Chapter 1

I took my son to get a rabies shot.

There, I ran into my husband's first love, Anna Lynn, picking out a diamond collar for her Tibetan mastiff.

I stayed composed, while Anna, looking guilty, tried to hide the dog behind her back.

I couldn't care less what dog the Quinn family decided to raise.

But as soon as we got home, Richard Quinn sent my son flying with a kick. "I've told you already that the dog saved Anna's life. How dare you let your son scare it?"

I rushed over and hugged my son, his head covered in blood. I kept my head down, biting my lip hard.

Richard broke my arm, then took the dog straight to Anna's place.

The head of the bodyguards asked, "Mrs. Quinn, should I call an ambulance?"

I spat out a bloody tooth, snapped a photo of my son's injuries, and sent it to the Northwave Military Commander. [William, the Quinn family made their move.]

Three minutes later, a dozen armed helicopters were circling over the Quinn Estate.

*****

That afternoon, I took my son to the hospital for a rabies shot.

It all started with something pretty silly. The day before, my son was playing in the neighborhood.

A big dog without a leash ran at him, and he got so scared he fell over.

He scraped his arms and knees. I was worried, so I took him to get another shot in case.

Right next to the hospital, a brand-new luxury pet club had opened, with a row of fancy cars lined up out front.

I was holding my son's hand, heading inside, when I spotted Anna Lynn.

She was wearing a white dress, standing at the counter with her hand resting on a Tibetan mastiff.

The dog was so big it nearly reached her waist, and it was trying on a diamond collar.

The salesperson was holding out a tray, offering her different styles to choose from.

"Ms. Lynn, this blue diamond collar is a limited edition. Mr. Quinn had someone call ahead, so you can try it on first," the salesperson said.

I stopped in my tracks.

Anna looked up and saw me, and her smile froze on her face.

Her fingers tensed, and she hurriedly pulled the Tibetan mastiff behind her, like she was scared I'd catch on to something.

I looked down at my son.

He'd already been scared by a dog before, and now, seeing this massive Tibetan mastiff, he went completely pale.

He clutched my hand and whispered, "Mom."

I didn't say a word, didn't glance at Anna again. I took my son's hand and turned to leave.

As we walked away, I could still hear the salesperson whispering, "Ms. Lynn, do you still want this collar?"

Anna replied softly, a bit hesitant, "Wrap it up. Richard said it got upset and needs to be cheered up."

I didn't slow down.

My son looked up at me and asked, "Mom, is that Dad's friend?"

I gave a nod.

"Is that her dog?" he asked.

"That's right," I replied.

"Does Dad like it, too?" he asked.

I paused for a couple of seconds, then ruffled his hair. "Come on, let's go get your shot."

I'd known about a lot of things for a long time.

Anna was the girl Richard couldn't get over.

She'd been overseas for three years, and after she came back last year, Richard started acting busier than ever.

He was out at more social events, traveling more, and his phone never left his side, even in the shower.

At first, I'd ask him about it, but after a while, he got annoyed. "Charlotte, do you really enjoy keeping tabs on me every day?

"Anna's not in good health. Is it so wrong for me to take care of her? Don't be so suspicious."

I stopped asking altogether.

But because I stopped asking didn't mean I was clueless.

I always thought the worst thing in a marriage was him falling out of love with me.

As long as our son still called him "Dad," I figured he wouldn't cross the line.

But I overestimated Richard.

*****

It was past seven in the evening. I'd finished bathing my son and was playing blocks with him in the living room when I heard hurried footsteps outside the door.

The next second, the door was flung open.

Richard walked in, looking grim, not bothering to take off his shoes.

Two bodyguards followed him, along with that Tibetan mastiff.

The dog wore a blue diamond collar that sparkled so brightly under the lights that it was almost blinding.

I stood up. "Why did you bring it back?"

Richard ignored me, his eyes landing straight on our son.

Our son flinched, instinctively moving closer to me. That one move made Richard's face darken more.

"Charlotte, is this how you teach our son?" Richard's voice was icy. "I've told you before, that's the dog that saved Anna's life. How could you let our son scare it?"

I froze and couldn't quite make sense of what he was saying. "What did you say?"

"I watched the footage from the club's cameras," Richard said, locking eyes with me. "Anna's dog was sitting there quietly, and your son ran over yelling, totally startled it.

"The dog freaked out, and now Anna's still shaken up. Is that what you wanted?"

Our son's face went white with fear. He blurted out, stumbling over his words, "I didn't. I didn't go near it. I was scared of..."

Before he could finish, Richard suddenly lashed out with a kick.

I watched as my son was sent flying across the room, his head smashing into the corner of the coffee table with a sickening thud.

Blood gushed out instantly.

Time felt like it had stopped.

My son was sprawled on the floor, his eyes staring blankly, letting out a tiny cry. Blood ran down the back of his head, soaking the edge of the carpet.

I rushed over and scooped him up, my hands shaking uncontrollably. "Sweetheart, look at me."

His mouth opened, but no sound came out. Endless tears rolled down his cheeks.

I looked up at Richard, my voice trembling. "Are you out of your mind? He's your son."

Richard acted like the blood on the floor didn't exist, looking annoyed. "It was only a kick. Why are you making such a fuss? Boys take a tumble. It's not like one fall is going to kill him."

I struggled to my feet, holding my son, reaching for my phone to call an ambulance. But before I could steady myself, Richard swung his dog training baton right at me.

I threw up my arm to block it, and all I heard was a sharp snap. My right arm instantly lost all strength.

Agony shot through me, my vision went black, and I nearly collapsed.

Richard frowned, like he was surprised by how hard it hit, but he didn't pause before turning his attention to the dog instead.

"Get it in the car," he told the bodyguards. "Take it to Anna's place. Have the vet check on it."

I crouched on the floor, holding my son tightly with my left arm, while my right arm hung limp. I couldn't lift it.

The head bodyguard stood nearby, hesitating before asking, "Mr. Quinn, what about Mrs. Quinn and your son?"

"Have the family doctor come over," Richard cut him off. "Don't make a fuss."

Without another word, he turned and strode out.

His entourage hurried after him.

The front door slammed shut, plunging the house back into silence, leaving only the faint, weakening sound of my son's breathing.

I looked down at my son in my arms, biting my lip so hard it bled, the metallic taste of blood spreading in my mouth.

I couldn't panic.

With my left hand, I grabbed my phone, snapped a photo of my son's face covered in blood, then took another of my swollen, misshapen right arm.

There was a number in my contacts I hadn't reached out to in three years.

I stared at the name for a couple of seconds, hit dial, but it didn't go through. So I sent the photos instead, typing out one line. [William, the Quinn family made their move.]

After sending the message, I headed outside with my son in my arms.

As I stepped into the yard, the sound of helicopter blades echoed from the distance.

At first, it was a muffled roar, but within seconds, it grew louder and more intense.

The lights above the Quinn Estate flickered and shook, leaves whipped through the yard, and the glass windows rattled.

The bodyguards looked up at the sky, their faces drained of color.

One, two, then a dozen armed helicopters swept in through the night, their searchlights blazing across the estate, so bright that one couldn't keep one's eyes open.

I held my son tight, standing in the wind, and for the first time, I knew three years of swallowing my pride and enduring all this had finally reached its end.