Mrs. Gable hesitated, then finally said, “Ms. Sterling said… she said it was just a small cold, and she went to Mrs. Lee’s birthday party, couldn’t decline…”
Dominic pulled out his phone and dialed Cassandra’s number.
It rang for a long time before she picked up, the background still filled with noisy laughter and
music.
“Dominic?” Cassandra’s voice was tinged with a slight, tipsy cheerfulness; she seemed to have completely forgotten the matter.
“Leo has a fever of almost 104°F. Where are you?”
“Ah… I’ll be right back!” Dominic’s tone was so harsh, for the first time, that Cassandra’s voice immediately turned flustered and aggrieved:
“I’m so sorry, Dominic, I thought it was just a common cold… I’m rushing back now.”
An hour later, Cassandra hurried back, still wearing her evening gown from the party, her face exquisitely beautiful.
Her eyes red, she rushed to Dominic, looking pitiful. “Dominic, I truly didn’t know Leo was so sick…
Dominic looked at her perfect makeup and the lingering scent of alcohol, a wave of irritation rising
in his chest.
But facing the face he had once longed for, he still softened.
“Let it go this time. Be more careful next time.”
Late that night, Leo’s fever finally subsided.
Dominic’s phone rang again-an emergency call from his assistant.
“Mr. Thorne, there’s an urgent situation at the company. We need you to handle it immediately.”
Dominic glanced at his sleeping son on the hospital bed, hesitated for a moment, then said,
3:50 pm
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“Cassandra, take care of him for a bit. I’ll be back as soon as I’m done.”
Cassandra nodded obediently, her expression as gentle as water. “Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of
Leo.”
Dominic left in a hurry, but when he reached the hospital entrance and checked his pockets, he realized his car keys were back in the ward.
He turned back. Just as he reached the ward door, he heard Cassandra’s sharp voice from inside:
“You little brat, what are you pretending for! You ruined my party!”
Leo’s crying voice, faint, reached his ears:
“I’m sorry, Auntie Cassie… I didn’t mean to…”
“I’m warning you, don’t play innocent in front of your dad!” Cassandra’s voice was terrifyingly cold, completely devoid of emotion.
“If you dare to say anything wrong, see what I do to you!”
“I-I won’t say anything…” Leo sobbed. “I’ll be good… please don’t hit me…”
“Hmph, good for you. Just like your bitch mother-”
Dominic, listening to all this outside the door, was utterly shaken. The image of the pure and kind woman he once loved completely crumbled in an instant.
The door was suddenly kicked open with a loud bang.
Cassandra spun around in terror, meeting Dominic’s furious gaze.
“D-Dominic…” Her face instantly went pale. She stammered,
“Let me explain… I was just…”
But Dominic had already strode forward, delivering a harsh slap across her face.
Cassandra stumbled, hitting the wall, her carefully styled hair coming undone,
“I never knew that behind my back, this is how you act as a so-called good mother…?”
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“If you dare to hit and threaten him today, will you dare to walk all over me tomorrow?”
“Get out.” Dominic’s voice was as cold as ice. “Today, you take all your things and move out of the
Thorne residence.”
“Don’t let me see you again.”
Cassandra clutched her face, tears smearing her makeup, and pleaded urgently, “Dominic, I was just
too upset… I truly love these children… I’ll be good to them from now on.”
“Love?” Dominic sneered. “Hitting and threatening them is your idea of love?”
He turned to Leo on the hospital bed. The child had already curled into a ball, his small face covered
in tears.
Dominic’s heart twisted as if stabbed by a knife-
How blind had he been not to realize what kind of fear the children were living in?
“Daddy…” Leo timidly reached out a hand, his eyes filled with terror. “I was wrong… I’ll listen to
Auntie. Don’t abandon me…”
Dominic knelt by the bed, tightly holding his son’s burning little hand. “No, Daddy was wrong.”
He turned to Cassandra, the disappointment and disgust in his eyes making her involuntarily take a
step back.
“I never imagined you were this kind of person.”
Cassandra still wanted to argue, but Dominic had already pressed the call button:
“Security, please escort this lady out immediately.”
When Cassandra’s cries finally faded down the hallway, Dominic sat wearily by the hospital bed.
Leo cautiously tugged at his sleeve, whimpering pitifully, “Daddy… I miss Mommy. Will you bring Mommy back?”
Dominic’s throat tightened.
He remembered Elara’s resolute back as she left, remembered his past coldness and hurt towards
B’1
3:51 pm D
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