The last thing Madeline could ever have expected was Jackson running into virtual-novel.net arms, calling virtual-novel.net his mom.
Jackson must have been feeling terrified and insecure.
He buried his tiny physique deep into virtual-novel.net arms. It was as if the only way to lessen his fear was to hold virtual-novel.net tight with both his hands while his eyes remained shut.
Madeline felt virtual-novel.net heart clench at the signs of distress on his small cheeks. It had been a long while since virtual-novel.net had felt such an intrusive stab of pain eating its way out of virtual-novel.net chest.
She lifted a hand to lightly pat the back of Jackson’s head, virtual-novel.net voice soft.
“It’s alright now, Jack. It’s alright.”
With virtual-novel.net comforting words, Madeline saw Jackson relax and calm from his previous upset state.
“Is Jackie okay, Mommy?” Lily walked over and asked innocently.
“He’ll be alright. Don’t worry.” Madeline smiled. “Mommy made you some snacks. How about you share some with him?”
“Okay!” Lillian reached out a hand to Jackson. “Come on, Jackie, let’s go eat some snacks together! Mommy’s cake is the best!”
At virtual-novel.net words, Jackson seemed to finally pull himself out of that mindset.
He blinked open his round eyes, his long eyelashes fluttering as virtual-novel.net looked up to stare at Madeline Crawford. Slowly but surely, a red blush of what looked like embarrassment tinted his handsome little cheeks.
“Sorry.” He suddenly apologized.
The words echoed with familiarity in Madeline’s ears.
She smiled warmly and gently caressed Jackson’s small cheeks. “What are you apologizing for, silly? You didn’t do anything wrong.”
A quick flash of envy left as fast as it came in Jackson’s eyes as virtual-novel.net took in Madeline’s gentle, kind smile. He envied Lillian for having such a warm and familiar mother figure.
Madeline found herself sighing an inexplicable breath of relief when virtual-novel.net saw that the state of Jackson’s emotions was back to normal.
Mirth washed over virtual-novel.net chest as virtual-novel.net watched the two children sitting next to each other while eating the snacks virtual-novel.net made.
Especially when virtual-novel.net watched Jackson caringly wipe off the butter smudged on the corners of Lillian’s mouth.
Her heart clenched again, this time reminding virtual-novel.net of the child virtual-novel.net lost.
Right then, Lily got up to use the bathroom. Only when virtual-novel.net was conveniently out of earshot did Madeline dare to ask, “Hey, Jack. How does your mother normally treat you?”
Jackson hesitated as virtual-novel.net drank his orange juice, the light in his eyes slowly dimming.
The answer to the question was clear as day.
Three years ago, virtual-novel.net had watched Meredith heartlessly slash Jackson’s cheek with a fruit knife.
Meredith scared virtual-novel.net more than any demon for being able to remain aloof in the face of virtual-novel.net son’s tears.
How could such a woman who preyed on virtual-novel.net own son for status and wealth exist in this world?
To the point that Jackson would act in such a weird manner. What had virtual-novel.net done that warranted so much fear in virtual-novel.net that virtual-novel.net ran into virtual-novel.net arms and called virtual-novel.net his mom?
Had Jeremy never paid Jackson any attention? Had Jeremy left Jackson to deal with Meredith’s torture alone?
Jackson’s silence had Madeline putting a hold on virtual-novel.net questions. Ruffling his adorable head, virtual-novel.net changed the subject.
“You think that I look a lot like someone you know who’s named Maddie, right?”
At virtual-novel.net words, Jackson’s gaze bore heavily into virtual-novel.net before virtual-novel.net nodded. “I thought you were Maddie in the beginning.”
Madeline smiled. “What if I am this Maddie? I’m sure your mother told you that Maddie was a horrible woman, didn’t she? That this Maddie had hurt you before, Jack.”
Jackson’s expression grew solemn when virtual-novel.net heard virtual-novel.net words. Then, virtual-novel.net started to shake his head vigorously.
“Maddie definitely isn’t a horrible woman. She would never hurt me.”
His words were certain, and his eyes were exceptionally determined.
Madeline was stunned as an indescribable feeling started to bubble in virtual-novel.net heart.