My Future Dad Admitted He Abandoned Me Chapter 04

My Future Dad Admitted He Abandoned Me Chapter 04

Oxygen ran out. My vision blurred to black, and my body sank downward.

My vision blurring fast, I watched Mom—who couldn’t swim a single stroke—fling herself straight into the pool without a second’s hesitation.

“Hazel, don’t be scared. Mom’s coming, I’ve got you.”

I didn’t know how much time passed before I coughed violently and forced my eyes open.

Mom held me soaked against her chest, sobbing with relief.

But Dad stepped forward harshly and ripped me out of her embrace.

His voice held no warmth.

“Elara, look at what you’ve taught this child.”

He stared down at Mom and me. His expression was icy cold.

“Such cruel jealousy, even at such a young age. She pushed Lyla into the pool on purpose to hurt her.”

Cold seeped through every limb. I trembled uncontrollably, whispering my defense.

“I didn’t push her.”

Dad cut me off sharply, disappointment thick in his eyes.

“You’re lying right to my face. Clearly you’re incapable of raising her right. I’ll let Seraphina care for her before she turns worse.”

Mom’s eyes blew wide with terror. She threw herself forward and shielded me with her entire body.

“No! Don’t take my Hazel away from me!”

I clung to Mom, screaming through broken sobs.

“I didn’t do anything wrong! I don’t wanna leave Mom!”

Mom fought and bit at Dad’s arms in wild desperation.

Dad paused for a split second, a flicker of hesitation crossing his face.

Mom’s straight spine crumpled completely. Her red, tear-filled eyes bore into him.

“Vaughn, don’t take my daughter. I’ll give Seraphina everything she wants. I’ll take Hazel and leave, we’ll never get in your way again.”

Anger flared in Dad’s eyes. He pried Mom’s fingers apart one by one with brute force.

“Leave? Where do you think you’re taking my child?”

“You’re not permitted to step foot off this property without my word.”

Seraphina locked me alone in a bedroom. My clothes still dripped with pool water. I curled under the thin blanket, sniffling myself to sleep.

It was a long while before I woke wrapped in a warm embrace. I blinked awake to find Mom clinging tight to me, soaked and disheveled. The floating countdown above her head showed only one day remaining.

She pressed her palm to my burning forehead and gasped in shock.

“You’re burning up with a fever, Hazel.”

Mom abandoned all caution and sprinted for the door with me in her arms.

Seraphina blocked the exit with several large men dressed in dark uniforms.

Mom clutched me protectively, staring Seraphina down warily.

“What do you want?”

All softness vanished from Seraphina’s face, replaced by a mocking sneer.

“You always acted like you were untouchable, better than everyone else. Look how broken you are now.”

Mom’s eyes blazed red, roaring furiously.

“Move out of my way! If anything happens to my daughter, I’ll never forgive you!”

Seraphina let out a light laugh. She struck Mom hard across the cheek with an open palm.

“You think you’re still above me even now? Dream on.”

“You were the beloved base spouse with everything handed to you. It’s all mine now. Both your brother and Vaughn chose me.”

She waved her hand. The men restrained our wrists and ankles, dragging us to an abandoned military warehouse on the outskirts of town.

Seraphina tied herself to a wooden chair. A taunting, triumphant glint in her eyes.

“Wait and see. Vaughn will pick me over you again this time.”

“As for your daughter, I’ll ship her off to a remote rural county. She’ll suffer ten thousand times worse than I ever did growing up.”

I trembled against Mom’s chest. My tears were streaming nonstop.

Mom gritted her teeth, grabbed a rusted metal shard off the ground, and rubbed frantically at our binding ropes. Her palms tore open, bleeding heavily within minutes.

Dad arrived fast. He spotted our battered state and walked toward us with a furrowed brow.

Before he could speak, Seraphina’s tearful cries filled the air, sounding fragile and hurt.

“Vaughn, thank goodness you’re here. Elara burst into the house unprovoked, screaming you loved only her and would choose her. I was so scared, please save me.”

Dad’s gaze turned cold, anger settling deep in his features.

“You’d dream up vicious lies and plots, Elara—all over a silly fight for my notice?”

Mom shook her head wildly. Her voice raw and hoarse.

“She’s the one behind all of this, not me. Vaughn, please believe me. Hazel’s burning with fever, she’s hurt because of her.”

Dad stared at her with unshakable distrust.

“That fever’s just a ploy to gain sympathy. I don’t want to look at you any longer.”

He untied Seraphina’s restraints, lifted her into his arms, and turned his back to leave without a second glance.

The men stepped forward, closing in on us.

Mom screamed in despair, snapping the ropes binding her limbs. She grabbed a rusted steel pipe from the floor and swung it wildly.

“Stay away from us! All of you, get back!”

She grabbed me and ran for the warehouse exit, only to crash straight into Dad, who’d circled back around.

Dad froze, rage flaring stronger in his eyes.

“I came back worried about you, thinking I might’ve misjudged things. This whole mess really was just your manipulative plot all along.”

The men chased us from behind. The man blocking our path wouldn’t trust her at all..

Mom let out a hollow, broken laugh. A hopeless scream teared from her throat. She stepped backward slowly with me pressed to her chest, until we reached the edge of the warehouse rooftop.

Dad sighed and stretched out a hand toward us.

“It’s dangerous back there. Come here, come home with me. Apologize to Seraphina, and we’ll put all of this behind us.”

Mom dodged his outstretched hand. Her gaze was steady and unwavering.

“No.”

The system hummed loud in our ears once more.

“Do you wish to exit this reality?”

“Yes.”

The next instant, Mom held me tight in her arms, and we jumped off the rooftop, falling right in front of Vaughn’s eyes.