Chapter 2

Jade's POV

After leaving the company, I went straight to the hospital.

Outside the emergency room, the nanny was pacing anxiously.

Seeing me, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Jade, you're finally here! Mason just had a nebulizer treatment. The doctor said we got him here just in time-if we'd been half an hour later and he'd suffocated, it would've been serious."

Through the glass window, I saw Mason's small body curled up on the hospital bed, an oxygen tube in his nose, sleeping restlessly.

My heart felt like it was being pierced by needles.

I sent the nanny home to rest and stayed by the bedside myself.

My phone pinged with a message from Damien.

"Clara has a blister on her hand. I'm staying with her for the IV drip. Won't be home tonight."

Looking at that cold line of text, I finally remembered what day it was.

Today was our seventh wedding anniversary.

For this day, I'd made a reservation at a famous Michelin-starred restaurant half a month ago and even sent Damien a reminder message.

At the time, he'd replied with one word.

"Okay."

Now it seemed he'd completely forgotten.

I smiled and didn't reply, just turned off my phone.

Mason woke up once in the middle of the night.

His fever had gone down a bit. The first thing he said when he opened his eyes was.

"Mommy, did daddy come?"

My hand pausing while peeling an apple stopped.

Looking at the hopeful look in the child's eyes, I couldn't bring myself to say the word "dead."

I could only lie.

"Daddy's working. He's far away making money for Mason's medical treatment."

The light in Mason's eyes dimmed instantly.

He lowered his head, fidgeting with his fingers.

"Other kids have their daddies with them. I want daddy too."

I put down the knife and gently hugged him.

"I'm sorry. It's my fault."

Mason considerately patted my back.

"It's okay, mommy. Having you is enough."

In that moment, I made a decision.

I would take Mason away from here, to a place without Damien Carter.

Zurich, Switzerland. There was the best asthma rehabilitation center there, and the peace I'd longed for.

The next morning, Mason's condition stabilized. I completed the discharge procedures and took him home.

As soon as we entered the house, I smelled a strong fragrance.

It was the scent of lilies.

I frowned. Mason had a sensitive respiratory system and couldn't tolerate this kind of irritating floral scent.

On the coffee table in the living room sat a large bouquet of blooming stargazer lilies.

Damien was sitting on the sofa, holding a pink scarf and looking at it.

It was Clara's.

Seeing us return, he didn't even look up, just asked casually.

"Fever gone?"

His tone was as flat as if he were asking about the weather.

I ignored him and immediately took the vase of lilies out to the balcony, closing the door to block the scent.

Only then did Damien put down the scarf and look at me with displeasure.

"What are you doing? Those are flowers Clara gave me, saying it was to thank me for staying with her yesterday."

"Mason can't tolerate that scent. It makes him cough."

I said.

Damien scoffed.

"How can he be that delicate? I think you've just spoiled this kid. He has no masculine spirit at all."

I didn't want to argue with him. I took Mason's hand and headed to our room.

But Damien suddenly stood up and tossed an exquisite gift box at me.

"Take this."

I caught it reflexively.

"Since the fever's gone, stop looking so gloomy. This is compensation for you."

Compensation?

I opened the box. Inside was a necklace.

I'd actually seen this exact same style on Clara's Instagram yesterday.

The caption read.

"Mr. Carter has such good taste. Though this style doesn't suit me, he insisted on buying it. Wonder who he's planning to give it to?"

Seeing my silence, Damien said impatiently.

"Get ready. The day after tomorrow, the company's having a team-building trip to the water park. Bring the kid along."

I looked up sharply.

"Water park?"

"Yes. Clara said she wants some excitement. Everyone's bringing family members. I told them you're a relative staying with your kid at my place. You need to come too. Don't embarrass me in front of the employees."

I looked at his matter-of-fact expression and felt cold all over.

"I'm not going."

My refusal was firm.

"Why not?"

Damien frowned.

"Mason is afraid of water."

I stared into his eyes, enunciating each word.

"When he was three, you were playing on your phone by the pool and he nearly drowned. He's had a phobia of deep water ever since. Have you forgotten?"

Damien froze for a moment.

Then he waved his hand dismissively.

"That was so long ago and you're still bringing it up? How can a boy be so timid? This is a perfect chance for him to practice courage. It's settled then. We leave at eight the day after tomorrow."

With that, he grabbed his car keys and left without looking back.

"Clara's still waiting for me downstairs. I'm going to drive her to work."

The moment the door closed, I threw the necklace into the trash.