"We’re getting a divorce, and I’m taking Lorin with me."

Vivian Hawthorne forced herself to stay steady as she set the divorce papers right in front of Harrison Hawthorne.

Harrison just swept his eyes over the document, and a flash of fury shot through them. In the next second, he shot up from his seat, strode straight to her, and clamped his hand hard around her neck.

"Vivian," he snapped, voice shaking with rage, "I just told you Lorin is a match for Selene, and now you want to run off with him? How can you be this vicious?"

Vivian’s breath hitched as his fingers dug into her throat. Her face flushed red, and with tears blurring her eyes, she forced out, "Harrison… Selene was never sick. Marina and her daughter are lying to you. She just wants Lorin’s life. Lorin is your son—please, I’m begging you, let him go."

Her eyes were filled with raw despair. A tear slipped from the corner of her eye and fell onto the back of his hand. Harrison jerked slightly, as if burned, and his grip loosened on instinct.

Right then, Harrison’s phone rang—Marina’s call. He snatched it up immediately.

"Yeah?"

Marina’s voice came through trembling and anxious. "Harrison, bring Lorin over now. Selene can’t hold on any longer!"

"Okay. Don’t panic, I’m coming."

The moment he hung up, Harrison snapped toward the bodyguards. "Take Lorin to the hospital. Now."

"Mom!"

Lorin was dragged out by the guards, arms flailing, crying and reaching desperately for Vivian.

"No! Don’t you touch my child!"

Vivian lunged forward, yanking Lorin back from their arms and holding him tight.

Terrified, Lorin buried himself in her arms, trembling.

Vivian clutched him like she’d lose him the second she let go, eyes swollen from crying. She glared at Harrison with pure hatred.

"Unless I die today, you’re not taking Lorin from me."

Harrison’s last bit of patience snapped. He turned coldly to the guards.

"What are you standing there for? Get the kid and take him to the hospital!"

"Yes, sir!"

Several guards stepped forward and pried Lorin out of Vivian’s arms with brute force.

"Lorin! Give my son back!"

Vivian staggered up to grab him again, but Harrison yanked her back, frowning sharply.

"Vivian, when did you become this heartless? I can’t even recognize you anymore."

"Someone!" Harrison barked. A servant rushed in, and he shoved Vivian toward them.

"Watch her. Don’t let her step out of this house."

"Yes, sir."

Harrison Hawthorne had just grabbed his jacket and was heading out when Vivian Hawthorne rushed out of the bedroom. She stood on the second‑floor landing, voice shaking with rage and heartbreak as she shouted, "Harrison, you’re going to regret this!"

Harrison paused for half a second, then opened the door and walked out without a word.

Vivian stared as the door clicked shut, cutting her off from the world and crushing the last bit of hope she’d been clinging to.

"Aaah!" Vivian slammed her fists against the floor, her cry echoing through the empty villa like something breaking.

At the hospital, Marina Lawson had been waiting. When the bodyguard handed over the child, she glanced behind him, didn’t see anyone, and asked, "Where’s Harrison?"

The bodyguard replied, "Mr. Hawthorne was called back to the old estate by Mr. Hawthorne."

Hearing that, Marina instantly relaxed. She exchanged a quick look with the doctor waiting in the office, and Lorin Hawthorne was pushed straight into the operating room.

Vivian sat motionless on the floor, waiting from sunrise to sunset and then through the long, cold night until dawn seeped in again.

Suddenly there was a sound downstairs—the front door opening—followed by the nanny’s panicked scream: "Young master! Oh my god—young master!"

"Lorin!" Vivian jerked up, ignoring her numb legs as she scrambled to her feet and rushed downstairs.

There, Marina Lawson was holding Lorin’s limp, lifeless body, a smug smile tugging at her lips as she looked at Vivian.

Seeing Lorin’s little hand hanging down, Vivian felt her soul ripped clean out of her body. She stumbled forward in a daze.

"Lorin…" Her eyes filled with tears as she reached out, but Marina pulled the child back.

She put on a fake soft tone, saying, "Sorry, Vivian. The doctor accidentally drained all of his bone marrow. Lorin's gone. Harrison thought it was bad luck and wanted to toss him out for the dogs, but I’m kinder than that—so I brought him back to you. Take him."

Then she simply threw Lorin toward her.

"Lorin!" Vivian didn’t catch him. His small body hit the floor, rolling once. Vivian lunged forward, gathering him into her arms, sobbing so hard her voice nearly tore. "Baby… I’m sorry… I’m so sorry… Mommy didn’t protect you… my child…"

Each word broke like blood‑stained glass.

Marina watched her fall apart and actually laughed, delighted. "Wow, what a tragic kid. If he hadn’t been your son, he wouldn’t have died."

Then she grabbed Vivian by the throat, eyes full of venom. "Vivian, this is what you get for trying to take my man. You deserved it."

Vivian gently set Lorin down, then lifted her tear‑reddened eyes to Marina. Hatred surged through her like fire. "Marina Lawson… give me back my Lorin. Give him back!"

Vivian Hawthorne shot to her feet and slapped Marina Lawson so hard that Marina went straight to the floor. Vivian didn’t hesitate—she pounced on her, straddling her and locking her hands around Marina’s throat. Her eyes were bloodshot, wild, like she’d snapped and wanted nothing more than to squeeze the life out of her.

“Vivian, are you out of your mind? If you kill me, Harrison Hawthorne will never let you go!” Marina’s face turned a dark, ugly purple as she struggled, terror flooding her eyes.

“Harrison deserves damnation, and so do you!” Vivian’s voice shook with hatred. Even if it cost her life, she wanted justice for Lorin Hawthorne.

Marina tried to fight back, but the moment she caught Harrison’s figure in the doorway, she instantly switched to begging. “Vivian, I was wrong, please… please don’t kill me.”

But Vivian was already beyond reasoning. She snapped, shouting, “Too late! Marina, I’m going to kill you—and your daughter too! My Lorin deserves justice!”

“Vivian, are you insane?” Harrison barked the moment he stepped inside, his suit jacket slung over his arm. Hearing her shout about killing people, he panicked and motioned to the bodyguards. “What are you waiting for? Get them apart!”

The bodyguards rushed in and tore them away from each other.

Marina immediately dove into Harrison’s arms, crying so pitifully it looked rehearsed. “Harrison… Vivian blames me for asking you to take Lorin to donate bone marrow to Selene. My Selene was doomed… she didn’t have the blessing. Don’t blame Vivian.”

Harrison turned, frowning sharply at Vivian as he scolded, “How can you be this vicious? I’m sending Lorin back to the old manor. You’re not allowed to see him again until you calm down.”

Safe in his arms, Marina lifted her lips in a smug, mocking smile.

Vivian let out a hollow laugh, sharp and broken. “Hahaha…” So this was what it felt like to be pushed to the edge—people really did laugh when they ran out of tears.

She turned, wanting to show Harrison their son’s body, but one of the bodyguards deliberately blocked her view.

Vivian tried to move around him, but Harrison strode over, grabbed her wrist, and dragged her straight in front of Marina. “What are you trying to pull now? Apologize to Marina. Right now.”

Marina’s cold, triumphant smile cut like a blade. Lorin was dead, and Vivian still had to bow her head—pitiful didn’t even begin to cover it.

Marina wept again, delicate and fragile. “Vivian, I know you don’t like Selene… but she’s my daughter, the child I carried for ten months. A mother’s tied to her child. You’re a mom too. I’m begging you—just spare Selene. If you want, I’ll even give my bone marrow to Lorin as repayment.”

Vivian trembled with rage. The performance. The hypocrisy. She was doing it again.

Right now, all Vivian wanted was vengeance for her son. She gritted her teeth. “Then go die for him!”

Vivian snatched up the fruit knife from the coffee table and lunged at Marina.

Harrison had never seen her like this. Panic flashed across his face. He threw out his arm to block her, and the blade sliced across the back of his hand, drawing a sudden line of blood.

Marina gasped. “Harrison! You’re bleeding!”

“I’m fine,” Harrison said quickly, trying to calm her.

“Disgusting pair,” Vivian spat, chest rising and falling sharply. She swung the knife again at Marina.

Harrison’s expression darkened. He shoved Vivian hard and snapped, “Vivian Hawthorne, have you lost your mind?”

She hit the floor, and a sharp, tearing pain ripped through her lower abdomen—like something was being violently pulled from her body. As her vision blurred and darkness swallowed her, she vaguely heard the nanny’s terrified cry.

“Sir—Madam is bleeding!”