Chapter 5

Jade's POV

Damien finally looked at the agreement properly.

But the emotion in his eyes was anger at being challenged.

"Jade Wilson, do you think I've been too lenient with you lately?"

He advanced step by step.

"Seven years of marriage-what have I done wrong by you? I gave you the title of Mrs. Carter. What more do you want besides making it public?"

"Want love? Or want me to coddle you the way I do Clara?"

He laughed coldly and picked up the agreement, tearing it in half.

"If you leave the Carter family, where can you go?"

I watched the torn paper scatter on the floor, my heart like still water.

"That's not for Mr. Carter to worry about."

I turned to go back to the room to check on Mason. Damien grabbed my wrist.

"Think you can leave before we're done talking?"

His grip was strong, painfully tight.

Just then, a childish but angry shout came from the stairway.

"Let go of my mommy!"

Mason had woken up at some point. Standing on the stairs in his pajamas, he clutched a toy tightly in his hands.

Damien looked up, his brow tightly furrowed.

"Adults are talking. What are you interrupting for? Go back to your room."

Mason didn't move. Those eyes so similar to Damien's were filled with hostility for the first time.

"You're a bad person! You're bullying mommy! I don't want you as my daddy!"

That sentence was like stepping on Damien's tail.

He released me and strode up the stairs, looking at Mason.

"What did you say? I'm a bad person? I provide your food and clothes, let you live in a big house, and this is how you talk to your father?"

Mason stepped back in fear but still stubbornly held his head high.

"You let that person push me in the water! You didn't save me! You're a bad daddy!"

The crisp sound of a slap echoed through the empty villa.

Both Mason and I froze.

Damien's hand hung in midair, seemingly surprised he'd actually struck.

Mason covered his face, looking at him in disbelief. Large tears rolled down but he made no sound crying.

That look was one of complete disappointment and severance.

I went crazy and rushed up, shoving Damien aside hard, pulling Mason tightly into my arms.

"Damien Carter! Have you lost your mind?! He's only six years old!"

Damien stumbled from my push, a flash of regret crossing his face, quickly covered by forced pride.

"He was disrespectful first! I'm teaching him manners!"

"Manners?"

I trembled with rage.

"Your manners mean embarrassing your son in public? Spending time with your mistress when he's sick? Hitting him?"

"Jade Wilson!" Damien shouted to silence me.

"Don't make it sound so ugly! What mistress? Clara is..."

The doorbell rang abruptly, interrupting the argument.

Damien irritably tugged at his tie and turned to go downstairs to answer the door.

The door opened.

Clara stood at the entrance with two suitcases, her face bright with smiles.

"Damien, good morning! I'm not interrupting, am I?"

She peered inside and happened to see Mason and me in our disheveled state on the stairs. She covered her mouth in surprise.

"What happened? Should I not have come?"

Damien's expression instantly softened. He took the suitcases from Clara's hands and stepped aside to let her in.

"Why are you here so early?"

Clara changed into slippers and intimately linked her arm through his.

"My air conditioning broke. It's so hot. Your place is much more comfortable."

Then she turned to look at me, her eyes full of provocation.

"Jade, sorry to intrude. Mr. Carter said I could move in temporarily for a few days to help take care of things. You don't mind, do you?"

I looked at Damien, waiting for his explanation.

But he only avoided my gaze and said flatly.

"Clara hasn't been well lately. I don't feel comfortable with her living alone. The house has plenty of rooms anyway. Clean up the guest room for her."

"No need to clean up the guest room."

Holding Mason, I descended the stairs step by step.

"You can have the master bedroom. Mason and I are moving out right now."