His Debt Was Her Five Year Lie

The teenager, a full head taller than Ronan, was about to throw a fatal punch.

I finally saw the truth. Jagger hadn't come home for me, or for Ronan.

It was Lilith, that venomous woman! She was afraid of her own son getting hurt, so she snatched my Ronan to be her goddamn stepping stone!

And Jagger, his own father, just to let his son display some so-called "courage"—and not to disappoint his "true love"—had condoned this bloody, potentially fatal fight.

I rushed forward and shoved aside the referee. "Jagger! Are you insane? Lilith is gambling with Ronan's life! I don't agree! What right do you have to let him fight?!"

Jagger spun around. When he saw me, his brow furrowed, his eyes flashing with the irritation of being interrupted. "Serafina? What's this tantrum? Get a grip. Lilith pulled strings and spent a fortune to get him this shot. Other kids would kill for this opportunity, so stop being so ungrateful!"

He continued with a cold smile, "If you hadn't raised Ronan to be so scrawny and timid, we wouldn't have had to trouble Lilith. You should be thanking her. When did you become so inconsiderate?"

"Kill for it?" I gestured wildly at my son, his face pale and his body trembling, tears streaming down my own face. "Open your eyes! She said on the phone that his opponent is a psycho! She's afraid something will happen to Rocco, so she's using our son as a shield! Five years, Jagger! You never took him to an amusement park, never bought him a single toy. And the first time you show up, it's to use his life to pave the way for that woman's son?"

I tried to stop them again, but Jagger roughly pushed me aside. "Enough! You ignorant shrew!"

His gaze was icy, as if I were trash. "Lilith said that although the opponent is fierce, if Ronan can last three minutes, he'll win everyone's respect! The heir of the Corbin family must be a warrior. Why can't you understand that?"

"I don't want your 'warrior'!" I screamed hysterically, lunging toward the ring. "We're going home! Don't touch my son!"

Just then, the bell rang.

The opponent charged like a wild animal. Ronan had no time to react and was sent flying by a punch, crashing heavily against the ropes with a sickening thud.

Foam began to bubble at the corners of Ronan's mouth. His small face, already contorted with fear, turned deathly pale, and his body slumped to the ground like a broken puppet.

Panic finally seized Jagger. He grabbed his phone and dialed. "Lilith! What's going on? Ronan passed out!"

After a quick diagnosis, the ringside doctor said anxiously, "His ribs are broken, one having punctured his lung. Severe internal bleeding. He needs surgery immediately, or he'll go into cardiac arrest! We need a massive transfusion of O-negative blood to keep him alive! But this is an underground ring, the blood bank is empty..."

Jagger's gaze locked on me. He knew. I was a rare O-negative.

"Serafina," he strode over, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Save our son. Now."

I didn't have to think. To save Ronan, I rolled up my sleeve without hesitation. "Quick! Take mine! Take as much as you need, just save him!"

The blood bag slowly filled. Ronan's lifeline.

However, before the blood could be transfused, a piercing scream came from Lilith in the VIP section. "Help! Jagger! Someone! Rocco has fainted!"

Jagger's face changed instantly. He abandoned us and rushed out.

A few seconds later, he returned, his expression terrifyingly grim.

"Take the blood," he said, pointing to the warm bag of life just drawn from my body, his voice hard. "Send it next door to Rocco."

I felt like I had been struck by lightning, unable to believe my ears.

"What did you say?" I clutched the blood bag, dizzy from the blood loss. "This is for Ronan! He's about to go into shock!"

"Rocco was frightened and is having heart problems, he needs a transfusion, too!" Jagger avoided my eyes, gritting his teeth. "His condition is more delicate. A second's delay could leave lasting damage. Ronan just has some external injuries. Lilith said a shot of adrenaline will be enough for him!"

I screamed like a madwoman, "Jagger, Ronan is your own flesh and blood! You'll kill him!"

"Isn't Rocco's life worth saving?!" Jagger roared, turning on me. "I can't just stand by while he's in danger! When did you become so damn cold-blooded?" He then barked at his men, "What are you standing there for? Grab it!"

"No! Jagger! You bastard!"

I struggled desperately, but his men roughly pinned me to the chair. I watched helplessly as the blood was taken away.

Once the blood was drawn, they all abandoned us. They left my Ronan to die, his small body shivering alone on the cold ground as his life faded away.

Just as I was on the verge of complete despair, I suddenly thought of Killian, the man from the club.

He was powerful. He might be the only one who could get the best doctors to save Ronan.

I didn't know why he would help me, but I couldn't afford to care.

I took out the chip he had given me and sent a text to the contact number on it: I need your help.

But before I could send the message, "Mamma..." a weak, hoarse voice interrupted me.

It was Ronan.

His small body was curled up under a worn-out blanket, his face as pale as paper. There was no one else around, but he was alive.

I ignored the IV needle still in my arm and stumbled over to hold him, tears instantly streaming down my face. "I'm sorry... Ronan, I'm sorry... Mamma is useless. I couldn't protect you..."

Ronan laboriously raised his small hand to wipe away my tears. Despite the pain, he tried to be strong. "Mamma, it doesn't hurt anymore. Really."

The more understanding he was, the more my heart felt like it was being sliced apart.

"As soon as you're patched up, we're leaving," I said through gritted teeth. "We're leaving immediately."

Ronan nodded forcefully, burying his face in my chest, his voice muffled. "Okay. Mamma, I don't want Papa anymore."

"In three days," I said, my eyes filled with an unprecedented determination, "as long as we can leave this place, anywhere will do."

Before I could finish, the door was pushed open.

Jagger stood at the entrance, his face etched with impatience. "Leave? Where do you think you can go?"