Chapter 2

But before I could finish, Serena leaned down and shoved the spilled coffee and broken pieces from the floor into my mouth.

"Blake and I worked tirelessly for three years, while you've been living in luxury here with a bastard child!"

"I'll make you drink it all!"

Choking, I couldn't make a sound. The shards cut my mouth, filling it with blood.

I tried to raise a hand to resist, but Blake stomped on my hand with his dress shoe.

Pain shot through my hand, but I couldn't scream.

After forcing all the debris into my mouth, Serena spat, then finally stood up.

Blake's shoe tip moved towards the child I was shielding.

Terror gripped me. I desperately clutched his ankle.

Victoria couldn't have children of her own. This child was the orphan of one of her old friends. We adopted him out of compassion, cherishing him ever since.

Blake's face was full of mockery. "Alex, you look like a pathetic stray dog protecting its pup, so miserable."

Serena frowned, staring at the baby. "If word gets out that I was betrayed, how can I ever show my face in this circle again? Blake, teach him a lesson!"

I shook my head frantically, spitting out the filth and blood in my mouth. I managed to gasp, "This child... he's Victoria's..."

Serena paused, then burst into laughter.

"Alex, you can't even make up a convincing lie! Everyone in town knows Victoria isn't interested in men and decided years ago she wasn't having kids."

"Now I'm the only direct bloodline left in the Sterling family. Otherwise, why would Grandpa Sterling have been so desperate for me to marry and carry on the family name?"

Blake chimed in, "Serena is the only heir. Grandpa Sterling even froze her credit cards just to force her back."

"Your lie is laughable. You're still trying to drag Victoria into your ridiculous stories even after being exposed."

Serena and Blake had run off three years ago, vanishing without a trace. Grandpa Sterling was truly disappointed in her, which was why he froze her cards and cut off all financial support, intending to completely disinherit her.

But now, they were clearly beyond reason. To avoid provoking them further, I didn't argue.

I just repeated, "I'm not lying. This child really is Victoria's."

"If you don't believe me, I can call her right now."

I shielded the baby with one hand, reaching for my phone on the coffee table with the other.

As long as I contacted Victoria, the baby and I would be saved. She would rush here immediately.

But just as my fingers brushed the phone, Serena snatched it away and smashed it to the floor.

The screen shattered, and my heart sank into a dark abyss.

Serena grabbed my chin. "Victoria has an unpredictable temper, a veritable titan in the business world, feared by everyone."

"If she knew I couldn't even handle this kind of 'family scandal,' she'd definitely think I'm incompetent. How would she ever entrust the family business to me in the future?"

"Alex, you were trying to pull a fast one by calling her, weren't you?"

I shook my head frantically. "No, this child is—"

Before I could finish, Blake kicked me in the stomach. "Serena, why waste words on this guy? Just get rid of this bastard and go explain things to Grandpa Sterling."

The blow to my abdomen, combined with the baby's startled cries, filled me with an unprecedented terror.

I pleaded, "Please, I beg you, spare the baby..."

Blake pulled out his phone and pointed it at me. "Now, get on your knees, bark like a dog twice, and say you're a pathetic excuse for a man. Then I'll let the baby go."