He hesitated for a moment, but within the blink of an eye, he seemed to make up his mind. He forcefully pried my fingers apart one by one.
“Adrienne, didn’t you hear me?!” he snapped impatiently, “Suzanne’s sick, of course, I need to go back!”
I looked at my hand, still suspended in the air, then glanced at Hank’s determined back as he walked away. I suddenly burst into laughter.
Tears sprang to my eyes, but I quickly wiped them away.
It was truly laughable.
The last shred of hope I had was crushed by Hank’s unhesitating departure.
I lifted my eyes and looked outside. In the night sky, there was a star that once belonged to Hank and me, called “Eternal.” But the time was far too long.
I had once thought that the star would shine forever, but it had silently faded and disappeared without me even noticing.
The next day’s activity was “selling“.
For some reason, Alex had changed his previously annoyed attitude and shoved Jesse, who had been standing by my side, away.
He took a bottle of milk from his overalls, cautious and somewhat hopeful, awkward but stubbornly saying, “Do you want some? I brought it just for you.”
I didn’t know what he was trying to pull. I coldly averted my gaze and reached out to pull Jesse back to my side.
I let Jesse play with my fingers beneath, carefully listening to the program rules.
To promote parent–child relationships, selling wasn’t something only the children could participate in; parents had to be there by their side.
The first person to complete the task would win a luxurious dinner.
Jesse shook my hand and looked up at me, his big eyes sparkling. “Ms. Cooper, can you sell with me?”
He looked so adorable, I couldn’t help but smile.
Just as I was about to agree, something unexpected happened!
Alex suddenly shoved Jesse to the ground, yelling angrily, “Don’t you have your own mom? Why are you sticking to my mom?”
He spoke with great certainty, though his voice trembled slightly, “Don’t worry, my mom would never agree to this, I’m her real son.”
The way he was so confident reminded me of Hank, though he wasn’t wrong.
In the past, I would have unhesitatingly chosen him.
After all, he was the flower I’d nurtured carefully, from 4.6 pounds to 50 pounds. I had never denied his requests.
But now, things were completely different, weren’t they?
Chapter 9
Seeing that I didn’t respond, Alex started to panic, as though he understood I might really not go with him. His eyes locked on me, filled with expectation.
“Mom, I’m sorry, but please don’t get too close to other people,” he softened, switching from being forceful to weak.
I knew he hadn’t suddenly had an epiphany. It was his possessiveness at play.
