A sickly-sweet wave of perfume snapped me back to reality.
Becky clung to Samuel’s arm, her tone coy and delicate.
“Sam, don’t be mad. It’s all in the past.”
Her mocking gaze swept over my son and me, lingering on our worn-out clothes, her pity barely concealed.
“She looks pretty miserable now. Left you to find a rich man, only to fail again.”
She swayed Samuel’s arm playfully.
“Sam, why don’t we help her out? It’s just sixty thousand dollars—not even the price of one of my bags.”
She sighed dramatically. “I just can’t stand seeing a child so pitiful. Not only is he illegitimate, but he can’t even afford a cheap toy.”
Though she sounded like she was pleading on my behalf, every word was a reminder to Samuel that I had left him for money, moved on without hesitation, and had another man’s child.
The flicker of resentment and hesitation in Samuel’s eyes was instantly replaced by cold indifference.
He let go of me and shoved me away hard.
Then, with a gentleness that felt like a mockery, he pulled Becky into his arms.
“You’re just too softhearted and kind. A woman this scheming and ruthless doesn’t deserve an ounce of sympathy.”
Samuel curled his lips, as if mocking himself or maybe me.
“What’s the point of treating her well? In the end, she’ll just toss you aside like you never mattered.”
I staggered, barely keeping my balance.
The medical report in my hand slipped to the ground.
Becky picked it up, glanced at it, then gasped in exaggerated shock.
“Kidney failure?”
Samuel’s expression darkened in an instant as he snatched the report from her hands.
Becky turned to me, feigning surprise.
“Loretta, you really went all out… Carrying around a medical report while shopping and even coaching your son to block the way and call Sam ‘Daddy.’”
Whatever trace of doubt or concern had flickered in Samuel’s eyes slowly faded with those words.
Without hesitation, he flung the report at me, the papers scattering all over.
“Six years apart, and your tricks have only gotten more disgusting! Your child is so unlucky to have a shameless mother like you.”
My son couldn’t hold back anymore.
He burst into tears and lunged forward, fists clenched, trying to hit Samuel.
