In the days that followed, Kai was almost nowhere to be seen.
Florence, on the other hand, updated her social media daily.
[Woke up in Kai's arms again today. The strawberries were so sweet.]
The photo showed a vivid hickey on her neck, so intimate it was almost indecent.
[Kai promised to set off 999 fireworks for me at the world's biggest amusement park. He really treats me like a princess!]
Another photo was of the two of them kissing during their overseas trip.
If it were before, my heart would have been in agony, but now I just swiped past with a blank expression.
My son was asleep beside me, tear stains still on his face.
Kai didn't even come home anymore, so he had no idea the house was getting emptier, or that the backyard had been burned.
I held my son, thinking that perhaps our departure would be smoother than we imagined.
Today was Scott's elementary school promotion celebration.
Initially, it was Kai who insisted on holding such a banquet for him, saying it was to show everyone that he had a successful son.
I picked out a white shirt for him and styled his hair with gel.
He secretly glanced at me. "Mom, will Dad prepare a gift for me?"
He still couldn't help but hold out hope for his father's love.
I lowered my head and whispered, "He will."
Actually, I wasn't sure in my heart.
Sure enough, the planned celebration was cancelled at the last minute.
The reason given was that Florence was suffering from severe morning sickness and shouldn't be out in the wind, so the banquet was moved to the house.
Not only that, Kai even brought Florence and her family to the villa to celebrate her three-month pregnancy in style.
Kai pretended to bring back a gift, saying it was compensation. "A gift for Scott's graduation."
Scott unwrapped it and when he saw the toy, he silently put the box back.
I recognized it. I had bought it for him last month and he played with it for a few days before putting it away.
Kai didn't remember. Nor did he care.
I suppressed my anger, reminding myself to hold on for three more days and then everything would be over.
However, accidents always come sooner.
"Mom, the dog is gone."
Scott ran to me anxiously, his voice trembling with a sob. "Doodle's gone, I just fed him snacks!"
I searched with him for an entire afternoon, turning over every corner of the villa, but we couldn't find the dog.
It wasn't until evening that a delicious smell wafted from the dining room.
Florence's mother smiled, holding a pot of soup.
"Come, try this! The dog meat's perfectly tender. A black shepherd, so nourishing!"
My mind went blank with a buzzing sound as I screamed uncontrollably, "What did you just say?"
The woman still didn't understand what was wrong.
"Stewed dog meat. That mutt in the yard kept running around unleashed, so when I kicked it down, I figured I might as well … "
"You cooked Doodle?"
Scott's voice rose to an alarming pitch. He staggered, knocking over the entire dining table.
Soup splattered across the floor as plates shattered.
I rushed over to restrain Scott, glaring furiously at the woman across from us. "That was my dog! Not food!"
"How was I supposed to know?" Florence's mother said with an innocent expression. "It's just a dog. What's the difference?"
"He was my son's friend!"
"Friend?" Florence suddenly laughed. "You can't seriously let your child befriend a dog, can you?"
When Kai arrived, he heard me shouting in rage, "Do you even have a heart?! That dog was part of our family!"
He frowned coldly. "Carolyn, it's just a dog. We can buy another one. Why are you making such a scene?"
I could hardly believe what I was hearing.
"Just a dog?" My voice trembled.
Doodle was a stray we had found at our doorstep when our child was born.
For seven years, he had been part of our family.
Florence clutched her stomach, pouting. "The baby's scared because of all this."
Kai's expression darkened instantly. "Carolyn, you've let Scott grow more and more out of control!"
"First, he pushed someone. Now he's flipping tables, cursing at elders and frightening a pregnant woman!"
"If you won't discipline him, then I will!"
"What are you going to do?" I instinctively shielded Scott.
He ordered the butler, "Bring me the whip."
He was actually resorting to corporal punishment!
"Kai!" I shot to my feet, but the bodyguards stepped forward and held me back.
"Let me go!" I struggled violently. "Kai, if you dare lay a finger on him, I'll … "
Before I could finish, I watched in horror as Scott was forced to his knees.
The moment the whip came down, it felt like my heart was being lacerated.
"Ah!" Scott wailed, his face drained of colour. "Mom! Mommy, save me! It hurts … "
My voice tore through the air, raw with desperation. "Kai! He's your son!"
"I'm teaching him how to behave!"
Kai snapped at me before turning to Florence. "Florence, you'll need to learn how to discipline him, too."
Florence pretended meekness. "I … I wouldn't dare."
"I'll help you."
Clasping her hand, he raised the disciplinary whip and brought it down viciously on Scott's small body.
Like a madwoman, I sank my teeth into the bodyguard's hand and threw myself over Scott, shielding him with my own body.
"Kai!" My scream carried every ounce of my shattered fury. "I want a divorce!"
The whip froze mid-air. For the first time, his cold mask cracked.
"Don't be ridiculous."
"You've lost the right to be his father!" Tears cascaded down my face. "You don't deserve him!"
