Chapter 3

3.

A flash of emotion crossed Eleanor's face, and she reached out as if to help me up.

"Fine. Doctors, go help the kid."

But a second later, Wesley leaned his weight onto her, clutching his head.

"Eleanor, I feel dizzy. I think it's a concussion."

"Finn's surgeon is a specialist. I need him to check me first."

Eleanor immediately focused on him, her worry returning.

"Wesley's health is the priority! Get out of the way, Caleb!"

"If anything happens to him because of your brat, I'll destroy you!"

She shoved me aside and led Wesley into a private room.

The doctors followed her like sheep.

I grabbed the surgeon's sleeve, sobbing.

"Doctor, please! My son's heart is stopping! Just give him five minutes!"

The surgeon shook me off, looking sympathetic but scared.

"Mr. Reed, I'm sorry. You should have treated your wife better. It's out of my hands."

The alarm on the heart monitor began to scream from the hallway.

A nurse yelled out, "Code Blue! We're losing him!"

I ran to Finn's side, but it was too late. His heart had stopped.

He was already turning cold.

In the next room, Wesley's laughter drifted through the door.

"Eleanor, maybe we should let a doctor check on Finn? Just in case?"

"His son is as worthless as he is. He won't die that easily," Eleanor replied.

Her voice was so sweet when she talked to Wesley, yet it froze my blood.

"Just focus on getting better. If he passes, it's one less burden for the Sterling family."

"I'll take the money we saved on his bills and buy you that Ferrari you wanted."

I pulled Finn's body into my arms and collapsed on the floor.

If I hadn't waited for her, if I had sold the key sooner...

If I had known she truly didn't care...

Would Finn still be here?

I took Finn to the crematorium alone. He became a small, heavy box of ashes.

I cried until I had no tears left.

Before going home, I stopped by a lawyer's office to draft divorce papers.

When I got back, Eleanor was actually home. There were new children's clothes on the table.

She smiled at me, showing off a little outfit.

"Look, Wesley and I picked this out for Finn. He can wear it after his surgery."

"He's turning five soon, right? I'll throw him the biggest party once he's better."

"Are you happy now?"

I stared at her, my expression dead.

Finn was seven. She didn't even know his age.

She grabbed my arm, trying to be playful.

"Tomorrow is the big launch event. You're coming, right?"

"We need a technical lead there to make sure the demo goes perfectly."

"Wesley isn't a tech guy, otherwise I'd let him handle it."

She was so focused on the launch that she didn't even see the urn in my hand.

I handed her the divorce papers, a ghost of a smile on my face.

"Sure. Sign this, and I'll be there."

She didn't even read the document before signing it.

"Is this the surgery consent form? After the launch, I promise I'll visit him."

She would never get that chance.

At the live-streamed launch, Eleanor sat me at a back table like an assistant.

Wesley sat in the VP chair right next to her.

She held his hand the whole time, telling reporters about the company's new name.

"Wesley is my rock. Without him, none of this would be possible."

"He is the genius who developed Genesis Gaming. He's the one I want to thank."

"Now, let's begin the official demonstration."

I pulled out my phone and sent a single text to the rival company.

"The rival launch can start now."

In an instant, the screens behind Eleanor and Wesley flickered and changed.

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