Chapter 496

Suddenly feeling Mercer's hand on her shoulder, Calla instinctively recoiled. She swatted away his hand and shouted, "Don't touch me, Mercer!"

The harm he had caused her was too profound. Even though she now understood his desperate reasons, she still felt immense aversion toward him.

"Fine, I won't touch you." Mercer retracted his hands and left them suspended in the air.

"Don't think you can use Casper to threaten me, Mercer. I will never be manipulated by you!" Calla shouted at him.

Mercer's expression turned pained at her words. He took a step back, and his eyes filled with profound anguish. "Do you really see me as someone who would use my own son as a bargaining chip?"

"Yes," Calla replied sternly.

Mercer's body swayed slightly, then he turned away in dejection. "If that's the case, then you should leave."

Seeing his forlorn figure, Calla felt a pang of sadness, but she couldn't bring herself to trust him again. She turned and walked out of the house.

She stumbled out of