Husband

“Let’s come at this from another angle. He treated you that way because he cared about Neil, right?” Vera knew too well how strong Carlos was. If Carlos wanted to hurt Samuel, Samuel wouldn’t have stood a chance. 

But Samuel couldn’t take in her words at all. 

Vera persevered. “Neil tolds that his daddy has been good to him all these years.” She took out her phone to play a video Ramon had sent last night of Neil throwing a fit in Carlos’s bedroom and smashing everything in sight. Carlos wasn’t angry at all. He only worried Neil would hurt himself. When Neil stomped away, Carlos followed him, apologizing repeatedly and promising not to hurt him again. 

Vera could barely believe it when she saw this. Carlos wasn’t only ruthless and stone–hearted. He could be tender as well. He simply never showed that side to her. 

Samuel snorted angrily. “He’s pretending. If he truly cared about Neil, he wouldn’t marry Averie. Averie wanted Neil dead. It’s true. I heard her.” 

Samuel recounted the events that happened at the breakfast table yesterday morning, emphasizing that before they arrived at the Monroe Group, he heard Averie confess to orchestrating Neil’s previous kidnapping, which unfortunately failed. “That bitch!” Vera quickly messaged Ramon, asking him to watch Averie and make sure she stayed away from Neil. 

James also received a call from his subordinates. They found significant undisclosed transactions in Averie’s account recently. She was the only one around Carlos with suspicious financial activity. “I’ve got the results. Averie was probably behind Neil’s kidnapping.” 

“That matches up.” Vera was furious. “Who else would know Neil’s school schedule and pickup arrangements? If it weren’t for her telling the kidnappers to impersonate Carlos’s bodyguards, Neil wouldn’t have gone along with the kidnappers.” 

Only Averie had the motive, means, and funds to do such a thing. 

“I’ll kill her for touching my son.” Vera looked at James. “See what she’s up to lately.” 

“Already on it. She’s about to take on a fashion job. Word’s out that Carlos had already said it’s hers,” James told her. 

“Then ruin it!” Vera’s eyes flashed with cold determination. 

James’s phone rang again. This time, it was from the security in the residential area. The Monroe family’s bodyguards had been trying to enter the building but were hindered multiple times. Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

After hanging up, James looked at Samuel with a frown. “We must not let them know about Samuel.” At least not now. 

Vera slapped her forehead suddenly, “I almost forgot. Ramon told me about a leaf from a ‘divine tree‘ in a primitive tribe in Firene. When ground into juice and mixed with medicinal powder and water, it can change skin color. Not only is it not harmful to the skin, it is beneficial. The color change can last for over half a month.” 

Vera put Samuel down. “I’ll prepare it right away and soak Samuel in it.” 

Soon, the bathwater was ready. Samuel stared at the greenish liquid in the bathtub. It glowed strangely. He took a step back. “Can I not, Mommy?” 

Vera was already armed with gloves and protective gear. “What do you think?” 

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