He Traded My Trauma for Her Redemption - Chapter 17: Chapter 17

Thomas’s emotions, suppressed for too long, erupted in full force. He pointed a trembling finger at Cassian and roared, “That mistress of yours ran Leona over, forcing her into premature labor! The baby suffocated to death inside her before they could even save him! Her grandmother, overwhelmed by the shock, passed away on the spot! Cassian, all of this… is your doing!"
Cassian stood frozen in disbelief, his gaze sweeping across the mourning decorations. Then, suddenly, he let out a cold laugh.
Tearing the divorce papers into shreds, he scoffed, "Grandpa, at your age, you really shouldn’t be playing along with Leona’s act. There’s no way she would actually divorce me. How could she possibly give up the wealth and power of the Harland Family?"
With a swift, careless kick, he knocked over a mourning wreath. "What’s the point of putting these things in the house? So unlucky."
He glanced at Thomas with an almost mocking expression. "You’re just mad because I haven’t come home to see the child, right? But I'm back now, aren't I? Where's the child? Bring him over, let me see. Has he been named yet? Does he look more like me or Leona?"
Humming a little tune, Cassian casually glanced around the room, expecting someone to bring his child to him.
But the entire household stood in silence. The servants all kept their heads lowered, grief written across their faces.
Not a single person answered him.
A faint sense of unease crept into Cassian’s heart.
He began searching the villa, looking through every room.
Finding nothing, his tone grew a little stiff. "Where are you hiding my child?"
He turned to Thomas and forced a chuckle. "Grandpa, I know I went too far last time. I shouldn't have laid hands on Leona. But the child has already been born. She can't really divorce me, can she? Just tell me where she is and I'll go apologize and coax her back."
Cassian didn't take my anger or grievances seriously. He knew I couldn't leave him.
No matter how outrageous his actions, I would always swallow my pain for the sake of my grandmother.
And now, we had a child. That was another tie binding me to him. Cassian refused to believe I would divorce him. Even less did he believe I would truly leave.
Thomas grabbed his cane and struck him hard.
"You beast! How did the Harland Family raise such a disgrace? Leona is such a good woman and you cast her aside for some social media tramp?"
Cassian curled his lips indifferently. He leaned back into the sofa and propped his leg up casually.
"You all must have seen that trending post, right? So, you're putting on this act together? Grandpa, those women were just for fun. Leona is the only woman who truly matters to me. I've never wanted anyone to replace her. If you don’t believe me, I’ll prove it right now."
Saying this, Cassian took out his phone and called Tessa. "Did you like the wedding dress? I already bought it for you. You're not young anymore, find a decent man to marry. From now on, don't appear in front of me again."
Before Tessa could respond, he swiftly blocked her.
Then, he spread his hands and looked at Thomas with a smug smile.
"Are you satisfied now? Alright, tell Leona to bring the child and come home with me. At worst, I promise her this. I’ll spend Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at home with her and the child and Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays out…"
Thomas was trembling with fury at Cassian’s nonchalant attitude.
He was determined to properly discipline his unfilial grandson.
However, just as he raised his cane, a sudden bout of dizziness overwhelmed him. The continuous stress and exhaustion had finally taken their toll on the elderly man. He clutched his chest and collapsed straight to the ground.
Cassian's expression changed drastically. He quickly rushed his grandfather to the hospital, throwing the entire Harland Family into chaos.
After a night of emergency treatment, Thomas's life was no longer in danger, but he had fallen into a coma, with no telling when he would wake up.
Standing at the hospital room door, Cassian impatiently lit a cigarette.
A nearby doctor hurried over to stop him.
Instead of complying, Cassian grabbed the doctor's collar and snarled, "You're that pretty boy who was dating Leona! How dare you show your face in front of me? Where is Leona? Did she take my child and run to you? Get her out here right now!"
Hearing these words, even the usually composed doctor couldn't hold back and struck back in retaliation.
With reddened eyes, he glared at Cassian.
"You bastard! Do you think having a bit of money makes you untouchable? Do you even realize where I was that day? I was with her at the funeral home, helping her collect her grandmother's ashes! She was all alone, grieving, helpless, losing both her child and her loved one in a single day!"