570: Losing his innocence overnight

Losing his innocence overnight

[TIGGER WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. READ WITH CAUTION.]2

Silas used to be just like any other kids his age. He wasn't as bright and mature as Dominic, but he was cheerful and innocently smart in his own ways. All he wanted was to play and see his mother smiling at all times. He loved spending time with his parents, just like how he thought would last for a lifetime. 

However, recently, their initially lovely home just seemed to be shrouded in darkness. He would often see his mother crying in the corner of her room and his father, Leon, hadn't been home. Leon used to spend time with his family, playing with Silas while his mother watched from under the huge parasol in their garden. 

Although young, this drastic change was something the young Silas had noticed. But because he was a child, he thought it was normal. That not all days were happy days. His father was busy, after all, working under his twin brother, Lionel. Therefore, Silas understood his father could be too preoccupied. This wasn't the first time Leon had to be away from home.

Silas was optimistic that once his father got more free time, their home would return to how it was. His mother wouldn't cry anymore, and the smile on her face would return. 

He was wrong. 

It took him weeks to realize things weren't as simple as he thought it would be.

SLAP!

A resounding slap resonated across every corner of the room. Silas's pupils dilated as he saw what had just happened through the gaps in the door. He couldn't fall asleep in his room tonight for some reason. Therefore, he wanted to go to his mother's room in case she needed company. His mother had been having nightmares, she said.

He didn't want to see her cry anymore.

But when he opened the door discreetly, the first thing he saw was his mother falling to the floor with a loud thud. When he moved his dilated eyes, his father was standing before his mother. 

"Daddy?" he called quietly, breath hitching as he caught a glimpse of Leon's expression. 

Leon's eyes seemed to shine in red, teeth clenched. He looked angry while staring at the woman whom he slapped, which made her fall to the floor. This sight of him scared the young Silas. 

From his memories, Leon had this bright smile. He was a loving husband and a caring father. He would never look at his wife as if there was no trace of love between them. 

"Leon Zhu…" the woman's voice was shaky, holding her slightly swollen cheek as she faced the man she pledged to spend the rest of her life with. "How dare you?"

Her eyes shone with great dismay, revealing her fearlessness before the man who just slapped her without holding back. The side of her mouth was bleeding, filling her mouth with the taste of iron. And yet, it seemed she didn't care about that at all. The pain in her heart was greater than just the throb on her cheek and the bruise in her mouth. 

It could never compare. 

"I just put Silas to sleep and you will come in here making all sorts of noises." The woman clutched her hand tightly as she picked herself up, standing before her husband. "Aren't you already ashamed? I told you that I don't want to see you ever again. How dare you sneak into my house —"

"Your house?" Leon scoffed. "This place is under my name, Olivia. This is my house. You got nothing, you are nothing without me."

Her fist trembled as her eyes turned bloodshot, grinding her teeth in anger. "Since when…" she trailed off as she let out a short, ridiculing laugh.

"No, you didn't." She shook her head, eyes fixed on him. When she caught the slight smirk that turned up on his face, all she saw was red. The woman — Silas's mother, and Leon's wife — Olivia, jumped to him. She punched his chest while screaming, "How dare you steal everything from me, Silas Zhu?! Hadn't you had enough?! Don't you really have a shred of pity for our son?! Everything my grandfather left to me was for him and not for you to gamble and to spend for your countless women!"

Olivia screamed her lungs out, throwing weak punches at Leon's chest. She didn't care anymore who would hear everything that was flying out of her mouth. It hurts. Her heart was bleeding profusely, and it hurt so much that screaming seemed to be the perfect way to numb the pain. 

Ever since her husband got into gambling, Leon changed drastically. Not only did he burn their savings, but he had also been taking part in debauchery. Now, it seemed Leon found a way to transfer everything in her name to him. She had no idea how he did it, but considering what he had been doing for almost a year now, she didn't doubt it. 

"Stop." Leon gazed down as he let his wife vent her anger. "Olivia, stop."

A trace of annoyance flickered across his eyes as his rope of patience burned. When Olivia didn't stop with her assault, he grabbed her wrist as he roared, "STOP!"

Olivia flinched at the thunderous voice echoing in her ears. She slowly looked up, eyes shaking at the man, only to see the annoyance plastered on his face. The bitterness and dismay in her heart swelled up. 

This was not the man she fell in love with. This man right now was just the monster who had been the cause of her tears and misery. 

"Leon…" Her breath hitched, speaking through her gritted teeth and tears. "You disgust me."

Leon's face turned instantly dark at the words that caressed his ears. "You, what?"

"You're disgusting. Being married to you is the biggest mistake I've made in my life," she stressed each word to make that clear to him. "If only I can return time, I will never choose you."

"Hah." Leon let out a short, menacing chuckle. "Olivia, are you saying you should've chosen my brother over me?"

"Yes!" Olivia didn't hesitate to answer, knowing this could result in another long night where he would beat her.

"Ahh. Is that so?" Leon raised a hand, only to stop when he heard Silas's voice pierced the air. 

"Daddy! Please don't hurt Mommy!" Seeing that his father was about to hurt his mother, Silas rushed inside and revealed his presence to his parents. When Leon turned his head and his eyes fell on the kid, his face crumpled in dismay.

"This kid…" his face revealed disgust as if Silas wasn't his kid. "He shouldn't have lived."

"Leon, no!" Olivia immediately rushed to Silas and pulled him into her embrace. She glared at Leon angrily, screaming, "Hurt my child, and I will kill you, Leon Zhu!" 

Leon balled his hands into a tight fist, watching his wife embrace the boy. He ground his teeth and snickered. 

"Then I'll just beat you instead." Without further ado, Leon took a large step and grabbed her hair, warranting a scream from her. Silas clung to his mother and screamed for his father to stop, but Olivia pushed him away as her husband dragged her into another room to beat her up. 

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