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
Jenny's parents would take care of Jenny's cremation here in Solaria. It was clear that Mr. and Mrs. Hall did not want to take in their grandson. They were already old and not doing so well, thus, raising another child would make things even harder for them. Even though they knew the child was living with the Valor family, they did not mention the child at all.As for Jackson, he never mentioned Fred's matter to Mr. and Mrs. Hall, naturally. It was as if Fred did not exist.Zeke was still hospitalized. His life was saved, but he was suffering from the side effects of the treatment, his body constantly in excruciating pain. When he found out about Jenny's death, he said with hatred, "I'm glad she's dead!"All Zeke had left for Jenny, the woman he once loved, was nothing but hatred. His life was ruined in Jenny's hands. He had even committed a crime just for his so-called son, only to discover that the child was not related to him at all. He had been deceived. Jenny… She had fooled hi
"Why do you want to spend more time with me?" Fred asked, looking at the little girl standing in front of him."Because I like you! I want to spend more time with you," Jacqueline replied."Just because I can play the piano?" Fred asked."Well…" Jacqueline had a thoughtful look on her face. "I do like you because you play the piano well, but it's not just that… There are other kids who play the piano well too, but I don't like them as much.""What if you don't like me as much one day? Would you want to be with me less?" the boy asked in a low voice. He masked his feelings, not showing any expression on his face, but his wringing hands gave away his nervousness."There's no way I don't like Fred!" Jacqueline spoke with certainty, "I said I'd always be with you, so you have to stay with me!" Always? How long would this last? Fred pondered. "Come! I'll play a new song for you!" Jacqueline said, dragging Fred to the main building again. Fred did not resist this time and followed J
There was still some time left until Lisa's appointment, so she and Terry sat and waited in the waiting hall."Are you really okay?" Lisa asked Terry, who seemed very tired at the moment."Yeah, I'm fine," Terry told Lisa."But you don't look too well," Lisa said as she habitually reached for his forehead, but his face changed instantly, and he pushed Lisa's hand away.Lisa was stunned for a moment, her hand still frozen in mid-air. Terry seemed to be stunned as well. "I… I'm not feeling well. Don't touch me," he said weakly. Her touch was too much for him to accept right now.Lisa bit her lip, feeling a little embarrassed. "Okay, I understand," she said, taking back her hand. She sat upright and deliberately distanced herself from him.Terry gaped at Lisa as if to explain something, but in the end, no words came out of him. Terry had to wait until the Blood Parasite was completely removed before telling her everything.When it was Lisa's turn, Lisa walked into the consulting ro
Lisa did not understand what Terry was thinking. Sometimes, he acted like he cared so much about her and wanted to be with her again, but just now, he seemed to be resisting her.Terry could not even stand her touch. If that was the case, why would he accompany her to the maternity checkup? Or… Was all he cared about the child in her belly? Without the baby, maybe he would not have bothered to see her again.Lisa smiled bitterly. Since when was she such a sentimental person? She even felt some sort of attachment to the life in her belly, hesitant about ending the unplanned pregnancy.When the car stopped, Lisa snapped back to her senses and realized she had arrived at her destination. She turned to Terry and saw that he was asleep, leaning against the back of the seat.Terry slept with fatigue shown across his face. His long eyelashes threw a shadow on his cheeks, and he even had bags under his eyes. It was obvious he had not been sleeping well. A few strands of loose hair fell in
"Just a week, Lisa. I just need you to give me another week," Terry pleaded.Lisa became upset. "What do you want? You keep asking me to give you time and won't talk about the damages from the accident. When we meet a week later, are you going to ask me to give you a couple more weeks?""Lisa, I..." Terry tried to say something, but a voice suddenly rose, interrupting him."Why are you two together?!"Lisa winced as she recognized the voice. That was her dad's voice!Lisa turned around and found her parents standing not far away, staring at them in surprise. Her mom even had a basket of vegetables in her hand. It seemed her parents had just returned from grocery shopping."Lisa, you said you had to go out this morning. Were you with Terry?" Hersha questioned.Lisa blinked, not knowing how to explain things to her mom."Tell me. You went out with him early in the morning. What did you do with him?"Lisa remained silent, troubled by her mom's question. How could she tell them th