Claiming Kinship

"Don't!" She shrieked this again, her sharp voice echoing across the warehouse.

The finger on the trigger shuddered ceaselessly despite his stiff expression.

Putting down all her pride, she pleaded, "Don't kill me… I'm your mommy… I'm your mommy…"

The boy cut in. "Shut up! You're no mommy of mine!"

A bitter smile instantly spread across her stricken face. "True! It's true… You're no biological child of mine, indeed, but do you know why? That's because your father deceived me; he tricked me into thinking that I'm infertile! It's because I got fooled so thoroughly that I'm filled with hatred now!"

"That's no excuse for you to hurt my mommy!"

"Listen to me… Listen to me…" She tried her best to calm his agitation by deliberately speaking gently. "Little Yichen, don't you remember it all? I held you in my arms when you were born and not her!"

"…" His eyes suddenly flashed in astonishment.