Lizetta could only watch helplessly as Joseph broke down, collapsing to the floor in a desperate, sobbing apology.

Fiona finally released her gentle hold on Lizetta's legs. Lizetta stood up and bent down to help Joseph back to his feet.

She reached out and rubbed the boy's reddened forehead, letting out a helpless sigh.

"Weren't you always the slyest kid around? Now you're suddenly acting all honest. If you break your head, are you going to try and pin the blame on me?"

Joseph quickly shook his head. "I didn't hit it hard enough to go dumb, Liz, and it doesn't hurt. I won't cling to you either. If you don't want to see me anymore, I... I'll just have Remington send me abroad. I can stay away from home forever, ouch!"

Before he could even finish, Lizetta flicked him hard right on the reddened spot of his forehead.

Joseph let out a pained whimper, his eyes welling up with reflex tears.

Lizetta showed zero sympathy. She poked the spot again and scolded him.

"I thought you said it didn't hurt? Did I say I didn't want to see you? Did I ever say I wouldn't forgive you? You little brat, now that you're cured, you want to run off and live it up abroad? You think you're fully grown and ready to fly the nest? Who do you think you are! Who was the one that promised to grow up fast and protect me, making sure I never got bullied again? Who claimed to be a little man who wasn't afraid of anything? Look at you! It's barely a bump in the road and I haven't even said a word, yet you're over here giving yourself depression!"

Lizetta poked Joseph's forehead, throwing out question after question.

Joseph stumbled back under her relentless poking. The red mark on his forehead grew more obvious, and tears pooled in his eyes, but his gaze was brightening with every word.

Backed into a corner by Lizetta, the boy gently bumped the back of his head against the wall before reality fully set in.

"Liz, you really don't blame me? You don't hate me? Do you truly still love me?"

The young boy stood stiffly against the wall, staring at Lizetta without even daring to blink.

He was only nine years old today; he was still just a child.

At home, he had always been the closest to Lizetta, eagerly waiting for the day she'd have a baby so he could be a proud uncle.

But then, entirely because of him, his

d attacked Lizetta, that nearly cost Lizetta ner to

a traumatic premature labor

The baby was lost, yet the umbilical cord blood was taken to save his own life. The young boy simply didn't know how to carry such a

heavy burden.

Overnight, he had gone from a mischievous little troublemaker to a silent, brooding prince.

Fiona, Nathan, and Remington had all brought him to psychological counseling.

But it was completely useless. Fiona's heart ached every time she looked at him.

Seeing how just a few words from managed to bring the

Lizetta had

light and life back into Josenbe

eyes Fiona felt a wave of relieved gratitude.

She finally let out a long breath.

Standing up, she quietly slipped out of the hospital room to give the two of them some space to talk.

But just as Fiona stepped out of the room, she turned and saw Remington striding down the hall toward them.

Before the man could speak, Fiona quickly raised a finger to her lips in a shushing motion.

Remington closed his mouth. He assumed Lizetta was sleeping inside, and that was why Fiona didn't want him making a sound.

But as he drew closer, he heard the distinct sound of crying coming from the room.

Remington's expression shifted, and he reached out, ready to throw the door open and rush in.