Chapter 4

After a rattling overnight train ride, Cole and Susie arrived at the Vance estate in the capital just as dawn broke.

It was still early.

When they knocked on the heavy iron gates, only a stone-faced security guard in uniform answered.

The guard went inside to make a phone call. When he returned, his expression was cold, but he gestured for them to follow him in.

Walking down the pristine driveway, Cole's eyes nearly popped out of his head.

Paved roads, immaculate manicured lawns, polished marble foyers, and modern luxury at every turn.

Cole became even more convinced that dumping me was the smartest move he had ever made.

A wealthy heir couldn't possibly be seen with an embarrassing deaf wife from the sticks.

Yet the guard didn't lead them toward the grand main manor. Instead, he led them around the back, stopping in front of a drafty, dilapidated brick shed once used for maintenance tools.

"Major Vance's orders: you stay here."

"You came here uninvited. The family will not arrange a job for you. Find your own way."

Cole was completely stunned.

He grabbed the guard's arm in disbelief.

"Are you insane? I'm Richard Vance's son! You're putting me in a shack?"

"This place is worse than my factory housing back home!"

The guard shoved him away with ease, adjusting his collar.

"General Vance made it clear before his passing: the entire estate is under the command of his eldest grandson, Major Lucas Vance. As for Richard Vance... he was reassigned to a remote border garrison yesterday. He won't be back for three to five years."

"The Major said: if you don't like it, go back where you crawled from. The Vance family doesn't support freeloaders."

Cole panicked.

He started yelling at the top of his lungs, demanding to see his father and his cousin.

"Bullshit! I want to see my dad!"

"Lucas Vance is my cousin! How dare he treat me like this? I divorced my wife and quit my stable factory job just to come here!"

Susie joined in, shrieking hysterically:

"Exactly! I quit my teaching position!"

"If you throw us out now, we'll starve on the street!"

Their screaming made such a scene that the guard had no choice but to call the main house again.

The final verdict arrived almost instantly.

The guard returned, his face dark, flanked by two armed security officers.

"Major Vance isn't interested. And he made it clear: there is no room for you in this family."

"Get out before we throw you out for trespassing."

Cole tried to throw himself onto the ground to throw a tantrum, but the two guards grabbed him and Susie by their collars, tossing them and their bags straight out onto the street.

The heavy iron gates slammed shut in their faces.

Susie finally realized the harsh truth.

There was no wealth, no high-society luxury. The prestigious Vance family didn't give a damn about an illegitimate son!

Furious, she slapped Cole across the face and stormed off.

Cole stood on the sidewalk, dazed and terrified.

After hours of panic, a desperate thought struck him: he would go back to me.

The Vances didn't want him, but his little deaf wife always worshipped him!

As long as he went back and signed a few sweet apologies, I would melt right back into his arms.

When Cole finally made it back to our small town, the courtyard was dead silent.

He pushed the door open and stepped into the living room. On the wooden table sat the wrinkled ultrasound, covered in his dirty boot print.

Cole grabbed the paper, his eyes widening in shock.

"Pregnant?"

"I'm going to be a father! Daisy! Daisy, I'm home!"

He spun around, shouting my name through the empty rooms.

The noise drew Mrs. Jenkins from next door.

She walked to the gate, glaring at him with pure hatred.

Cole rushed over, his voice trembling with excitement:

"Mrs. Jenkins, have you seen Daisy? Look at this—she's pregnant! I'm going to be a dad! Where is she?"

Mrs. Jenkins spat right in his face.

"Rot in hell, you heartless bastard! The baby died the second you shoved her to the ground yesterday! That was an innocent life, you monster! Her real parents took her away last night to the capital to give her the best medical care in the country."

"Or did your greedy ass not know?"

"Daisy is the daughter of Mayor Sterling!"