On the day of Gavin's entrance examination, my husband, Ethan Harrington, finally put aside his work to drive our son to the university. But halfway there, a sudden, urgent call pulled Ethan away, leaving us stranded. Desperation mounting, we ran to the university, arriving too late. Gavin, heartbroken, suffered a severe asthma attack and landed in the ICU.
If only Ethan had stayed. If only he had spared just one hour for our son.
In a panic, I called Ethan. To my shock, a female voice answered, her voice dripping with disdain. "Ethan is busy. What do you want?"
Fighting back tears, I uttered, "Our son is in the ICU. We need him."
Ethan's voice, cold and dismissive, cut through. "Is this another one of your stories? I'm tired of your lies." Then he hung up.
I tried again, but his phone was off.
That day, I lost my son forever.
***
"The patient's condition is extremely critical. Didn't you mention there's a special apparatus you use for him? Do you have it now?" The attending doctor walked out of the ICU, his face lined with worry.
"The patient's asthma has triggered heart failure. If he doesn't receive medication within two hours, he'll be beyond help!"
Only two hours. My face drained of color as the gravity of the situation hit me. The apparatus was a cutting-edge technology developed by my husband's company, Nexus Dynamics. It was still in trial phases, spearheaded by Ethan to break into the medical market. Despite being in stage five trials, our son, Gavin, was already using it because Ethan was convinced of its efficacy. Now, in Gavin's hour of dire need, I couldn't even reach my husband to bring it to the hospital.
My hand, frozen mid-dial, trembled as I nodded frantically at the doctor. "Please, do everything you can to stabilize him. I will get the apparatus as soon as possible!"
I said "as soon as possible," but panic overwhelmed me, and I could barely stand. I collapsed onto a chair in the hallway, dialing Ethan's number over and over again, but all I heard was the robotic message that his phone was turned off. Desperation rising, I called Ethan's assistant, Daniel Moore, pleading for help to deliver the apparatus.
"I'm sorry, ma'am," Daniel replied, his voice strained. "Only Sir Ethan has the authority to access the laboratory since he is our CEO. No one else, not even I, can get in without him."
Time was running out. With no other option, I begged Daniel to tell me Ethan's location. "Please, my son really needs it! Please! Just... Just tell me where my husband is if you can't bring the apparatus yourself." Sensing my desperation, Daniel hesitated but finally gave in. He directed me to a nearby pet hospital.
Right then and there, I ran, my mind racing. Through the glass door, I saw Ethan, sitting on a sofa and cradling Bella, his childhood sweetheart. His face, so full of love and tenderness for her, twisted into cold indifference the moment he saw me.
"Lila, are you serious? You followed me here?" He stood up, glaring at me as if my presence alone was an affront.
But I didn't care about anything else, so I didn’t waste a second. "Gavin is having a severe asthma attack. His condition is critical, and only the apparatus can save him! So, please... We need to get it from the lab and bring it to the hospital now."
I reached out to him, but he recoiled in disgust. Meanwhile, Bella, still in his arms, glanced at me with disdain. "Lila, I know you don't like me, but there's no need to talk ill about your son just to trick Ethan away from me!"
Talk ill about Gavin?
Ethan's frown deepened, his voice icy. "Are you done with these games? Leave now and stop embarrassing yourself."
"I’m not lying!" I shouted, my voice shaking. "Gavin missed his entrance exam and had an acute asthma attack. He's in the ICU. If you don't believe me, come see for yourself!"
"You're just trying to blame me for leaving you two halfway. Can't you give me some space?" Ethan’s eyes narrowed, filled with irritation.
After his hurtful words, Bella chimed in, her tone was both aggrieved and smug. "When I took Snowy out today, a car hit him. I was desperate and called Ethan. I didn’t know he was with you. If you feel wronged, tell me. But asthma? Critical condition? That's too much. How can you joke about your son's life?"
The moment I heard what she had said, my anger boiled over. "Do I look like I'm joking?"
"Ethan..." Bella’s eyes welled with tears as she clung to him.
It was ridiculous. My son was at stake and yet... Ethan held her, his glare at me intensifying. "That's enough! Bella's dog is injured. She's already in pain, and you're making it worse. How can you be so heartless?"
My whole body trembled. I felt like the people in front of me were no longer human in my eyes. How could they act like my son's life was trivial?
I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. "Say what you want about me, but Gavin can't wait. Please, come with me to get the apparatus and save him. I'm begging you!"
For the first time, I saw a flicker of doubt in my husband's eyes. He seemed to waver, making me see a glimmer of hope.
"Ethan, Snowy is bleeding heavily. We need to go to a bigger hospital for surgery!" Bella's voice was urgent, her face tear-streaked.
Upon hearing that, Ethan's expression hardened. "Don't worry, Bella. I'll take care of it." He picked up the dog and headed for the car, with his childhood sweetheart by his side.
The second I saw them leaving, I grabbed his arm and pleaded. "Please, Gavin's apparatus..."
Ethan hesitated, looking torn.
"Ethan, hurry, Snowy is dying!" Bella cried, urging him on.
No... He can't leave. If he did, what about my son? I fell to my knees, my voice breaking. "If we delay any longer, Gavin will die. Please, give me the apparatus, please!"
However, Bella interrupted again, her tone dismissive. "Gavin has always been healthy. How could he suddenly be dying? Snowy is the one in danger. Stop lying to take Ethan away from me."
At that point, Ethan shook my hand off, his eyes cold. "Enough. You're embarrassing both yourself and Gavin. How can he have such a shameless mother?"
Without another word, he got into the car and drove away with Bella and her dog.
And the exact time they left, the hospital called. "Mrs. Harrington, please come see your son for the last time..."
No...
Gavin...
I rushed back, but it was too late. Gavin was gone, his body cold. I held him, crying until no more tears came. I wept and mourned as if a part of me died as well that day.
Two days later, I arranged Gavin's funeral alone, and my heart shattered. Even as I watched his body turn to ashes, I couldn't accept it. Just days ago, he was full of life, determined to ace his entrance exams and get into Stanford. Now, all his dreams were reduced to nothing.
I clutched Gavin's urn, memories of him flooding my mind. Tears welled up as I thought of every moment we shared.
And finally, Ethan, who had been absent for two days, called me. "Today is my mother's birthday party. She wants you to bring Gavin to the villa to celebrate. Dress nicely and don't embarrass me."
I glanced at Gavin's urn, wiped my tears, and replied coldly, "Okay, I will bring Gavin."
Chapter 2Ethan and I met years ago at a conference. Back then, I was a promising apprentice under my father, the CEO of our company, NovaTech. Life was good; I had everything I needed, and I was well-regarded by my family and peers. I was the quintessential good girl, admired and respected.
However then, I was still not announced as the heir of the Everhart family since it was a family tradition that they would only introduce me to the world once I became the CEO.
Ethan, on the other hand, was known as the rebellious young master of the Harrington family. Gossip at social events painted a picture of a man more interested in squandering money in bars than leading his family’s empire. It was common to hear stories of his father publicly reprimanding him for his recklessness.
I found boys like Ethan insufferable. His indifferent demeanor, even when scolded by his father in front of everyone, only added to my disdain. He seemed utterly unbothered, almost childishly detached. Whenever I saw him, I made a point to avoid him. I doubted he even knew who I was, given his apparent disinterest in business and the people involved in it.
The rivalry between our families was well-known, though I never fully understood it. The Harringtons and my Everhart family were supposed adversaries.
Personally, I felt our true competition should have been the Featherson family, who were also venturing into robotics. The Harringtons, with their focus on AI-driven advanced technologies, seemed less directly competitive.
One day, after a conference session, I found myself in an empty hallway surrounded by a group of boys. Panic set in; wealthy men were often arrogant and unpredictable. Just as I felt desperation creep in, Ethan appeared like a hero, facing the group alone. For the first time, I saw him differently.
"Next time you're in danger, try not to be so foolish," he said, breathless from his effort.
"Me? Foolish?" I replied, my wide eyes filled with curiosity.
"Run, do you understand? If you're about to be cornered and can't fight back, just run."
His words, though harsh, were protective. He escorted me back to the conference, and from that day on, we started encountering each other more often at parties and gatherings for young entrepreneurs.
People began to notice his attentiveness towards me, even teasing him as my shadow. He didn't mind; he openly admitted his attendance was solely because of me. He seemed unaware of who I was or our families' strained connection, remaining the same disinterested person in business matters.
Gradually, Ethan began to change. He stopped frequenting clubs and started involving himself in his family's business. His transformation was sudden and noticeable.
Whenever we were at the same conference, I’d catch him stealing glances at me, his focus shifting from the speakers to where I stood. Our eyes would meet, and I’d quickly look away, feeling my cheeks flush. A strange, warm feeling began to grow in my heart.
"So, what do your parents do? Are they hoteliers?" He asked me one evening.
Trying to avoid revealing my true identity, I replied, "Something like that."
Months passed and Ethan's dedication to becoming a better businessman was driven by his desire to protect me. He often said he needed to be powerful to do so. I once asked him, "How long will you protect me?"
His response was both indulgent and sincere, "As long as you need."
I pondered and asked, "Is a lifetime okay?"
With a shy smile, he replied, "Sure."
I believed our lifetime together would be long, but everything changed when Bella entered the picture.
"You can celebrate your birthday anytime, but Bella is sick, and I can't ignore her."
"I'm not coming home tonight. Bella's in a bad mood and needs company."
"Christmas is just a ceremony. Celebrate it with Gavin. Bella is alone..."
No matter the occasion, he would leave me at Bella’s call. Our home became secondary to him.
His unwavering attention to Bella slowly eroded my faith in him, yet I remained grateful for Gavin, our smart and exceptional son, who inherited the best of Ethan's genes.
For Gavin’s sake, I endured over a decade of disappointment and neglect.
But now, Gavin was dead. He died because of Ethan’s indifference and negligence. There was nothing left for me to hold on to.
Consumed by these thoughts, I arrived at the Harrington Villa. The atmosphere was lively and joyful, with everyone in high spirits.
Meanwhile, Ethan and Bella sat among the crowd, chatting and laughing like a perfect couple.
The Harrington family adored Bella, seeing her as the ideal Mrs. Harrington. In their eyes, I was merely a babysitter for Gavin, deemed cowardly and deceitful. Even the younger Harringtons felt entitled to scold me openly.
I walked in, my face, a mask of emotionless resolve.
Chapter 3When I arrived at the lobby, I overheard Ethan's mother, Sophia, praising him. "Son, I heard that Gavin has a chance to be admitted to Stanford this year. This is all thanks to your excellent guidance. Gavin's lucky to have a father like you."
I stopped in my tracks, racing an eyebrow when I heard my husband's voice this time. "Gavin is my son, so he has to be exceptional," Ethan responded calmly.
"Gavin is indeed exceptional! Not only does he excel academically, but he also has a good character. He's sensible and polite. Everyone likes him," Bella chimed in, her voice warm and approving.
After that, another voice sounded. It was Ethan's sister, Ella Harrington, who immediately interrupted the conversation, "Since you like Gavin so much, why don't you become his stepmother?" Ella had always been close to Bella and wished she could be her sister-in-law.
Her words drew laughter from the whole family, making it clear that this was everyone's heartfelt wish. But as I walked into the lobby, their expressions changed drastically, as if they had seen an unwelcome guest.
They didn't even try to hide their disgust.
"Lila, where is Gavin?" Ethan asked coldly when he saw that I was alone.
Upon hearing his question, I stared at him with cold eyes. "Do you still care about your son?" Sarcasm laced in my voice.
Ethan's expression turned stern, and he replied angrily, "What are you talking about? I may be busy and not always there for Gavin, but he is the reason I work so hard. He is my only son and the sole heir to the Harrington family. Everything I have will be his someday. How can you say I don't care about him?"
"Everything is left for Gavin? If you hadn't said so just now, I would have thought it was all for Bella," I retorted, my voice shaking with anger.
For Bella, Ethan had cruelly left Gavin and me stranded on the way to his entrance examination. He ignored my desperate pleas and left us to tend to Bella's dog. The memory still made my heart ache.
The Harrington family looked at me as if I were a stranger. They were shocked that I, usually gentle and obedient, would dare to refute Ethan in public.
This family was ridiculous. Now, I could understand why my family hated them so much that they disowned me when I chose to be with Ethan.
Years ago, I had told my father about my desire to marry Ethan Harrington, but I was met with a heavy slap. My mother, Vanessa Everhart, looked at me with disappointment.
"Don't you dare marry that son of a bitch! Do you even know what their family did to us?" My father yelled, his face red with anger.
I couldn't understand back then. I thought it was just futile business rivalry. "Why? Because we're business rivals? They aren't even our main competitor! Why don't you direct your anger at the Featherson family instead? We compete with them all the time! Your anger at the Harrington family is one-sided, Dad!" I fought back.
My father's face was contorted with hatred. "I don't care! Don't even think about marrying that bastard, or you'll have to choose between him and our family."
I thought their reasons were shallow until my mother revealed the truth. "Years ago, their company, Nexus Dynamics, stole technology from us. It was a robot designed to assist in hospitals, especially during contagious disease outbreaks. Instead of nurses, this robot could administer medicine to patients, reducing physical interaction. They stole it and tried to enter the robotics and medical market with it. This betrayal caused your grandfather to have a heart attack. Without him, the company suffered a recession, and many almost lost their livelihoods. Now, do you understand why we hate them?"
I should have listened to my family. I should have stayed in the Everhart mansion and never seen Ethan again. But I was blinded by love.
And now, here I was, facing them even though I had just lost my son.
Ethan frowned and said impatiently, "So I didn't take you and Gavin to university, and now you're making a fuss over such a trivial thing?"
On the other hand, Bella took the opportunity to instigate further. "Lila, I know you're petty and jealous. It's fine to act like that in front of Ethan, but today is Mrs. Sophia Harrington's birthday. You know, she just wants to see Gavin, and Gavin loves coming here. How can you deliberately hide Gavin just to vent your anger? You're really unfit to be a mother."
Everyone looked at me with disgust, especially Sophia, whose face turned red with anger.
"Anyway, the entrance exam is over, and Gavin can be independent. Ethan, bring Gavin here right now, and don't let him meet this irresponsible woman again. Don't let her ruin my precious grandson."
After that, Ella glared at me. "Knowing that Gavin was coming, Bella even made his favorite beef pizza. Compared to a petty woman like you, Bella is more like Gavin's mother."
Over the years, I worked tirelessly and without complaint for my son. I gave everything unconditionally, but to the Harrington family, my efforts were nothing compared to Bella's beef pizza.
They actually thought that Bella, the person who indirectly caused Gavin's death, was more suitable to be his mother than I was.
Ironic.
How ironic.
I laughed, tears streaming down my face. "Lila, are you losing your mind?" They eyed me like I was a madwoman.
"Gavin is my son, not a bargaining chip for you to use. A woman like you who doesn't care about his preferences and has no sense of responsibility is really not worthy of being his mother," Ethan said angrily. "Today is my mother's birthday. If you don't want to be here, you can leave, but Gavin must attend. He is my son, a descendant of the Harrington family. Hurry up and bring him out!"
At that point, I stopped laughing and looked at Ethan with red eyes. "I have brought Gavin," I said, my voice steady.
Confused, Ethan looked around and asked, "Where is he?"
The other members of the Harrington family were also looking around, searching for Gavin. Sophia, my mother-in-law, even stood up from her seat, squinting to find him. "Where is my precious grandson?"
I took the urn out of my bag and placed it heavily on the table. "He's here," I said, my voice trembling with grief and fury.