Chapter 5

Vivian's appearance made Rachel's hands around my throat suddenly freeze.

The pressure on my neck loosened. I seized the opportunity to bite her hard, and she shoved me away violently.

Ignoring the pain in my throat and the dizziness in my head, I called out hoarsely.

"Vivian..."

"Well!"

Before I could finish, Cameron blocked Vivian's path.

He crossed his arms, chin lifted, his gaze sweeping over Vivian like a searchlight.

Seeing her approaching middle age but wearing a low-key tailored suit, her face cold and stern—this only confirmed Cameron's suspicion. This must be my mistress who couldn't see the light of day.

Looking at her bearing, she might even be some nouveau riche with a bit of money.

He scoffed, his tone full of mockery.

"No wonder you're so tough. Your mistress is here."

He looked Vivian up and down, his tone frivolous.

"Looks-wise... you do have some appeal. No wonder you've got Matthew wrapped around your finger. Poor Rachel—been a cuckold all these years."

Derek immediately jumped over and pointed at Vivian.

"I remember now! After training ended last week, I saw her talking with this uncle at the pool entrance, all sneaky!"

Father and son sang in harmony, completely unaware they were desperately testing the edge of death.

Vivian was the legendary living King of Hell who straddled both the legal and illegal worlds, known for her ruthless methods.

My only conversation with her was when her son wanted the link to my son's swimsuit, which is how we'd become contacts.

And at this moment, her only son lay at my feet, his face blue and purple and swollen, completely devoid of life.

I hadn't expected this blue swimsuit would make Derek mistake him for someone else.

From the moment she appeared, Vivian's gaze had been locked on that small body on the ground. She didn't even raise an eyelid at Cameron and Derek's noise and slander.

It wasn't until Derek pointed and shouted at her that she finally shifted her gaze from her son, turning to the bodyguard beside her.

Cameron, who'd been pampered and tyrannical for years, had never been so ignored.

Humiliated and enraged, he was about to raise his voice to continue his mockery when a bodyguard behind Vivian slapped him hard across the mouth.

"You dare block our boss's path? You have a death wish!"

Cameron's whole body jerked to the side from the blow, stumbling.

"Dad!"

Derek screamed and went to support him, barely keeping him from falling.

Clutching his face, he finally snapped out of his shock and let out a shrill voice.

"You... you dare hit me?!"

"Do you know who I am?! I'm the husband of HX Corporation chairman's only daughter! I'll make you..."

His shouting cut off abruptly.

Because Vivian's gaze had fallen on him.

That look was like a butcher examining livestock for slaughter, like a predator locking onto prey beneath its claws.

No anger, no rebuke. Just quietly watching.

This one glance even stopped Rachel, who'd been about to rush forward and question her, in her tracks.

Vivian finally walked toward me step by step. When her gaze caught the edge of blue pants belonging to the boy whose upper body was covered, her pupils contracted sharply.

After a long moment, she raised her head to look at me and asked politely.

"May I ask where my son is? Did he run off to play again?"

I looked at her—this woman rumored to strike fear into everyone who heard her name. Right now, all color had drained from her face.

Her fists were clenched so tight her knuckles were white and veins bulged, completely betraying her forced composure.

She was afraid. Afraid to confirm that worst possibility.

In my previous life, the heart-wrenching agony of losing my son pierced through time and space to strike me.

My nose stung and my eyes uncontrollably reddened.

I understood her. I understood too well—that desperate hope that your child had just wandered off mischievously, refusing to accept even the slightest hint of terrible news.

But I had to personally shatter her last illusion.