Chapter 45
Chapter 45
Sylvia pulled up to the curb in front of her small house and saw a woman standing by the door through the windshield.
“What are you doing here?” Sylvia asked, getting out of the car, her voice laced with annoyance.
“Sylvia, I’m not feeling well,” Joanna said pitifully, taking a few steps closer. “You’re such a skilled doctor, aren’t you? I was hoping you could take a look
at me.”
As she spoke, she subtly glanced into the back seat, spotting Zack’s small figure as expected.
Sylvia scoffed. “What, you think I’m still as easy to fool as I used to be? Treating someone like you… the thought disgusts me.”
A dark look flashed in Joanna’s eyes but vanished quickly. She’d expected this reaction; she wasn’t really here for medical help anyway.
“Sylvia, I know you misunderstand me, but I really feel awful if about to faint.
now…” Joanna murmured, pressing a hand to her forehead and swaying unsteadily as
Just then, Zack got out of the car. Seeing Joanna stumble, he rushed over and steadied her with his small hands. “Joanna, what’s wrong?”
A faint smile touched Joanna’s lips. She looked pitifully at Zack. “Zack, Joanna’s feeling really sick. I wanted Sylvia to check on me, but she won’t.”
Her real reason for coming was Zack. She couldn’t let Sylvia win him over; losing Zack meant losing Byron too.
“Joanna, if you’re sick, I’ll call 911 right now!” Zack offered immediately.
“Zack, I don’t think I can wait for an ambulance,” Joanna said weakly, letting Zack help her lean against her car. “I’m so dizzy, I almost passed out. It’s a good thing you’re here.”
Inside, Joanna was laughing. ‘Even after three years, Sylvia is still no match for me,‘ she thought. ‘Zack still cares more about his Joanna.”
Sylvia watched coolly, her expression impassive. She turned back to her car, lifted a sleepy Ruby out, and walked to the front door, unlocking it.
Ruby rubbed her eyes sleepily. She looked back at Zack and started to call out to him, but a sharp look from Sylvia stopped her.
“Don’t call him! Come inside with Mommy!” Sylvia remembered three years ago when Joanna had faked an illness just like this, and Zack had even tricked her into giving blood for Joanna.
‘Never again,‘ she vowed silently. ‘If Zack cares so much about Joanna, let him go with her.’
Zack glanced at Sylvia by the door, then back at the weak–looking Joanna beside him. A flicker of hesitation crossed his dark eyes, then settled.
“Joanna, you look really sick, but I can’t help you. We should call an ambulance,” he said. He pulled out his small phone and quickly dialed 911.
Joanna stared, stunned. “Zack, aren’t you going to stay with
Me?”
Zack shook his head, making sure Joanna was steady against the car. “Joanna, you wait here for the ambulance. I need to go find my mom. She’s waiting for me.” With that, he bolted towards the house.
Sylvia opened the door wider, carried Ruby inside, and was about to close it when a small figure dashed up. “Mom, don’t close it! Let me in. Lack’s pleading voice came from outside.
Sylvia cracked the door open again, her voice cold. “Your Joanna is sick. Aren’t you going to stay with her?”
Zack looked up, his big eyes wide with confusion. “But I already called 911 for her! There’s nothing else I can do… Besides, Mom, you’re more important! I want to be with you!”
Zack’s words surprised Sylvia. She glanced instinctively outside. Joanna stood by her car, glaring angrily in their direction until she noticed Sylvía
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Chapter 45
looking, then quickly rearranged her face into a pitiful expression. But no matter how Joanna postured, Zack ignored her.
“Mom, can you please let me in?” Zack asked, already squeezing past Sylvia into the house.
With a complex look in her eyes, Sylvia slowly closed the door. When she turned around, Zack was already playing with Ruby.
“Play nicely, but be careful with your injured arm,” Sylvia reminded him coolly, then walked towards the backyard.
Once she was in the backyard, tears sprang to Sylvia’s eyes.
It felt like her wayward son had suddenly grown up, finally understanding who truly mattered most in his life.
But she quickly composed herself. ‘Too soon to forgive that little rascal completely,‘ she thought. ‘He hurt me deeply. Does he think a few small things make it all okay?‘
Despite her reservations, Sylvia felt surprisingly cheerful. She got to work packing boxes of the medical patches, ready for shipment to buyers the next day.
By the time she finished, it was dark.
She came back inside from the backyard to find Ruby and Zack playing with toys on the living room floor.
Zack was being very attentive to Ruby. When he saw her wobbling happily and about to fall, he quickly steadied her.
“Thanks, Zack.” Ruby chirped sweetly.
Watching them, Sylvia felt a warmth spread through her. The little rascal had made a lot of mistakes, but at least he was acting like a proper big brother
now.
She glanced at them and headed into the kitchen to start dinner.
Ruby, feeling hungry, toddled after her. “Mommy, can you bake some bear cookies for me?”
Zack stood quietly in the living room, nervously clenching and unclenching his small fists, occasionally glancing towards the kitchen.
Finally, he decided against following them. He looked at the time on his cool watch. It was getting late; he should head home.
‘I wanted to stay for dinner before, but Mom didn’t seem to want me here,‘ he remembered.
He didn’t want to make her mad, so it was better to leave tactfully before she had to ask him to go.
“Zack! Where are you going? Come get Ruby, wash your hands, it’s almost time for dinner!”
Just as Zack was heading towards the door with his little strides, Sylvia poked her head out of the kitchen.
‘Since he’s trying to be better, how can I bear to send him away?‘ she thought. ‘Besides, my previous coldness wasn’t truly from the heart. I’m his mother; that will never change.‘
“Okay!” Zack’s eyes instantly lit up. Just because his mom wanted him to stay for dinner, his nose started to tingle, and he had to fight back tears.
He sniffled, hurried into the kitchen, and watched Sylvia methodically baking bread. The familiar scene made him break into a happy, slightly goofy grin. “Ruby, let’s go wash our hands!”
Zack took Ruby’s chubby little hand and lifted her up to the sink to wash her hands.
Dinner was cozy. The three of them sat around the table. Even though Sylvia kept reminding Ruby not to talk too much while eating, Ruby, thrilled to have Zack there, chattered happily non–stop.
Chapter 45
Zack kept stealing glances at Sylvia, his heart full of gratitude and joy. ‘Mom does still care about me, he thought.
After dinner, Sylvia drove Zack back to the Blair family mansion.
Byron Blair was standing stiffly in front of the mansion. As he watched Sylvia’s car approach, his deep–set eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly
‘That damn woman,‘ he thought irritably, ‘finally bringing my son back!‘
AD
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