Chapter 4

The air froze instantly. The ice cream vendor looked embarrassed, and Caleb's expression turned icy. The vendor awkwardly apologized, "I'm so sorry......" "It's fine." Sylvia took the ice cream and walked away. She returned to where Hunter was waiting. Thankfully, he hadn't seen anything. "Mom, you're back!" "Mm." Sylvia handed him the ice cream. "Let's go. We'll start with the carousel you like." "Okay!" Sylvia led Hunter away in the opposite direction of Caleb. She hoped to avoid him—ideally, forever. Perhaps Caleb was also intentionally avoiding them with Vanessa, because Sylvia didn't run into them while enjoying several rides with Hunter. At one point, Sylvia went to the restroom, asking Hunter to wait outside. While washing her hands, a woman with wavy hair walked up next to her and turned on the faucet. "Sylvia, you're not here to stalk me and Caleb, are you?" Sylvia paused. She looked up and met Vanessa's eyes in the mirror. They say that those who are loved carry an unmistakable air of confidence—a confidence built on affection. Vanessa was exactly like that, her eyes filled with smug triumph. Sylvia calmly looked away, pulled a paper towel to dry her hands. "Ms. Vanessa, life isn't a movie. Not everyone revolves around you. Don't be so narcissistic." She tossed the paper towel into the trash and turned to leave. But Vanessa grabbed her arm. "Sylvia, how long are you going to cling to Caleb? Can't you see he doesn't love you? Shamefully staying by his side, do you really think using a child can tie him down?" Sylvia frowned deeply, but before she could speak, a commotion erupted outside. Sylvia's sharp ears caught phrases like "call an ambulance," "whose child is this," and "where's his mother?" Her heart lurched. A bad sense gripped her, making her eyelids twitch. She shoved Vanessa aside and rushed out of the restroom. "Hunter? Hunter!" A crowd had gathered. Sylvia pushed through frantically, and with one glance, her blood ran cold! Hunter lay on the ground, blood pooling behind his head! Caleb was crouched nearby, holding Luna, phone to his ear calling for an ambulance. "Hunter!" Sylvia's mind went blank. She practically threw herself to the ground, trembling as she lifted Hunter. "Hunter, what happened?" Hunter was already unconscious, his face pale. Unable to think, acting on pure instinct, Sylvia scooped him up and ran outside. She didn't know how they got to the hospital. When the red light above the operating room lit up, she collapsed onto a bench in the hallway, belatedly realizing she was drenched in cold sweat. She had never been so terrified. What would she do if she lost Hunter? What had happened?! Sylvia clenched her hands together, but they wouldn't stop shaking. Just as she remembered she needed to call Caleb to find out, footsteps sounded in the corridor. Caleb ran up to her, breathless. "How is Hunter?" Sylvia stood up, her eyes instantly red-rimmed. "You're asking me? I should be asking you! What happened? How did Hunter get hurt!" Caleb's expression was cold. For the first time, Sylvia saw evasion in his eyes. "Just kids roughhousing." After a pause, he added, "Ultimately, it's your fault as his mother. How could you leave Hunter alone outside? Didn't you consider he could be kidnapped?!" Sylvia trembled violently. She saw her reflection in the glass—tear-streaked, hollow-eyed, pale. In contrast, Caleb stood there impeccably dressed, his gaze sharp, showing no grief, no tears. He was actually interrogating her, trying to make her, the mother, the guilty one. A chill swept over her from all sides. Her throat tightened painfully, and she clenched her fists. "Caleb, I swear...... if anything happens to Hunter, I will not let Vanessa's daughter get away with this!" Caleb's face changed. "Sylvia!" "Do you even remember Hunter is your own son?!" Sylvia's tears burst forth, her voice cracking as she cut him off. Caleb froze. The hallway fell dead silent. Suddenly, his phone rang. He walked a few steps away to answer. Whatever was said made him frown deeply. He hung up and turned back to Sylvia. "Something's happened with Luna. I have to go." Sylvia was stunned. Before she could protest, Caleb strode away. "Caleb...... Caleb!" The corridor was empty except for Sylvia. Just then, the operating room light abruptly turned off. The doors opened. The doctor walked out, removed his mask, and sighed. "I'm sorry. We did everything we could."