Ron''s delicate skin was covered in bruises-bluish and purple marks marring the pale surface. On a child so young, so soft and innocent, the injuries looked all the more shocking.


    The bruises were hidden in ces no one would easily notice: under his arms, across his small chest. The weather hadn''t warmed yet, and Ron was bundled up in thick clothes, making it nearly impossible for an outsider to spot the wounds. But for a family member-someone who truly cared-there was no way to miss them.


    Lizetta''s hands trembled with fury. The anger only twisted tighter in her chest when she nced up and met Ron''s wide, innocent eyes. He had no idea what was happening too young to protest, too little to even understand. What kind of monster could hurt a child so defenseless?


    Her anger boiling over, Lizetta gently touched the bruise on Ron''s chest. At her touch, Ron flinched and immediately burst into tears, wailing so loudly it echoed off the hospital walls.


    Startled, Lizetta quickly pulled her hand away and hurried to fix his clothes, preparing to scoop him into her arms tofort him. But before she could, a shrill, furious voice rang out from the doorway.


    "What do you think you''re doing?! Lizetta, let go of Ron!"


    Lizetta turned and saw Ste standing there, her expression livid. Behind her stood Anna, the family''s housekeeper, and, to Lizetta''s shock, two uniformed police officers.


    Before Lizetta could even process what was happening, Ste stormed into the hospital room. She shoved Lizetta aside, nearly knocking her into the bedframe, and snatched Ron up, her voice sharp and trembling with emotion.


    "Lizetta, what are you doing to Ron? Ron, sweetheart, don''t cry. Auntie''s here, it''s okay now."


    Ste cradled Ron tightly, shooting Lizetta a look full of suspicion and fear.


    Lizetta, still reeling from the shove and rubbing her bruised elbow, barely had time to react before Anna jabbed a finger at her and turned to the officers.


    "Officers, this is the woman who took our little Mr. Ron! Look, she''s even hurting him-he''s crying so hard! Please, you have to take her in for questioning!"


    Anna''s eyes widened when she saw Ron''s clothes unbuttoned and the bruises on


    his skin. She red at Lizetta and hurried to Ste''s side.


    "Miss Ste, let me take care of Mr. Ron. You''re still hurt yourself."


    Ste''s own head was bandaged, her face pale and drawn. At Anna''s words, she hesitated, then handed Ron over.


    But the child, terrified by all themotion, squirmed in Anna''s arms, twisting his head as if searching for Lizetta.


    The two police officers stepped toward Lizetta. They''d been called out after a report that a woman had snatched a child off the street in broad daylight-a child belonging to the prominent West family of Zion City With a family this


    fluential. involved, the department had taken the call seriously, fearing a possible kidnapping.


    En route, they''d questioned both Anna and Ms. West, learning that the woman who''d taken Ron had a long-standing feud with Ms. West That,bined with the dramatic nature of the incident, made it sound like a genuine abduction.


    Yet, following the trail here, they''d found the child safe in a hospital room—not at all the scene they''d expected.


    Still, moments ago, they''d seen the boy sobbing and fighting desperately, his cries filling the hallway. The situation was anything but straightforward.