Chapter 16
The baby was barely a few days old, face still puffy and indistinct–no one could say who he took after yet.
But Marie had waited so long for a grandson that she was practically floating with joy. To her, every inch of the child was perfect.>>
Last time, a nosy relative had the nerve to say the baby didn’t look like anyone from the Clark family. Marie tore into them so fiercely that they cut all ties with her right then and there.%
Marie was still rambling on about something, but Alan couldn’t hear a word. He just sat there, staring blankly at the divorce papers in his hands.
Twelve years of friendship. Five years of love. His story with Summer was officially over.
But he wasn’t ready to let go–not even close.”
How could he just walk away from someone he loved that much?”
Lost in thought, he brushed off Marie’s chatter with a distracted nod.”
She paused at the door, as if remembering something, and turned back to tell him, “If you get the chance, you should visit the baby’s mother. After all, she gave you a
son.”
He nodded again, and only then did Marie finally close the door behind her.
The moment she was gone, Alan pulled out his phone and dialed Summer’s number. Straight to voicemail.
He’d expected that. Sighing, he hung up and immediately dialed someone else.
“Find out where my wife is,” he ordered.
There was hesitation on the other end. “Mr. Clark, that might be impossible…
Alan’s jaw tightened. “What do you mean?“%
The man cleared his throat. “I’ve heard the Jefferson family is keeping everything under
“Enough!” Alan snapped. “I don’t care how you do it–find her, or you’re done here.”
No one’s allowed to ask about Miss Jefferson. So…”
He hung up and hurled the phone to the floor in frustration. Then, thinking better of it, he grabbed
Meanwhile, in a maternity ward across town, chaos was erupting in one of the rooms.
it
again
and stormed out the door.
her
hands
“Get out! All of you, get out!”
A nurse had finally had enough and shot back, “You should be the one leaving! You’ve been here forever and haven’t paid a cent! Honestly, I’ve never seen anyone as shameless as you.“Z
“Ahhh!” Lena shrieked, throwing a cup at her.”
“Psycho,” the nurse muttered, pushing past the door–only to nearly smack into a tall man waiting outside.
“M–Mr. Clark,” she stammered.
Alan just nodded and slipped past her, closing the door behind him.
The room was a mess. Lena sat on the bed, breathing hard, her face twisted in anger, not bothering to hide it when she
“What do you want?” she spat. “Get out!”
Alan ignored her and strode closer, grabbing her chin roughly.”
He clicked his tongue. “God, you’re even uglier now.”
Lena slapped at him, but he caught her wrist and shoved her back hard. She crashed into the wall with a yelp.
“Guess last time wasn’t enough of a lesson, huh?”
saw Alan.
At the mention of the scars on her face–one for every time he’d punished her–Lena’s bravado crumbled. Terror flickered in her eyes.
“What… what are you going to do?” she whispered.
Alan leaned in, gave her cheek a mocking pat. “Relax”
Then, without warning, he dragged her off the bed and hauled her across the floor, right out of the room, Lena screamed, her half–healed scars scraping open again, blood spotting the floor. Nobody came to help.
Right then, Marie appeared in the hallway, cradling her grandson. She caught sight of the scene and shrieked, immediately calling for the bodyguards to pull Lena away from Alan. Then she rounded on her son, slapping him hard across the face
“Are you out of your mind? She’s the mother of your child!“%
Alan barely flinched, just rolled his jaw and looked at his mother “Mother? Please. Don’t forget, Mom–we agreed. She just had to have the baby. What happens to her now isn’t your problem“%
Mane looked at Lena being carried back to her room, then at the baby in her arms. Guilt flickered across her face. “Let her stay until she’s healed. After that, she’s out. It’s the least we can do for the child.“%
Something dark flashed in Alan’s eyes, but he just nodded. “Fine.”
For the next few months, Lena lived like a queen. Mane made sure the hospital staff treated her with kid gloves, and with Alan out of sight, Lena grew bolder by the day
By the time she was discharged, she looked healthier than ever–glowing, even. She didn’t get custody of the baby, but Marie handed her a fat check, more than enough to last a lifetime.
Lena was just about to call a cab and leave when, out of nowhere, pain exploded at the back of her head–and everything went black.
