Veronica's POV
No matter what I said, Joseph refused to come out, leaving me with no choice but to pretend to leave.
"Joseph, I know you hate me and can't accept me. If you don't want to see me, then Mommy will leave now. I'm going, okay?"
I made sure my footsteps sounded like I was walking away. Joseph panicked instantly. He scrambled out of that little cave, running to the path while frantically looking around, searching helplessly.
His tiny body shook as frustrated tears poured down his face.
He thought I'd really left.
But he didn't want me to go!
He wanted me back!
Tears flooded his little face as he wiped them with his sleeves, but more kept coming.
"Mommy... I want Mommy..."
"Joseph!"
I called out from behind him.
When he heard my voice, Joseph spun around, his tearful eyes going wide when he saw I hadn't left.
I couldn't describe what crossed his face in that moment.
All his bottled-up frustration and sadness exploded out.
His nose was still bleeding, blood dripping endlessly, staining his face, chin, and clothes.
He looked absolutely miserable. What if I thought he was disgusting when I saw how messy he was? Would I leave him again?
He frantically tried to clean himself up, but only made it worse.
My heart shattered. Without hesitation, I ran to him and pulled him into my arms.
"Joseph... my baby..."
I didn't care how dirty he was.
I held him tight, like he was the most precious treasure I'd finally found.
Joseph didn't push me away, but he didn't really respond either. He just stood there, letting me hold him.
"Does it hurt?"
I loosened my grip and looked at his messy, blood-streaked little face. I carefully wiped away his tears and blood with a handkerchief.
Joseph shook his head. What was a little pain?
He was a man, and men didn't fear pain!
To stop his bleeding, I found some soft grass leaves in the garden, rolled them up, and gently placed them in his nostrils.
Joseph stared at me with those big, round eyes, studying this woman—this stranger who claimed to be his mommy. I felt so warm, so kind, just like the mommy he'd always imagined: gentle and beautiful.
My hands brushed across his face, soft and comforting. Being hugged by me felt wonderful.
Was his mommy really back?
"All done, sweetheart. Let's go home and get you cleaned up, okay?"
Joseph didn't glare at me anymore—a sign he might be starting to accept me. I picked him up and carried him back to the Nelson estate.
---
When I arrived at the estate with Joseph in my arms, the servants at the door looked stunned.
Everyone knew Joseph was a little terror. He never let anyone get near him, much less hold him.
How had this newcomer managed to carry him after being here for such a short time?
Bonita, one of the maids, rushed forward. "Miss Bogart, what happened to Joseph? Why is he bleeding so much?"
"He had a nosebleed. Get me some clean clothes. I'm going to give him a bath," I replied calmly.
"Oh, right away!" Bonita led us upstairs.
---
As we reached the second floor, a loud crash came from the master bedroom. A maid ran out, clutching her head and screaming in terror.
Seeing me, she grabbed my arm and pleaded, "Miss Bogart, you need to check on Mr. Nelson! He's throwing another fit!"
Carrying Joseph, I walked into the master bedroom. The moment I stepped inside, a lamp flew toward us. I quickly turned to shield Joseph, letting the lamp slam into my back instead.
"Ugh..." I groaned in pain.
Joseph's small brows furrowed tightly, sensing I'd been hurt.
I handed Joseph to Bonita outside the room and returned to face Leonardo. My voice was ice-cold. "Have you had enough?"
Leonardo was in the middle of another episode, thrashing on the bed and shaking things wildly like he wanted to tear the world apart. He ignored all attempts to reason with him.
I stepped forward and slapped him hard across the face.
SMACK! The sound echoed through the room as Leonardo's head snapped to the side, a clear red mark appearing on his cheek.
The slap shocked him out of his frenzy.
Rage flared in his eyes. "You crazy woman! Did you just slap me?"
"Yes, I slapped you! Do you even know what you're doing? Do you even know if your son is out there being bullied? All you do is throw tantrums and make everyone else miserable!"
My voice shook with fury as I thought about Joseph's suffering.
"It's none of your business! Get out!" Leonardo shouted.
"All you ever do is yell for me to get out! Is that all you're good for? You're not even as capable as a child. Do you even deserve to call yourself a man? If you keep this up, then just rot away in your misery!"
I snapped, slamming the door behind me with a deafening BANG.
---
Leonardo sat in stunned silence, his hand pressed against his stinging cheek. No one had ever dared to lay a hand on him before, much less speak to him with such venom. The woman's words echoed in his mind, each one cutting deeper than the last.
Who did she think she was? Coming into his home, acting like she belonged here, like she had any right to judge him or his actions. When he recovered, he'd make sure she paid for this insolence.
---
Outside the master bedroom, the servants exchanged nervous glances. They'd all seen me slap Mr. Nelson.
Wow.
No one had ever dared to lay a hand on him before.
Who was this fierce woman?
I ignored them. I returned to Joseph, picked him up, and followed Bonita to the children's wing.
---
In Joseph's bathroom, Bonita prepared the bathwater while I knelt to brush the dirt from his hair. "Look at you—so dirty! Let's get you cleaned up, sweetheart."
Joseph's big, dark eyes stared at me, wondering why this mommy was so gentle with him yet so harsh with his daddy.
I helped him out of his filthy clothes. Joseph remained unusually calm.
Bonita looked stunned. Normally, Joseph refused to let anyone touch him.
After undressing him, Joseph shyly covered himself, his little face full of pride and defiance.
"Alright, I won't look. I'll just help from the side while you bathe," I said with a smile.
The little boy climbed into the tub, his dirty body quickly turning the water murky. My heart ached as I saw his frail frame.
Joseph had been the firstborn of the quadruplets, yet he was so thin his ribs were clearly visible.
I asked softly, "Bonita, why is Joseph so skinny?"
As Joseph turned his back to me, I noticed scars on his back and legs. My heart broke, tears streaming down my face.
"And these scars... Where did they come from?"