"I'm slowly recovering, but for a full recovery… It might take more than a year. The doctor said I could try holding something light in a week or so. I may start typing or writing again in a month. I should be fine," Serenity reassured."I'm glad to hear that," Lisa said, breathing a sigh of relief. Serenity said goodbye to Clara before heading to the Jenkins family.Lisa sat in the store, talking to Clara. "Serenity came to see her son as soon as she got discharged from the hospital, but Caden… That boy…""The boy is still young. He's still new to Serenity. Maybe he'll open up after some time," Clara said. "That boy is so attached to his sister. I think he'll accept someone who's genuinely kind to him.""I hope so," Lisa sighed and continued chatting with Clara. Yanny soon came home from school. When he saw Lisa, he greeted her politely."How did you get your clothes so dirty? Did you fall somewhere?" Clara asked her son."I accidentally fell," Yanny said."You tore your pant
Lisa sighed at Yanny's nervousness. "Fine. I won't tell your mom, but you'd better call me if this happens again. I'll talk to your teacher, and hopefully, we can stop them from talking about you like that again!""Thank you, Aunt Lisa!" Yanny answered nicely.Lisa patted Yanny on the head. The boy was too mature for his age, and she sometimes felt bad for him. Yanny was only nine, but he had already been through exceptional hardships compared to other children his age.Lisa and Yanny did not notice a figure listening from the doorway. Clara leaned against the wall, her eyes brimming with tears.She knew Yanny might face discrimination due to his inability to hear, but she never thought it would happen like this. Yanny had never told her anything about it, and she assumed that his classmates were nice enough not to discriminate against him.Clara had always wanted Yanny to grow up like a normal kid, so she sent him to an ordinary school, hoping he would live healthily and happily.
Micah struggled for a moment before approaching Serenity, hesitating about something."Micah? What's wrong?" Serenity gave her son a strange look.Micah's body tensed at his clear nervousness, and he finally gave Serenity a big hug and kissed her on the cheek. "Mom! I… I also… I missed you so much…" he stammered, his little face flushing red from all the embarrassment. It was his first time behaving like this with so many people watching.Although his face was getting redder, he was happy to see Serenity break into a smile of joy. He thought he should do this more often to make his mother happy, but he still could not bring himself to do the same as his sister. It seemed a little more difficult.A little boy stood aside, watching Serenity's interaction with her children. Fred had seen Serenity before. He knew she was Jacqueline's mother—the woman his mother hated!Jenny used to tell Fred how he and Jacqueline would never be friends. Fred did not understand what his mother meant be
At the end of the piano piece, Fred asked in a low voice. "Why did you help me? Why did you stop the other kid and take my side?" "Because you're my friend! Of course, I have to help! Besides, they were wrong. What your mother did wasn't your doing! Why should they insult you?" Jacqueline said boldly.Fred stared blankly at Jackie, surprised by her words. Friend? No! He and Jackie would never be friends!Later, in the living room, Serenity looked at Jenny's son and sighed in her heart. She was amazed by the boy's superb piano skills when she first met him, but she never thought he would be Jenny's son."You must be Fred. We've met before, remember? I'm Micah and Jackie's mom. You can call me Aunt Serene," Serenity said. She did not want the grudges of their generation to spread to the next generation. Fred was staying with the Valor family because Jackie insisted on keeping the boy with her. In that case, Serenity hoped the boy would live peacefully here and not foster hatred from
"Okay. I'll take you to your mother," Serenity promised."I'll take him there," Jackson said, reminding Serenity, "The doctor said you need rest. You should stay home for the next few days. Don't hurt your hands again, or it won't recover well."Serenity gave it a thought and agreed with a nod. "Alright, then. Please take Fred with you."Jackson arranged for Fred to visit Jenny at two in the afternoon. During the car ride, Fred sat beside Jackson in the backseat like a quiet doll. Jackson was kind of impressed with the boy's nature. Having been raised by a mother like Jenny, it was unusual for Fred to develop such a character. The boy was only five years old. He never cried when he learned that his mother had died from suicide and still wanted to see his mother's body. Not all adults could remain as calm as him in this situation.A boy with such a personality… He could have been born emotionless, or he knew how to keep his emotions controlled. It was not something a child his age
While on the way home, Jackson glanced over at Fred with indifference. Although Fred was only five years old, Jackson was unflinching and spoke directly to the point."You've met your mother. I don't know what you're thinking right now, but I want to tell you this. Be a good boy. Don't you try to do anything silly or hurt Jackie and Micah!"Fred stared up at Jackson. "So, Uncle Jackson, when are you sending me away?"Jackson arched an eyebrow, surprised at the boy's grasp. Jackson never intended to let Fred stay with them for a long time."Once Jackie gets tired of you, she'll let you leave. But before that, you'd better stay with her, understand? If you can keep her happy, I'll naturally arrange a better place for you to go."Fred unconsciously wrung his hands in fear, his forehead covered in cold sweat. The little boy looked pretty calm at the moment, but he was still too young, unable to hide his nervousness. "Am I just… Jackie's toy?" the boy asked.Jackson's lips curled in
"I-I'm not crying," Fred said, turning his head away in embarrassment."But your eyes are so red," Jacqueline pointed out, moving her body to where Fred had turned his face. Jacqueline reached out her hand to wipe his tears, and her sudden actions caught Fred completely off guard.Jacqueline felt a wetness on her finger and said, "Look! Your tears!" she exclaimed, licking the tears away from her fingers. "Eek! It's salty!"Fred's face flushed redder, not sure how to react."Why are you crying?" Jacqueline put her face closer to his. "Because your mom's gone?" She had heard from Mommy and Daddy that Fred's mother had died in prison. His mom had died… That meant he would never see his mom again! That was what she had seen on TV!Fred tensed at Jacqueline's question and said nothing."If my mom's gone, I'll be crying too. I'll cry for many days!" Jacqueline said with a serious face. "I won't laugh if you cry!""I won't cry," Fred said after a short silence.Jacqueline blinked and
Fred was stunned. He had already eaten the chocolate like Jackie told him to. Why was she crying?"Why? Why are you crying?" he asked as he swallowed the chocolate."Because… Because Fred, your mom is gone..." Jacqueline choked with sobs. "You must be… Sad… B-But the chocolates I've brought won't cheer you up... What can I do to cheer you up...?"Fred was a little confused. Did Jackie want to make him happy that much?"It doesn't matter… Anyway, I'll be alone from now on," Fred muttered."It matters! It's important!" Jacqueline said, bursting into tears. "Besides, you aren't alone. We'll always be together… Always… Wahhh!" Jacqueline suddenly hugged him and cried even louder.Fred had a strange feeling. He should be the sad one, but Jackie was the one crying out loud instead. She was crying in his arms, but it somehow made him feel warmer than earlier. It was less cold than being alone in bed.Emotions were contagious, like a cold. As if infected with Jackie's sadness, Fred star