"When I was young like you, mamma and papa used to take me to Shihai," Natasha said as she walked to the bus stop, holding Jack’s hand. "It is a lovely town in a valley, surrounded by pine trees and away from the city's pollution. I enjoyed visiting there. Uhh…" She sighed deeply. "I haven't been there in years. I am thinking of…"
She stopped talking abruptly when she saw Jack staring at something. She followed his gaze and saw nothing but running cars.
"Are you okay?" she asked, a frown on her face.
Jack shifted his attention to her frantically as if he had just come out of his trance. It made Natasha frown even harder.
"What are you looking at?" she asked.
Jack blinked as if puzzled. He then smiled and asked back a question, "Do you like to ride in a car? A luxurious car?"
Natasha couldn’t help but laugh. She put her hand under his chin and said, "Of course, I’d like to ride in a car. We will get a car when you grow up and get a good job."
"Hmm…" Jack nodded and turned aside.
Natasha felt awful, looking at his sullen face. Her heart was heavy with sadness at not being able to fulfill any of his wishes. She wanted to console him, but the ringing of her phone stopped her. She took the phone out of the bag and checked it, only to see her uncle’s number.
A smile crossed her face as she clicked the answer button. "Hello…"
"Hello, my dear. How is our little one?"
"He got discharged," she replied, looking down at Jack.
"It is a relief to hear it. I am sorry I couldn’t come to pick you up. I have to attend an urgent meeting."
"It’s okay, uncle. Don’t apologize, please. We are good."
"I am free now and going back home. How about you two come down here and have dinner with us."
Natasha hesitated for a while. In the end, she agreed with him. "Okay. We will be there soon."
"That’s great. See you then."
Natasha hung up the phone and returned her focus to Jack. "Your grandpa wants to have dinner with you," she said with a smile.
"I don’t like going there." Jake sulked and turned aside, crossing his arms across his chest.
Natasha’s smile faded straight away. She held his shoulders and turned him towards her. "Don’t say that. Your grandpa loves you so much."
"But that Nia and her mother don’t like us," Jack retorted. "They scold me and bully you. Why do you want to go there, again and again?"
The fury in his eyes stunned Natasha. It reminded her of that pair of dark green eyes six years ago.
"Jack…" She took his hands in hers. "Always remember one thing: your grandpa adores you. If it were not for him, my childhood would have been spent in an orphanage. I know Aunt Caroline and Nia are a little rude. But you shouldn’t think about them. Just ignore them and their harsh words. We are going there to meet Grandpa Brandon. Okay?"
"Alright…" Jack finally agreed with her.
"Let’s go." They resumed their walk to the bus stop.
Later that afternoon…
Natasha and Brandon were having a conversation in the hall while sitting on the sofa after dinner.
"Jack looks pale and frail," Brandon said. "What did the doctor say?"
Natasha pulled her eyes down to her hands in her lap. "He advised surgery as soon as possible."
"Then you should go for it. I will help you."
Natasha forced a smile. She knew Brandon was saying it to give her strength. But she was also aware that he wouldn’t be able to bear the expense of the surgery. Even if he had arranged the money, Caroline and Nia would not let him spend it on her.
"I am arranging the money," she murmured.
Brandon nodded knowingly. He patted her on the shoulder. "Remember one thing: I am always with you."
"I know…"
"Ah, mommy…"
Natasha flinched and sprang to her feet when she heard Jack’s cry. She dashed out into the backyard and saw Nia slap him.
"Mommy…" Jack cried, holding his cheeks.
"Shut up, you bastard," Nia yelled and raised her hand to slap him again.
Her hand froze in the air. She turned to her right and saw Natasha grabbing her wrist. Her mouth twisted as she tried to pull her hand back.
"Let go of my hand," Nia snapped.
Natasha threw her a hard look, tightening her grip.
Nia winched in pain, her face green. "Natasha, you filthy woman…"
Natasha pushed her away before Nia could finish speaking.
"Ahh…" Nia staggered and fell to the ground.
"Don’t raise your hand on my son," Natasha snarled, pulling Jack in closer.
"You…" Nia leaped to her feet. "How dare you?" She rushed over to her in a stormy mood. She lifted her hand to slap her.
Natasha caught her hand again. "Don’t force me to beat you. I won’t tolerate any more abuses." She threw her hand away.
Nia felt a shiver run down her spine under her scathing glare. She subconsciously took a step back, rubbing her aching wrist. She was not familiar with Natasha’s hostile attitude. She wondered how this docile woman had suddenly transformed into a lioness.
Brandon stood on the porch and watched them. He was satisfied to see Natasha stand up for her son. That was what he wanted to see in her all the time. With a smile on his face, he walked back to the hall.
Natasha crouched down in front of Jack and checked his cheeks. Her heart was heavy with sadness when she saw the finger marks on his delicate skin.
"Is it painful?" she asked, wiping his tears away.
"Hmm…" Jack nodded.
"Oh, baby…" She pulled her into her embrace.
Nia became enraged, looking at their melodrama. She stomped her feet and dashed into the house.
Natasha drew back and asked, "Why did she beat you? Have you done something wrong?"
"I was playing a ball. When I kicked the ball, it landed on that pot." Jack pointed to a broken flower pot.
The Daisy plant was on the ground, with soil around it.
Natasha sighed in secret, gazing at the broken pot. It was just a clay pot.
"It’s okay." She gave him a reassuring smile. "I will bring a new pot next time we come here."
"I want to go home."
"Hmm. Let’s go." She rose to her feet and went out of the house, holding his hand.
Nia rushed to Caroline’s room, crying her eyes out. She found her sitting on a recliner beside a window, knitting a stole.
"Mom…" She rushed over to her.
Caroline dropped the knitting needles aside and rose to her feet. Her eyes clouded with worry when she saw her tear-streaked face.
"Nia… Why are you crying, sweetheart?"
Nia threw her arms around her neck. "Mom…" She cried so hard that she couldn’t say anything.
Caroline’s heart dropped to her stomach as she assumed something terrible had happened.
"Come here." She led her to the bed and made her sit down. "Stop crying." She took a seat beside her and wiped the tears off her face. "Tell me what makes you cry so hard."
"It’s Natasha. She bullied me." She showed her wrist, which turned red. Finger marks were evident around it.
Molten anger rolled through Caroline. "She has the nerve to lay her hands on you," she snarled, her jaws tense.
"She pushed me down," Nia said between her sobs. "My tailbone hurts."
"Oh, dear…" Caroline hugged her. "Don’t cry." She consoled her, rubbing her back up and down. Her face hardened as she said, "I will not let her go easily. She dared to hurt you. I will make her pay for it."
"This time, you should teach her a lesson so she won't dare to look at me."
"Don’t worry," Caroline hissed, gritting her teeth. "She is flying high because she has a job. If I don't get her to quit her job, I will change my name." There was a glimmer of wickedness in her eyes.
Jack had been in a sour mood since they returned home. He had not been talking much. He kept himself locked in his room.Natasha wanted to make him happy. She prepared Jack’s favorite chicken noodle soup with a lot of scallions for supper."Yummy soup is ready," she said as she put the bowl of soup on the table. "Come and have it before it gets cold.""…"She cast a sidelong glance at his room and called him, "Jack… I am waiting.""…""Jack…" She turned to his room. "Are you coming?"She walked over there and raised her hand to knock on the door. Her hand froze in the air as she heard him talking. It sounded like he was conversing with someone else. Her eyebrows knitted as she leaned forward and put her ear to the door."Yes… I want specifically that one," she heard him say."Jack…" She knocked on the door."…""What are you doing? Open the door." Natasha pounded on the door harder this time."Coming, mommy."Creak…Jack opened the door after some time. "Yes, mommy." He smiled at her.
When Natasha looked down at herself, she found her black skirt was soiled. There was dirt on her knees as well. Her elbows hurt.She checked her elbows, only to see several scratches. The skin turned red.‘Jack will worry if he sees these.’She brushed the dirt off her skirt and slowly walked ahead to find a public toilet. After looking for a while, she finally found a lavatory and went in.She opened the faucet of the sink and cleaned her elbows first."Hiss…" She winced when the cold water touched her sore skin. After cleaning, she dried her hands with her handkerchief. Then she took two waterproof bandages from her bag and placed one on each of her injured elbows.Bang…She flinched at the loud noise of the door opening and closing. She turned to the entrance frantically and saw a man rushing in. Before she could figure out anything, the man dragged her into a cubicle and closed the door."Shh…" He sealed her mouth with his large palm.Natasha remained affixed to the wall as if she
Daisy came almost an hour later and handed Jack a remote-control monster truck.Jack’s eyes were shining bright as he checked the car. "Thank you, Daisy.""Give me a kiss." Daisy squatted in front of him and pointed at her right cheek.Jack placed a wet kiss on her cheek and hurried to his room.Daisy laughed as she stood up."You always bring such an expensive toy for him every time you come," Natasha grumbled as she came out of the kitchen with a bowl of noodles. "Don’t do it.""I am his mother, too. I have every right to spoil my son." She walked up to the dining table and took her seat on a chair. She sniffed the soup, a smile slipping across her lips. "Mm, smells good." She stuffed some noodles into her mouth with chopsticks. "Hmm… It’s delicious.""Glad to know that you like it." Natasha sat down across from her."I always like whatever you cook."Daisy finished the noodles quickly and burped loudly."Picmotion Production House is looking for a fresh face for their upcoming dram
Amber sat on the bed without moving, staring at the name 'Aurora Home' and thinking about the past.Aurora Home was a home for many orphans. Amber used to be one of them. Sean had often visited the orphanage with his grandmother and had brought lots of toys, clothes, and sweets.She had liked to play with him. There had been someone else who had also accompanied them… A little girl of her age, Erin.Flashback…Sean, Amber, and Erin played hide and seek in the backyard. After playing for a while, they were tired and plopped on the ground, panting, sweat dripping from their cheeks."Do you enjoy locking up inside this boundary?" Sean asked, looking at the tall greyish walls that had once been white around the property. "You have no idea what is outside this.""Mother Marian takes us out once in a while," said Amber."How about we go out and have some ice cream?" Sean asked, sounding excited."Ice cream?" Amber exclaimed, licking her lips, eyes dazzling."No, no…" shouted the five-year-o
The next day…Natasha went to ‘Pixy Media’, a studio of ‘Picmotion Production House’, for an audition for a figurant.The studio seemed luxurious, all carved glasses and steel. Natasha walked in, pushing the heavy glass door. The solid steel handhold of the door was cold enough to numb her fingers. A white sandstone lobby welcomed her. The cold air from the air conditioning made her shudder. She felt the need to hug herself.A young woman behind the solid sandstone desk smiled at her. In her white blouse and black skirt, the woman looked pristine.Natasha, dressed in a brown, long skirt and a plain white top that she had worn several times, was self-conscious before her. She regretted not borrowing a dress from Daisy. She approached her with a smile."Hi, I am here for the audition… for a figurant." She was able to form a sentence without fumbling. She submitted the form.The woman checked the form and said, "Go straight, then turn right and then left, and on the right-side wing you w
When Natasha entered the green room, she was surprised to see Nia. It reminded her of the hooligans who had vandalized Zion Consultant. That caused her to lose her job.Her stomach churned with rage. She clutched the script in her hand, her expression darkening. She wished she could chastise her. Then she thought it was useless to argue with her. She finally got a chance to start her acting career after a long time. She should focus on the audition.Nia was equally astonished to see her. "Natasha… What are you doing here?" She asked, coming over to her.The disdainful look on her face made Natasha extremely annoyed. "I am here to do the same thing you are here to do," she sneered."Audition and you?" Nia scoffed arrogantly. "Well, I hope you will get a side role at the very least. Good luck." She walked away to the other side.Natasha pulled her eyes down to the script in her hands, not bothering about her."Hey... did you hear that the producer is here?" Someone said in a hushed tone
When Natasha arrived at the house, she found her son doing something in the kitchen."Mommy…" Jack rushed over to her. "You are back.""Yes…" She squatted in front of him, holding his arms. "I am sorry. I am late. You must be hungry. I will go cook something delicious.""I have already made sandwiches," Jack said with a grin."What?" Natasha burst into laughter in amazement. "Let me check what you made." She walked over to the kitchen.She opened the lid and looked at the sandwiches, which were not perfect. Green lettuce and cheese were drooping out. The tomato sauce was smeared all over the plate.Natasha couldn’t help but smile, looking at his delightful eyes. She put her fingers under his chin and said, "Thank you.""You like it!""Of course… I can’t wait to taste it." Her smile gradually faded as she took his hands in hers and said, "The director thinks that I have the potential to be the heroine of the drama series. But I am not sure whether I will be selected or not. If I get se
Natasha started feeling extremely hot. Her throat was parched and her back was drenched in sweat. She initially thought it was because of the crowd. She went to look for Nia on the dance floor, ignoring the discomfort. But her uneasiness grew with time.Her cheeks were flushed and hot. As the heat rose, her desire spiked. Tingling crawled throughout her body. She let out a throaty moan whenever someone collided with her and desired to lean on that person.Her already flushed face turned redder in embarrassment.‘What is happening to me? How can I feel this way?’Surging hormones were almost blurring her thoughts. But she knew, at the very least, that something was not right with her. She had to escape from here as soon as possible.She hugged herself and walked down the dance floor without stumbling. With her head down, she rushed out of the bar and into the restroom. She didn’t notice someone’s sharp gaze following her.Sean owned this bar, but only his close ones knew about it. He o