I lowered my eyes, concealing the coldness within them, and slowly nodded with a stern face: "Okay." Since leaving was inevitable, I would play along with them to the end, as a final, clean break from this absurd marriage. Liam assumed I was still the same obedient and docile wife, and happily ruffled my hair before turning back to busying herself with making phone calls to arrange the banquet, without asking a single question about Leo's well-being.
It wasn't until nearly noon the next day that a driver came to pick us up from the hospital. Leo leaned quietly in my arms, staring blankly out the window, his little hands clutching my clothes tightly. Seeing his bewildered expression, my heart ached, and my resolve to take him with me grew even stronger.
As the car pulled into the city center's most luxurious hotel, the moment I pushed open the banquet hall doors, the blinding lights and the cacophony of voices mingled together, and the scene before me felt like a red-hot branding iron, searing my heart. Vanessa, dressed in a champagne-colored haute couture gown, her makeup impeccable, linked arm in arm with Liam, the two of them holding Zeke's hand, smiling broadly as they greeted the guests. Zeke, in a custom-made suit, carrying a limited-edition toy, was surrounded by the crowd like a little prince.
My Leo was carelessly tossed onto the carpet in the corner of the banquet hall, his snow-white shirt stained with mud. He had been pushed to the ground by someone, and there were faint traces of blood seeping from his knees. Liam was busy entertaining guests and didn't even bother to glance at his own son, so naturally he didn't see Leo shakily picking up half a cold bun that someone had discarded on the ground and clumsily stuffing it into his mouth, his lips covered in crumbs.
"Leo!" My eyes reddened, and I almost rushed over, carefully pulling him into my arms. He smelled my scent, looked up at me with a confused expression, and gently wrapped his little hands around my neck. He didn't cry or fuss, only showed silent dependence. This sight made my heart ache even more, and anger instantly surged through my body. I turned to confront Liam, but he suddenly grabbed my wrist.