Chapter 4

As he spoke, he backed up step by step, showing me a strange smile.

Then he fell backward.

The next second, a force hit me.

I saw Hannah rush over like a madwoman, trying to catch Leo.

But it was futile.

"Bang!"

Leo fell heavily down the steps.

His head hit the railing, and blood gushed out.

The bright red blood stung my eyes, making my whole body shudder.

Not long ago, I had just experienced something exactly like this.

Behind me came Riley's wailing cry. "Daddy Leo!"

"Leo, are you okay? You can't... you can't be hurt..." Hannah screamed desperately.

She knelt helplessly in the pool of blood, gripping Leo's hand, her voice nearly breaking. "Don't be scared. I'll get you to the hospital right away."

Hannah called the property management with trembling hands.

When the staff arrived, several people worked together to get the unconscious Leo into the elevator.

Hannah followed behind.

Before getting on the elevator, she suddenly turned back, her eyes filled with hostility.

"Jasper, I won't let you get away with this."

The instant before the elevator doors fully closed, I saw Hannah press her forehead against the back of Leo's hand.

That kind of care, deep to the bone, was something I had never received in the nearly thirty years Hannah and I had known each other.

Riley rushed over, hitting me repeatedly and glaring at me viciously. "You should just die! You hurt Daddy Leo. I never want to call you Dad again."

Hannah's revenge came quickly.

That evening, I received news from the hospital—my mother was about to be kicked out.

"Mr. Reed, you have to understand that this hospital answers to the Smith family. We have no choice."

"Maybe you could ask Miss Smith? After all, you're husband and wife..."

The hand holding my phone was shaking.

My mother's condition had been well controlled.

Victory had been within reach. Transferring hospitals now would undo all our progress.

And my mother's body couldn't handle that kind of upheaval.

Just to be safe, I quickly contacted other hospitals.

But without exception, not a single hospital was willing to accept her.

Either they feared the Smith family's influence or thought my mother's condition was too severe...

I had no choice but to beg Hannah.

In the hospital corridor, Hannah leaned against the wall, her demeanor growing colder.

"You want to beg me to save your mother?"

"Yes. According to the divorce agreement, you should let my mother continue treatment at the Smith family hospital until she recovers."

My voice was tight.

Hannah sneered but didn't respond.

I took a deep breath and explained, almost humbly, "Leo wasn't pushed by me. You can check the surveillance. He did it himself..."

I was becoming incoherent.

Hannah walked toward me in her high heels, step by step, her tone utterly cold.

"Does it matter?"

"What?"

"Does the truth matter?"

Hannah's expression was haughty, carrying the air of a judge passing down sentence.

"Either way, Leo fell down the stairs because of you."

I stared at Hannah in shock, the last thread in my mind snapping.

I broke down and shouted, "That's a human life, Hannah! Are you really going to watch my mother die?"

"Using your mother's life to pay for Leo's injuries seems pretty fair to me."

A nearly cruel smile rose in Hannah's eyes.

I had no choice but to fall to my knees and kowtow to Hannah.

"Please, please spare my mother. I'll use my life to atone if I have to. I'm willing to die..."

Hannah's expression didn't soften in the slightest.

She looked at me like I was insane.

"Jasper, you really look like a dog begging for scraps right now."

Right after Hannah left, I got a call from the caregiver.

"Mr. Reed, I'm sorry for your loss. Your mother has passed away."

"The hospital was completely unreasonable. They just pulled the plug on her ventilator..."

Boom—

My world plunged into complete darkness.

I handled my mother's funeral simply, then carried her ashes to the seaside...

Meanwhile, Hannah was at the hospital keeping Leo company.

Leo looked at her, clearly preoccupied, and suddenly asked, "Are you worried about Jasper?"

Hannah shook her head.

Leo lay in the hospital bed, gently taking Hannah's hand and speaking persuasively, "Trust me, nothing will happen."

"That serious illness was just Jasper's act. His mother's illness was cured long ago."

Hannah murmured in agreement.

But her heart was still anxious.

Until Mrs. Smith burst into the room, looking panicked. "Quick, quick, you need to issue a statement saying Jasper's death has nothing to do with you."