Chapter 2

"Who gave you the right to slander Skyler? Four years ago, you hired someone to break my legs. "If Skyler hadn't sold her kidney to raise money for my treatment, I would've been a cripple now!" Zayn continued. "Skyler sacrificed her kidney to save me. What about you? What did you do back then, Willow? You were with Louis!" he seethed. "I wasn't!" Willow exclaimed. She shook her head forcefully. "Zayn, there was nothing between Louis and I. Skyler was the one who framed me! I didn't hire anyone to break your legs, it was Skyler—" "That's enough!" he interrupted her coldly. There was a chilling look on his sculpted face. "I don't believe a single word you say." Willow didn't argue. Her explanation would only cause her to make a fool of herself if he didn't believe her. Willow pressed hard against her painful stomach. "Zayn, I brought Aaron for a checkup a few days ago. He's in a bad condition now. Can you lend me some money?" She struggled to speak up. "Oh, right. I forgot about the money." The corner of his lips curled upward. However, the smile on his face looked particularly cruel and sinister because it didn't reach his eyes. Letting go of her neck, Zayn took two hundred dollars out of his wallet before throwing it on her face. Willow felt as if her heart would shatter into pieces from the sorrow. Picking up the money carefully, she placed it away in her wallet submissively. After all, two hundred dollars was still money. Zayn had cut off nearly all of her financial sources to humiliate her. Every penny he gave was the money Aaron needed to save his life. Willow spoke up carefully after putting away the money. "Zayn, can you lend me 50 thousand dollars? I promise I'll find a way to return it as soon as possible. "Please, Zayn. I beg you, please save Aaron!" she pleaded. "You want me to save that bastard?" Zayn sneered. His gaze was as cold as ice. "After ruthlessly killing my child, what makes you think the bastard you had with Louis should stay alive? "I can't wait for him to die as soon as possible. Why would I save him?" he said, sarcasm dripping in his voice. "No, Aaron's not an illegitimate child! I didn't abort our child. Aaron's your flesh and blood—" she exclaimed. "Shut your mouth!" Zayn had exhausted the last bit of his patience. "I don't mind sending that bastard on his way if you continue to hold me accountable for him!" He would personally deal with Aaron… All of a sudden, Willow didn't have the courage to ask Zayn for money anymore. After all, there was no way he would lend it to her. Biting down hard on her lips, she could only throw away her dignity. "Zayn, two hundred dollars is too little..." she begged. A sinister laughter echoed from his mouth. A desolate chill filled their surroundings. "You would throw away your dignity for that bastard?" Zayn threw a thick stack of money on Willow's face after his words fell. Turning around, he left without hesitation. She couldn't feel the pain even when the sharp edges of the dollars cut her face. Even if two thousand dollars weren't enough for Aaron's surgery, it was still enough for a blood transfusion. Aaron would be able to live for a couple more days. That was all that mattered. As for her face… How could such vanity matter when compared to Aaron's life? Willow thought Zayn had a change of heart when she heard footsteps outside the door. Thinking that he had returned, she rushed toward the door in a hurry before opening it. However, Zayn wasn't the one who stood by the staircase. It was Aaron. Aaron's gaze followed Zayn's departing figure. His face was filled with longing and sorrow. Gripping a piece of paper tightly in his hand, Aaron's lips moved silently. Willow could tell that he had uttered the word, "Dad." Aaron quickly hid the paper in his hand behind his back when he saw Willow. He managed an innocent smile on his pale face. "Mom," he called out. "I'm sorry, Aaron. It's all my fault. I know you've always wanted your father, but I…" "It's alright, Mom. I don't need Dad." Aaron hugged Willow's arm lightly. It was heartbreaking how mature he was. "All I need is you, Mom. You're the best mom in the world." His body stiffened after his words fell. Just like all the times before, Aaron collapsed in Willow's embrace, motionless.