System Unbound: The Scum Mom's Bitter Regret

Sean stepped back while holding the baby. Tears still hung on his face.

He lowered his head, and his voice became softer. “Dad, Mom, please do not blame Talon. It is my fault. I should not have let Miley keep the baby.”

I watched everything unfold. My whole body shook.

“It was not Dad!”

I ran forward and spread my arms, standing in front of him.

“Dad would never hurt anyone. He would never hurt anyone at all.”

My mother looked at me, then at my father. Her gaze looked complicated.

Sean spoke again. His voice sounded hesitant. “Could it be that Talon has a mental problem?” He glanced at my mother and paused. “After what happened in those three years in the ancient city…”

My mother jolted slightly.

Grandma cut in at once. “Yes. He must be sick. No normal person would do something like this.”

“He cannot stay in this house anymore,” Grandpa said in a low voice. “Send him to the hospital for an examination. If he is really ill, send him to a psychiatric hospital. We cannot let him harm others.”

My father crawled forward on his knees and grabbed my mother’s pant leg.

“Miley, I am not sick. I am really not sick. Let me stay with Jayden. I will do whatever you say.”

My mother looked down at him.

“Take the baby to get his wounds treated. I will take him for a diagnosis.” Her voice sounded calm.

The light in my father’s eyes went out at once. Then he collapsed to the ground.

“Dad! Dad!”

I screamed as I shook his shoulder. He did not respond.

Grandma kicked him.

“Stop pretending. Get up.”

“Do not touch him!”

My voice came out loud. Grandma flinched and stepped back.

“You little brat.” Her face turned red. “Is this how your father taught you to speak to your elders?”

“You never treated him like your son,” I cried. “You only liked Uncle Sean. You never liked my dad.”

“You…”

My mother walked back over. She crouched down and checked my father’s breathing. Her expression changed.

“Call a doctor.” She stood up. Her voice came out fast and tense. “Now.”

My father was rushed into emergency care when he arrived at the hospital. After a long while, he was moved into a ward.

The doctor looked at him. His expression was unreadable.

“He is severely malnourished and showing signs of organ failure.”

My mother froze.

“Organ failure?”

“You did not know?” The doctor’s tone sounded sharp. “With his condition, how are you his wife?”

My mother stood there with a complicated look on her face.

My father lay in bed with an IV in his hand. His face looked pale. He wiped my tears.

“Do not be afraid. I am fine.”

He looked at my mother, then spoke gently to me. “Jayden, go outside first. I need to talk to your mom.”

I did not want to leave. Yet I still did.

The door did not close fully. I left it slightly open.

I saw my father looking at my mother. His eyes looked steady.

“Miley, I would like to send Jayden abroad.”

…

“What? Are you crazy? He is only eight.” My mother’s voice rose with anger. “Are you throwing another tantrum?”

“I am not.”

“I can accept sharing you with Sean. I will stay in my place for the rest of my life with no other intentions.” His voice sounded flat. “Jayden cannot grow up in this kind of environment.”

He got out of bed as he spoke. His bare feet touched the cold tile as he dropped to his knees.

“I am begging you. Let him go.”

His forehead pressed against the ground.

My heart shattered.

“Dad.”

I whispered.

My mother stared at him. Her gaze looked heavy, and her lips pressed into a tight line.

“I can send him abroad.” Her voice came slowly, like from far away. “You are not leaving.”

I could not hold back anymore. I pushed the door open and ran inside.

“I do not want to go abroad.”

My father lifted his head and looked at me as tears fell down his cheek.