Chapter 267

The Koenigsegg's interior was warm, but Andrew Lucas felt no comfort.

His long fingers gripped the steering wheel, knuckles turning white.

Since parting with Susan, it was as if he lived in perpetual winter. No coat could chase away the bone-deep chill.

The image of Susan coughing up blood haunted him.

He slammed the wheel in frustration.

That cruel woman deserved to suffer—yet he knew all too well the agony of a bleeding stomach.

She'd always feared pain.

A mere pinprick used to make her whimper for hours. How much was she hurting now?

Andrew abruptly turned the car around.

He told himself he was only going back to ensure she didn't die too easily.

The car sped through the night.

He dialed Susan's number. At least he could hear her voice first.

——

Susan curled on the sofa, scrolling through news clips.

Nicole Capra's humiliating video had her laughing uncontrollably.

The comments were even better than the footage.

"Nicole wet herself like a toddler. Does she pee the bed when sleeping with Andrew too?"

The user "PlainYear" was downright savage.

Her phone rang.

Seeing Andrew's name, she assumed it was about returning keys and answered absently.

"Hahaha—"

She couldn't stop giggling.

Andrew's grip on his phone tightened.

His rehearsed concern lodged in his throat.

She was... laughing?

"Susan!" he growled through clenched teeth.

She rolled her eyes.

Calling just to yell at her at this hour?

"Mr. Lucas, I know my own name," she said coldly. "Mail the keys back. I don't want to see you."

Click.

Satisfaction.

Andrew stared at the black screen, tempted to hurl his phone.

Then he remembered her old, spirited laugh and his lips twitched upward.

Immediately, he punched the steering wheel in self-disgust.

He was losing his mind.

Glancing at the time—well past midnight—he meant to return to Willow Lane.

Yet somehow, the car pulled up to Benjamin Nash's courtyard.

He entered the code and ascended the familiar stairs.

Daniel's door was ajar.

Moonlight spilled across the sleeping boy's face.

His blanket lay discarded on the floor.

Andrew frowned.

However insincere this mother and son were toward him, the sight still stung.