The door slammed shut, locked from the outside. Bertha's eyes burned with panic. She didn't even bring her phone. And her children were alone at that motel. What if someone dangerous found them? "Let me out! This is illegal confinement!" No one answered her shouts. At Beverly Hills, Los Angeles's most exclusive estate, Marcus burst through the door. Still in his coat and shoes, he bolted up to the second-floor nursery. The butler Phillip hurried after him. Marcus looked frustrated."What's going on?" Phillip quickly said, "Mr. Casper was fine until Ms. Petersen visited this afternoon. She brought gifts and went up to see him. After their talk, he snapped and even injured her." A shadow crossed Marcus's face as he took the stairs two at a time."Did he hurt himself?" "We don't know. He won't let anyone near him." As Marcus reached his son's door, he heard the sound of furniture being thrown inside. His worry spiked as he pushed the door open. A vase came flying toward Marcus. He dodged just in time as it whizzed past his ear, sailed out the door, and shattered on the marble floor below. Phillip paled, frozen in the doorway. Marcus, long accustomed to these outbursts, stepped inside calmly. His eyes locked onto his seething son as he approached slowly. "Casper, what upsets you this time?" Casper clenched his fists tightly, furrowed his brows, and his chest heaved with each breath. His face was dark with fury. This tempest of anger was identical to Marcus, down to the last flicker of his aura. The resemblance was undeniable. Marcus stepped closer, reaching out to embrace his son. But Casper refused, standing seven feet away. He stared back, eyes sharp with defiance. "Are you getting married?" Marcus was taken aback."Who told you that?" Casper didn't say anything, just staring at him. Marcus thought about Brenda."What did Brenda tell you?" Casper's jaw tightened. 16.09 1.3% < Chapter 9 Menu Marcus's expression darkened. "She's lying. I'm not replacing your mother. All these years, I've never stopped looking for her, and you know that." "You're not marrying her?" "I won't!" "Promise?" "Promise." Casper's expression softened slightly."I don't like her." Marcus said, "Neither do I." The boy's lips trembled."Any news about Mommy?" Not yet. But you'll be the first to know if I get any news." Marcus's feelings for that woman were a tangled mess of gratitude and fury. Six years ago, she'd been his antidote, his accidental savior. He'd wanted to find her, marry her, build a life together. But later, Casper's sudden appearance made him not only love her, but also hate her. He'd only been with her in his life, so Casper must be hers, their blood. How could she abandon the baby so heartlessly? If Brenda hadn't stumbled upon the infant that day, Casper would have died in front of his house. That woman had abandoned him and their child! How heartless! Marcus suppressed his resentment as he watched Casper gradually calm down. He squatted down and gently caressed his son's face. 'Casper," he said softly, "I want to find her just as much as you do. I wish she could appear before us right now. But we can't always get what we want. Just because we miss her doesn't mean we can have her back." It was hard to believe that the richest man in the country and his son were just so lonely and pitiful. They were both abandoned by the same woman! Casper furrowed his brows tightly. "Why didn't Mommy want you or me?"