Chapter 37
Chapter 37
On the surface, Elianna’s words seemed to speak on Skylar’s behalf, but in reality, they placed all the blame squarely on her.
Of course, Yosef could see right through her little act. But considering Elianna had just been scalded by hot water poured by Skylar, and she must’ve been feeling upset, he chose not to say anything.
Elianna waited for a long time but didn’t hear a word from him. She couldn’t help but raise her eyes slightly, meeting his deep, unreadable gaze.
His eyes were sharp–like they could see right through her petty little schemes.
Elianna didn’t dare move. She opened her mouth cautiously, “Did I say something wrong?”
“No,” Yosef’s face remained emotionless. “She saved Adam, and your injuries aren’t serious. Let’s just call it even.”
Elianna’s forced smile almost cracked. This wasn’t how she imagined things going at all.
Why wasn’t he blaming Skylar? Why was he just letting it go? she almost screamed. If the water had been just a little hotter, her face might’ve been disfigured. Why did that disobedient little tramp get treated like she was more precious?
Elianna couldn’t let this go. “I’m fine, but I’m worried about how Skylar might feel…”
She trailed off deliberately. Deep down, she thought, If Skylar insists on targeting her, fighting back to protect herself shouldn’t be a problem, right?
Yosef nodded. In a gentle tone, he said, “I’ll talk to her. I won’t let her lay a hand on you again.”
Elianna bit her lip and nodded.
Yosef didn’t say anything more. Elianna tried to find a topic to continue the conversation, but he cut her off, “Don’t talk. You’ll wake Adam.”
Elianna silently scratched at her fingernails, glaring at the little lump on the bed with resentment. The kid was exactly like Skylar, she thought. A hateful
little brat.
Time passed, and Elianna’s back was sore from sitting so straight. Her waist ached, and she shifted uncomfortably, anger building inside her.
She didn’t want to sit there watching over Adam anymore. She started thinking of excuses to leave.
Just then, the little lump on the bed moved. “Mmm… Mommy…”
Yosef immediately got up and walked to the bed, leaning down to gently stroke his son’s head. “Adam, how do you feel?”
Elianna quickly followed, speaking with concern, “Adam, are you okay? Mommy was so worried about you!”
“Daddy…” Adam completely ignored Elianna. His eyes stayed locked on Yosef.
He had slept for too long. His throat was parched. Yosef poured him a glass of water and helped him sit up to drink.
Adam was so thirsty, he gulped it down, even spilling a bit. Yosef noticed and caught the drips with his hand under the boy’s chin.
Adam drank the whole cup in one go, but Elianna frowned in distaste. “Adam, don’t make noise when drinking. And don’t drink so fast. Didn’t the etiquette teacher teach you this?”
Adam glared at her angrily. Yosef’s expression turned cold. “He’s still young. There’s no need to be so harsh. The etiquette lessons were meant to teach manners, not to restrict him.”
Elianna realized she’d overstepped and quickly tried to fix it, “I didn’t mean it that way. It’s just a habit–I wasn’t thinking. Adam, don’t blame Mommy.”
“You’re not my mommy.” Adam, now with a soothed throat, said loudly.
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Chapter 37
“Adam, I’m already very sad. Why do you have to say that? Do you want to break Mommy’s heart?” said Elianna,
Adam pouted. “Daddy, I don’t want her. I want Mommy.”
Elianna tried to speak again, but Yosef stopped her, “You should leave. Don’t upset him any further.”
“Yosef… ” she protested, voice trembling with unwillingness.
Yosef’s gaze turned ice–cold. “Out.”
Defeated, Elianna walked out of the room. Just outside, she ran into Skylar.
She straightened her back instantly, “Don’t think just because Adam likes you that you can get all smug. Let me tell you–you can’t steal what’s mine.”
“What?” Skylar raised a brow. “If you’re bored, maybe sign up for an acting class. Sharpen your skills a bit. Stop polluting people’s eyes with that trash performance of yours.”
Her words stabbed like knives, and Elianna almost exploded.
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She raised her hand to slap Skylar, only to have her wrist caught and be shoved hard into the wall.
Elianna cried out in pain. It felt like her spine was about to snap.
“Don’t mess with me. Got it?” Skylar said coldly and walked into the room.
“Skylar, just you wait! If I don’t get back at you, I’ll write my name backwards!” Elianna gritted.
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She originally wanted to get a doctor to check her back, but she couldn’t stop thinking about Skylar and Yosef alone in the room. So she stayed outside, secretly peeking in.
Inside, Skylar didn’t even glance at Yosef. Her eyes were full of concern for Adam, “Adam, are you still feeling unwell?”
Because Yosef wouldn’t bring Skylar
to
see him, Adam had been sulking under the blanket. But when he heard that familiar voice, he threw off the covers
and sat up immediately.
“Mommy! You finally came! I thought you left me!” His little face drooped, eyes sad, mouth downturned.
“I just went to talk to the doctor. I didn’t leave,” Skylar gently explajhed, patting his fuzzy head.
“Adam, I’m not your mommy. Please don’t call me that anymore.”
Every time he called her “Mommy,” it reminded her of the child from five years ago.
The grief squeezed her chest so hard she could hardly breathe. Her hatred for Yosef and Elianna only deepened.
But Adam was innocent–even if he was the child of the two people she hated most. So her feelings toward him were… complicated.
“Mommy, you are my mommy. Don’t you want me anymore? Is it because I was bad? Or did Daddy upset you? You can tell me… me.”
just don’t stop loving
As he spoke, tears welled up and fell like pearls. Skylar sighed, gently wiping away his tears.
“Fine. Call me whatever you want,” said Skylar. If her refusal caused him to spiral emotionally, and something happened to him–it really would be her fault.
Adam’s tears stopped immediately. He grinned. “Mommy is the best.”
He patted the bed beside him. “Mommy, come up here and cuddle me to sleep?”
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Chapter 37
“No, there’s not enough room for me,” said Skylar.
“Mommy… ” Adam looked at her again with that pitiful expression.
Skylar didn’t know why. She had never liked children and certainly not one born of people she hated—but she just couldn’t say no to Adam.
So she compromised again. “I won’t get on the bed, but I’ll sit here and stay with you. Okay?”
Adam nodded quickly. “Give me your hand, Mommy.”
Skylar reached out. He grabbed her hand, pressing his soft little face against it.
Mommy’s hand is so soft, so nice–smelling, he thought. Just like the mommy in his dreams.
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