’s your real mom?”
The child trembled in pain, but still looked at me with teary eyes and whispered, “Mommy…”
My heart shattered–into a million pieces.
I got down on my knees in front of Patrick and begged, “Please! Let him go. I’ll do whatever you want!”
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Patrick pointed at Sadie, who was lying there pretending to be unconscious. “You messed up Sadie’s face. Do I need to spell out what comes next?”
Without thinking, I picked up a brick and hit myself in the head, again and again.
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I did not know how long it went on, but everything started to blur. Blood blurred my vision, and I felt myself passing out. Right before I blacked out, I heard Patrick’s voice as he comforted Sadie, “Are you feeling better now?”
“No. Should we just dump the kid into the woods and let the wild animals take care of him?”
When I came to, the cold bit into my skin. I saw the child next to me, whimpering and barely breathing.
We were surrounded by coyotes.
I picked my child up and tried to run, but the coyotes circled in closer.
Just as one of them lunged at us, I wrapped the child tightly in my arms and shut my eyes, ready for the worst…
Suddenly, the roar of helicopters filled the air above us.
***
One week later, Sadie stood in front of Patrick wearing a fitted business suit. “Patrick, how do I look?
“Do I need to dress fancier for the Quinlan Group?”
However, Patrick was not really listening. For some reason, he kept seeing Tara’s red, tear–filled eyes from that night in the woods.
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Just the memory made his chest tighten.
He realized he had missed Tara these past three years.
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Yes, she had every right to be angry. He had left her for three years and treated her like trash the moment he returned. That was not okay.
Patrick made up his mind to call off the punishment. Even though he had sent people to watch over her and the kid, the woods were too dangerous with the coyotes out there.
When Tara came back, he would remarry her, and he would hold a proper wedding this time.
Then, maybe she would finally forgive him.
Sadie was still talking beside him, but Patrick frowned and snapped, “That boy is your own son. Aren’t you even a little worried about him? And you’re still focused on what outfit to wear?”
Sadie froze. Before she could explain, her assistant rushed in, out of breath. “Sir! Madam gave a child up for adoption in Africa three years
ago…”
Before anyone could say another word, the door slammed open and a group of men stormed in.
Leading them was a man with a calm smile, but eyes like a snake. Patrick’s eyes widened in shock.
Immediately after, the barrel of a gun pressed against Patrick’s forehead. The man’s voice was cold when he asked, “Where are my wife and child?”
