Chapter 2

That evening, Chloe was bustling around the living room, setting up for a birthday party.

She had even bought a ridiculously expensive designer cake that must have cost hundreds of dollars.

My husband watched her, puzzled. "Gideon is your son. Why do you throw a party for our Simon every year instead?"

She rolled her eyes. "What's wrong with spoiling my own nephew?"

Cole frowned. "What kind of mother are you?"

"Who told him to be so useless and stupid?" Chloe shot back, then suddenly kicked Gideon, who was quietly trying to help by blowing up balloons in the corner.

Cole was speechless. He pulled her away, telling her to stop.

But that only made Chloe hit harder. Even Simon, who had just gotten home from school, tried to intervene. "Aunt Chloe, stop hitting him."

I stood by the doorway, slowly taking off my shoes, saying nothing.

Even knowing he was my son, a part of me prayed she would hit him harder.

Her long, manicured nails raked across Gideon's face, leaving red scratches.

He didn't dare cry out in pain, just stood there numbly and took the beating. He had learned long ago that if he tried to dodge or fight back, she would only become more furious.

When he was younger, she had beaten him so badly that he was left with a mild intellectual disability. After that, Gideon never dared to resist again.

Cole finally had enough and stood in front of Gideon. "Alright, are you trying to beat your son to death?"

Chloe sank onto the sofa, breathing heavily. She glared at Gideon's bloody face. "You're such bad luck, bleeding on Simon's birthday. Get back to your room. Now!"

Simon looked uneasy. "Aunt Chloe, don't be like that. It's his birthday too."

Chloe just laughed coldly. "Don't be nice to him. He's not worthy of it."