System Unbound: The Scum Mom's Bitter Regret

He reached out and pulled me into his arms.

His body felt thin. His bones pressed against me, but he was still warm.

“Be good, Jayden.”

His hand gently patted my back, the same way he always did.

…

A few days later, my father was discharged from the hospital.

Sean and the others stayed wary of him, as if he truly had a mental illness.

Most of the time, my father stayed in the room with me. He held me and read picture books.

However, I still felt uneasy.

My father kept his head down at the dinner table, eating slowly, one bite at a time.

My mother put down her chopsticks and cleared her throat.

“The company’s tenth anniversary is coming up. Sean will attend with me. There will be many reporters. We need to consider the company’s image.”

A flash of pride crossed Sean’s face before he hid it.

He lowered his head. His voice sounded soft on purpose.

“Miley, would it be inappropriate if Talon does not go?”

“You can arrange it however you want,” my father replied.

My mother looked at him. She seemed like she wanted to say something, but she stayed silent.

On the day of the anniversary, my father and I stayed at home.

Sunlight poured through the windows and spread gold across the carpet.

My father sat on the sofa, carving a small wooden dog.

I lay beside his legs and watched him work.

“Dad, can I not go abroad?” I asked in a soft voice.

His hand paused. The carving knife hung still in the air.

“I did not want to leave you either.” His voice sounded very soft, as if he feared disturbing something. “I do not have time to watch you grow up anymore.”

“Why do you not have time?”

“It is because I am going home.”

His tone was calm, so calm that it did not sound like goodbye.

I sat up and looked at him.

“Can you take me with you?”

“I would love to take you, but the system will not allow it.”

He gave a faint, bitter smile and patted my hair.

“Do not worry. I already spoke to Uncle Dylan. He will take care of you. He will arrange your school and your money. When you grow up, you can come back to the country if you want, or stay abroad if you do not.

“You need to study hard, eat well, and sleep well. Do not trust people too easily. Do not ever wrong yourself for anyone.

“If someone bullies you…”

He stopped. His eyes turned red, but he refused to let the tears fall.

Bang.

The door was kicked open.

Several unfamiliar men stood at the entrance.

The leader wore a black jacket. A scar ran from his brow to his cheekbone.

Three burly men stood behind him like a wall.

“Who are you?” My father’s voice turned sharp. “What do you want?”

The scarred man grinned, showing yellowed teeth stained with smoke.

“Someone told us to take you somewhere fun, sir.”

His gaze slid from my father to me. It made my skin crawl.

I grabbed my father’s hand. He pulled me slightly behind him.

“I will go with you.” My father’s voice turned calm. “Do not hurt my son.”

The man tilted his head.

“Mr. Talon, straightforward.”

He waved his hand. Two men stepped forward.

One grabbed my arm and yanked me away from my father. The other pulled out tape and rope. He tied my wrists with practiced speed and sealed my mouth with tape.

“Mmm!”

I struggled, but I was nothing in their hands.

“Jayden!”

My father lunged forward, but the scarred man blocked him.

“Relax, Mr. Talon,” he said with a smile. “As long as you cooperate, we will not touch him.”

“What exactly do you want?”