Catherine immediately panicked and signed her name without even looking at it. Then she helped Herbert out.
“I'll take you to the hospital!”
I put away the agreement and turned to leave, but I was tripped hard by someone.
I fell heavily to the ground. My forehead hit the metal on the ground. The warm blood ran down my face.
Catherine turned back suddenly and subconsciously tried to come over to help me.
“Catherine! Quickly send me to the hospital!”
Herbert grabbed her hand tightly, his voice trembling. Her footsteps lurched and she eventually left without looking back.
I lay on the ground, my blood blurred my vision. All around me were sneering eyes, no one reached out a hand.
I gritted my teeth and braced myself on the ground to stand up, only to realize that the wedding ring on my ring finger was gone.
It turned out it had been loose a long time ago, I just never realized it. Ignoring the stares, I limped out and stopped a car.
“Go to the hospital.”
The driver was startled. “Sir, your head is bleeding!”
I wiped my face. My hands were full of bright red, but I smiled.
“It's okay, I won't die.”
The doctor frowned as he bandaged me up, his brow furrowed. “Sir, you look like you're fine and tender, why did you get such a big scar?”
A piece of news suddenly interrupted on TV.
[Latest breaking news! Mr. Ignazio's son-in-law pretended to be kidnapped and really cheated on his wife! He was suspected of secretly arranging a hospital abortion after getting someone pregnant!]
My eyes went black and I clenched my fists. Before I could regain my senses, the door to the room was violently kicked open.
Catherine's mom, Magdalene Durando rushed in and slapped me across the face. “You are a bastard! The face of our Visconti Family has been disgraced by you!”
I staggered back and before I could stand still, I was tackled by several black-clothed me. They were dragged into the Visconti Family's ancestral hall.
“Kneel now!” Catherine's mom scolded sternly.
I struggled, my knees knocking heavily against the cold floor tiles.
Catherine's mom dialled the phone, her voice was sharp and said, “Catherine, your punk husband did a good thing and now the whole city is watching our family as a joke!”
On the other end of the phone, Catherine was clearly flustered. “Mom, aren't you and Dad on vacation in Australia? Why are you guys suddenly back?”
“What? We can't come back yet?”
Magdalene sneered, “Look at the good husband you picked! He cheated on you and you still can't be bothered to leave him?”
I looked up at the screen and shouted, “Catherine, you have to speak up! It's clearly you…”
“Benjamin.”
She was silent for a few seconds, her voice low and hoarse, “You bear with me for a while, I'll go back and make it up to you.”
The shrine in the height of summer was like a steamer. I knelt on the hot ground, sweat mixed with the blood on my forehead and dripped down.
Suddenly, my heart stung like a needle. In the next second, I completely lost consciousness.
The doctor in the hospital frowned. “You just came in to have your wounds treated! Now it's a heart attack. You can’t keep abusing your body like this!”
The phone vibrated and Catherine sent a message to me.
[Benjamin, I'm sorry for the trouble. I'll explain it clearly to Mom later.]
My fingers trembled and a tear flowed from the corner of my eye. On the day I got the divorce certificate, I dialled a number that had been blocked for five years.
The phone connected, the woman's voice answered, seductive and amused. “Are you finally willing to look for me?”
A week later, Herbert attended the new drama press conference with his child in a high profile. He also held Catherine's arm and smiled happily at the camera.
“Thank you for your blessings. After the baby is one month old, we are going to Hollywood to develop my career.”
Under the blinding flash, I slowly walked into the venue. The original noisy scene instantly quieted down.
Catherine's face suddenly changed. “Benjamin, what are you doing here?”
I calmly walked in front of her and placed the divorce certificate into her hand.
Her pupils shrunk. She violently grabbed my wrist.
Catherine lowered her voice and said, “Benjamin, stop it! Didn't I say that I would make it up to you after this is over?”
At this moment, the gate opened with a bang. A Rolls Royce pulled up. A man inside stepped out and the audience was in an uproar.
“It's Joachim Marvelli! The head of the Marvelli Family!”
Herbert's eyes lit up. He hurriedly pushed me away to welcome him.
“Uncle Joachim, why are you here?”
I stood still and didn't move until Joachim's gaze landed on me. He extended his hand towards me and I naturally shook his hand.
Catherine rushed over and her voice trembling said, “Benjamin, are you crazy? He is Herbert's uncle.”
Joachim swept a glance at Catherine and laughed coldly, “With your behaviour like this, do you also deserve to make my child suffer?”
The entire room whispered. I looked at Catherine and said softly, “I forgot to introduce you, he is my dad.”
Herbert's face instantly turned pale.
