I slumped helplessly onto the sofa, holding Leo tightly in my arms. He leaned obediently against my shoulder, his little hand gently patting my back, as if comforting me. Throughout the entire banquet, from beginning to end, Liam never returned once, as if my son and I didn't exist. My heart was filled with despair; I knew he would never think of us again, and I completely gave up on my last shred of hope.
I wiped away my tears, picked up Leo, and got up, ready to quietly leave this suffocating place. But just as we reached the door of the lounge, Vanessa, holding Zeke's hand, blocked our way. She wore a gentle smile, but her eyes were venomous and full of provocation.
"Sister Clara, it must be hard to bear being abandoned by your husband, right?" She deliberately raised her voice, her tone full of sarcasm. "Look at this silly son in your arms, dull and lifeless, covered in mud. How can he compare to our Zeke, who is clever, lively, and lovable?"
She stepped forward, leaned close to my ear, and whispered in a voice only the two of us could hear, each word piercing my heart: "Speaking of which, your son is really pitiful. The day before the birthday party, I deliberately had my assistant feed Leo cashews. The cashews got stuck in his throat, and he cried his heart out. The assistant was so scared that his hands were shaking. In the end, Liam had to do it himself."
"You think he just has an allergy?" Vanessa chuckled, her eyes cruel. "It was Liam who deliberately ordered the doctors to delay treatment, missing the best time for intervention, which is why he's in this state now. So what if you're the rightful Mrs. Liam? Your son, because of one sentence from me, went from a healthy child to an idiot who doesn't even recognize his parents!"
She laughed so hard she almost fell over, her malice undisguised. I trembled uncontrollably, biting my lip hard, the strong taste of blood filling my mouth. Hatred overwhelmed me like a tidal wave; I almost lost control, wanting to rush forward and tear her hypocritical face apart. But I couldn't. I still had Leo to protect; I couldn't ruin my future here.