Chapter 3He Hated Me Until He Learned I Was Dead

“This isn’t good. Cassian has a fever. You all go ahead and eat, don’t wait on me. I’ll bring the kid to the clinic and get him checked.”

He stood up and prepared to leave, making sure to grab another thick coat to wrap around Cassian.

Georgina stopped him.

“There’s no need to rush around like that. We have children’s fever medicine at home. Hazel used it before; it worked quite well.”

“Thank you, you really pay attention. Otherwise, I honestly wouldn’t know what to handle first.”

Georgina spoke with her teeth nearly clenched together.

“That’s only natural. After all, we’re family.”

“It’s just that if Sister Corinne finds out the child is gone—”

“Don’t bring her up to me. Corinne would be better off dying outside. If not, I’m not finished with her!”

I understood that Georgina kept mentioning me not because she wished to keep Cassian, but because she wanted to ruin my image even more in Leander’s mind.

But this time, she was thinking too much. In my current state, I couldn’t do anything at all.

After Cassian took the medicine, his fever dropped not long after.

I drifted near the head of the bed, not daring to look away for even a second.

Guilt and shame fully washed over me.

Before I could calm down, the bedroom door suddenly swung inward.

Right in front of me was a face that looked very similar to Leander's.

Hazel, dressed in a pink princess outfit, skipped straight to the bed.

At that moment, Cassian slowly opened his eyes.

Before he managed to speak, the young girl lifted her hand and struck Cassian across the cheek.

“So you’re the bastard Dad had outside? You smell awful. How long has it been since you washed? Who allowed you to sleep in my room!”

She seized a slipper and hit Cassian’s back with all her strength.

“Get out! You ugly, weirdo, get out!”

Cassian was so weak that his voice barely came out.

“I am not a bastard…”

“Dad said I am his son. Aunt said nobody was staying in this room…”

The little girl planted her hands on her waist and stared down at him.

“Who said nobody is using it? I kept this room for my dolls!”

Hazel pulled back the blanket. On the other pillow lay a small doll, neat and still.

Cassian’s eyes quickly filled with tears.

“I’m sorry. I won’t stay here anymore. I will leave right away.”

As he tried hard to push himself upright, the girl shoved him with force.

In that instant, he tipped forward and slammed down onto the ground.

Cassian didn’t sob when he fell.

He didn’t sob when he was labeled a bastard.

But when he noticed the necklace on his chest was missing, he fully collapsed, his eyes turning wet and red.

“Where is my necklace? Return it to me!”

Hazel waved the chain in her fingers and flung it straight through the window.

“What garbage. I don’t want it at all! If you want it, crawl outside and get it!”

“Your mother is a whore, and you’re a bastard born from a whore. Your whole family is shameless! Go die!”

Cassian could bear every kind of unfair treatment, except words that insulted his mother.

And inside that thrown-away necklace rested my ashes.

He suddenly felt stronger. He pushed Hazel down and slapped her.

I rushed ahead, crying out in panic.

“Cassian, do not hit her! If you do, you’ll be thrown out, and you will never have a home again!”

“Mom is okay. Mom is already dead. It doesn’t matter anymore!”

Yet he couldn’t hear my voice. His small face already showed wild anger.

When the slap landed, the bedroom doorway swung open.

Leander saw the scene ahead, grew very angry, ran forward, and kicked his son aside.

“What are you doing! Hazel is your sister, who allowed you to hurt her!”

“Is this how Corinne usually teaches you?!”

Cassian had already grown weak from the cold air. Now his back hit hard against the wall, and pain bent his tiny face at once.

“Mom never taught me that! She hit first! She grabbed my mom’s keepsake!”