One Last Litany

Hearing what Casper said, Adam could only open his mouth as tears rolled down his cheeks uncontrollably. "Daddy..."

Perhaps that word finally moved Casper. He frowned, the coldness in his eyes icier than the frigid snowstorm. "Alright, say it, then. What do you want this time? Money or a house?"

Adam's hands were balled into fists, but he was too afraid to speak against him. He had once told Casper that Sydney was bullying him, but all it took was a crocodile tear from Sydney to make Casper believe that I was jealous of his affection toward her and that I was inciting our son to frame a woman.

That time, Casper had locked me in the basement for a whole week.

My son had also had nightmares for a whole week.

Adam couldn't help but shiver when that memory crossed his mind. He lowered his head and said softly, "Daddy, I can't wake Mommy up. Can you give me your quill?"

Casper's heart skipped a beat, and he subconsciously asked. "What do you mean you can't wake her up? Didn't your mother only donate 400cc worth of blood..."

"Casper!" Sydney suddenly cut him off.

Casper turned his head, a look of shock on his face. "What is it?"

Sydney stiffened and awkwardly changed the subject as she felt Casper's inquisitive look.

"Today is New Year's Eve. If Adam gets home late, Winnie will get worried. All he wants is a quill, right? You should hurry and give it to him. Let's not disturb their New Year's celebration."

Casper's attention was quickly diverted, and his expression softened slightly. "You're still so sympathetic. In that case, come with me."

The group entered the villa, and the wound on my son's face looked even more frightening under the bright lights. Sydney's daughter came over and looked at my disheveled son, asking curiously, "Daddy Casper, who is this? Is he a beggar? He's so dirty."

The girl's innocent words made my son's face flush red.

He looked weakly at Casper, hoping he would explain it to the girl. However, his father was seemingly triggered by something and looked at him with disgust. "Is this how your mother taught you to act to gain others' pity? Do you think I'll feel sympathy for you if you look more miserable? This is ridiculous…"

The redness on my son's face slowly faded as Casper voiced out his thoughts, replaced by paleness and fragility.

Adam thought that… His father really didn't love him anymore.

Wiping the tears from his face, he looked up again. Casper had already gone upstairs, and only Sydney was left, looking at him triumphantly with her eyes full of pity. "Tsk… How sad. Even your father doesn't want you anymore. Let me think… Why don't you call me 'Mommy'? I suppose I can let you stay and be my pet dog. How does that sound?"

"Never!" Adam's body was trembling with anger as his fists clenched tightly, and his eyes were red. "You're not my mommy. I only have one mommy, and her name is Winnie, not you! Don't be so smug! When my mommy wakes up, she'll get back at you for me!"

Adam gritted his teeth and said those words with so much conviction, but I was in so much heartache I could barely breathe. I couldn't imagine how devastated he would be if he found out I would never wake up again.

How could he face the future?

He was only six years old!

Just as tears blurred my vision, Sydney was also completely enraged. She looked around, and the moment she saw Casper coming downstairs, she suddenly fumbled in her pocket and shouted in feigned panic. "My phone? Where's my phone?!"

Sydney frantically searched all over herself until her eyes finally fell on my son. There was a faint smile on her lips as she said, "Adam, did you steal my phone?"

My son was startled and immediately shook his head. "I didn't! Didn't you..."

Slap!

He was forced to swallow every word he wanted to say.

Casper's eyes were filled with disappointment as he held the quill in one hand and pointed at Adam's swollen, red face with his other hand. "I knew it! I knew you were up to no good coming back this time! It's bad enough that your mother taught you to frame Sydney previously, but now, you've learned how to steal, too? What did I do to deserve a son like you?!

"Tell me now! Where did you hide the phone? Give it up right now!"