Chapter 5
"You don't understand?" I said with a cold smile. "Fine, have fun thinking about it."
I turned and walked away, leaving Tessa there, her face pale.
I had no hard evidence that she'd orchestrated what happened five years ago, but from the look on her face just now, I was pretty sure I'd nailed it.
When I got back to the room, Joshua was busy drawing.
"Mom, look! I drew our family!" he exclaimed, waving his picture excitedly.
In his drawing, there was a man, a woman, and a little boy—all holding hands and smiling together.
"You did a great job," I managed to say with a forced smile.
"Mom, when will Dad come live with us?" Joshua looked up at me, hope shining in his eyes.
I had no idea what to say.
Asher would never be with us. His heart belonged to Tessa.
"Joshua, listen to me," I said, crouching down to his level. "No matter what happens, I'll always protect you."
"I know." Joshua nodded seriously, looking so mature. "Mom, I'll protect you too."
Hearing that, I almost burst into tears.
He was so little, yet he'd already tasted how tough life could be.
That night, Asher came home.
He headed straight for the main house, not even sparing us a glance.
I leaned against the window, watching the main house glowing with warm light, the sounds of laughter and celebration echoing toward me from inside.
That was his real home.
Joshua and I were nothing but outsiders in this home.
Early the next morning, I was jolted awake by a commotion outside.
I rushed out of my room and saw a crowd gathered in the courtyard.
"What's going on?" I asked one of the servants.
"Miss Cole fell down the stairs. She's in critical condition at the hospital," the servant said anxiously.
My heart skipped a beat.
'Could it really be such a coincidence?' I thought.
"Where's Mr. Mendoza?" I asked.
"He's at the hospital with her. He hasn't come home all night," the servant replied.
A storm of emotions churned inside me.
If Tessa really got hurt, would Asher think I did it?
After all, I'd just threatened her the day before.
Sure enough, Asher came back that afternoon, his face dark and stormy.
"Milania, come here," he called out coldly.
I walked over anxiously. "What is it?"
"Tessa said you threatened her yesterday," Asher stared straight at me, his eyes cold. "Did you have anything to do with her fall?"
I glared at him in outrage. "You really think I'd hurt her?"
"Don't act like you don't have a motive," he sneered. "You'd do anything to have me all to yourself, to make Joshua the only heir—what wouldn't you do?"
His words cut me like a knife.
"Asher, is that really how you see me?" I managed, my voice trembling.
"Isn't that what's really going on?" Asher pressed, his voice cold and accusing. "Milania, don't pretend—I know exactly what you're after. You were after the Mendoza money from the start!"
"That's not true!" I yelled, my voice raw. "I never wanted anything from your family—ever!"
"Then why did you marry me?" he shot back. "Five years ago, you could've just gone to the cops—why did you choose to marry me instead?"
I was stunned into silence, unable to answer him.
Because I loved him.
I'd run those words over my lips a thousand times, but when it came down to it, I just couldn't say them—not now.
He'd never buy it. If I said it, he'd just laugh in my face, maybe even look at me with more scorn than before.
"Answer me!" Asher roared, voice furious and demanding.
"Because... because..." I fumbled for the words, my throat tightening until I just couldn't get anything out.
"Because you wanted the Mendoza family's fortune!" he snapped, cutting me off before I could speak for myself. "Milania, you seriously disgust me!"
I met his gaze, seeing only disgust there, and felt all hope inside me die.
"Sure, I'm after the Mendoza fortune," I scoffed with a twisted smile. "So what? What do you want from me?"
"I want you out of the Mendoza family," Asher said coldly. "But Joshua stays."
"No way!" I shot back, my voice steady. "Joshua's my son—I won't leave him!"
"That's your choice," he threatened, his tone like ice. "Either you walk away and Joshua gets to see you sometimes, or I'll go to court and take him from you forever. You'll never see him again."
His words sent a chill down my spine.
With the Mendoza family's wealth and influence, taking custody of Joshua away from me really wouldn't be hard for them.
"Mom!" Joshua appeared in the doorway, his eyes wide with fear. "I don't want to leave you!"
He ran over and clung to my leg, sobbing his heart out.
Seeing my son cry like that, it felt like my heart was being torn apart.