Chapter 3

I didn't waste a second. I hailed a cab straight to the hospital.

When I pulled back the curtain, Jimmy's face lit up.

"Mom Jessica! Dad!"

But the moment he realized it was me, his smile vanished. He pouted and turned back to his toy cars.

"Mom Jessica? I'm your mother, not her!"

"Leave me alone!"

I forced myself to breathe—in, out, in, out—swallowing the anger rising in my throat.

"How did this happen? You were with your dad yesterday, weren't you?"

He ignored me completely. "I want Mom Jessica and Dad."

That's when I broke. Tears spilled down my cheeks, and my voice cracked.

"Jimmy, I'm your mother!"

"You said they loved you so much—so why was I the first one here?!"

Seeing me cry only made him double down.

"Nobody asked you to come! I want Dad! I want Mom Jessica!"

My chest heaved. I couldn't even form words anymore.

That's when Robert and Jessica finally strolled in from down the hall. Jessica carried a bag full of candy and chips—everything I'd spent years keeping out of Jimmy's diet.

Jimmy shoved past me and threw himself into their arms. Then he spun around and pointed at me like I was the villain.

"See? I told you Dad and Jessica wouldn't abandon me!"

"Mom Jessica buys me treats! You won't even let me have sugar! You're just an old hag! An ugly hag! I hate you!"

Jessica's voice dripped with fake sympathy.

"Scarlett, he's just a child. Don't take it so personally."

I'd sprinted all the way here. My body was giving out. I stared at the junk food in Jessica's hands, then at the three of them standing together like a perfect little family.

I was the outsider.

Jimmy tore open a candy wrapper, grinning from ear to ear.

"Jessica's the mom I actually want!"

I couldn't believe this was the child I'd raised.

"What... did you just say?"

The room spun. A high-pitched ringing drowned out everything else.

Robert glared at me with a cold sneer, his lips moving silently: Always so dramatic.

Jessica pulled Jimmy away, her smirk barely concealed.

I shattered.

I don't know how long I stood there. Eventually, a young nurse walked in.

She froze when she saw the scene—then noticed the blood pooling beneath me.

She screamed and rushed me out for treatment.

Afterward, she realized she'd forgotten to give instructions to Jimmy's parent. She hurried out to make a call—only to reach me on the other end.

The nurse stared at me, stammering.

"You're... you're Jimmy's mother? Then who are they...?"

She trailed off. I shook my head, a bitter laugh escaping my lips.

"I used to be. Not anymore."

I pulled out my phone and dialed Bobby Owens.

"Mr. Owens, let's redraft the agreement."

"Jimmy... I don't want custody."