Chapter 5

Elsie really did care about me.

I didn't turn her down and accepted it with a smile.

Before I left, I hugged her. "Take care, Elsie."

When I got to the airport, I tore up my ticket without hesitation and hailed a cab straight to the train station.

From then on, I didn't want any ties with the Olson family.

I took the money Elsie gave me and transferred it to my own bank account.

Still haunted by the loss of my child, I just needed to get away for a while and try to heal.

On my journey, I wandered through emerald forests, gazed at the endless blue sea, and soaked up vibrant traditions everywhere I went.

No matter where I traveled, my thoughts always drifted back to my baby.

I promised myself I'd live for him and take in all the wonders this world could give.

Eventually, I settled down in a city where it felt like spring all year round.

When Ronald found out I was gone, he lost his mind, searching everywhere for me.

He was unshaven and scruffy, his eyes bloodshot, slumped on the floor, looking utterly miserable, drinking himself numb.

Hattie came looking for him, with her son in her arms.

"Ronald, why did you let yourself get like this?" she asked, worry in her voice.

Ronald didn't even glance at her. "Why are you here? Kyla doesn't like you coming around here."

Hattie's expression changed, but she bit back her anger. "Ronald, you haven't come by in so long. Timmy's been missing you."

Ronald barely lifted his eyelids to glance at Timmy, then downed his drink. "Just leave. I told you I'd send you and the kid overseas."

Hattie rushed into his arms, crying her heart out. "Ronald, I don't want to leave you, and Timmy can't grow up without his father. Kyla's gone. You two are divorced. Doesn't this mean we can finally be together as a family? Ronald, I love you. Let's get married, okay?"

Ronald stiffened, then roughly pushed Hattie away.

He never once thought about divorcing me, not in a million years.

But he ended up signing the divorce papers without even meaning to.

"Hattie, I can't marry you. I..." Ronald muttered, his voice thick with confusion.

He couldn't even put into words what was happening to him.

He never really liked me, especially the way I always kept my cool. Even when I found out about him and Hattie, I didn't make a scene, and I just quietly moved out.

But after realizing I was truly gone and our divorce was final, he was completely lost, haunted by memories of when I was pregnant and how happy we were together.

Lately, those memories were enough to drive him out of his mind.

"Mr. Olson! Mr. Olson!" His assistant rushed in.

Ronald hadn't eaten or slept for days, but at that moment, some desperate energy surged through him. He rushed to the door, gripped his assistant's shoulders tightly, his face full of raw emotion and urgency.

He asked eagerly, "Is there news about Kyla? Where is she? I'm going to bring her back right now!"

His assistant couldn't help feeling bad for him, but still shook his head. "Mr. Olson, we still haven't found Mrs. Olson. But there's something else you need to know."

He glanced at Hattie, hesitated, then steeled himself and handed Ronald two medical reports.

"Mr. Olson, you should see this for yourself," the assistant said.

Ronald took the reports and narrowed his eyes, suspicion flickering across his face.

The assistant explained, "You're type A, Ms. Gordon is type O, and if I remember right, Timmy's blood type was AB. I saw that in the hospital last time."

Everyone in the room was sharp enough to get the hint. There was no need to spell it out.

Hattie's reaction just confirmed what everyone was thinking.

"Ronald, please, you have to believe me. Timmy is your son. Don't let them get in your head. Someone must be behind this, trying to mess with us," Hattie pleaded, her voice shaking.

Ronald stayed silent, his face unreadable.

The assistant dug out a folder from his bag and handed it over. "Mr. Olson, I'm sorry. I had a paternity test run on you and Timmy behind your back."

Ronald opened the folder.

"No!" Hattie screamed.

When Ronald saw the report saying Timmy wasn't his son, he finally breathed a sigh of relief, but it lasted only a second before it felt like a thousand invisible ants were eating away at his heart, leaving him weak and trembling.

He threw the report right in Hattie's face. "What else do you have to say for yourself?"

Hattie dropped to her knees, panic all over her face, still scrambling to defend herself.

But the assistant's next words sent her straight to hell.

"Mr. Olson, I also found out that Ms. Gordon bribed the maid to lock Timmy outside so she could pin the blame on Mrs. Olson," the assistant said.

Ronald knew he'd made unforgivable mistakes. He'd been so wrong about everything.