In the blink of an eye, Jaquan had taken Stony to another place. After riding the bumper car, Felice was tired. But it was rare to see her son this happy, so she stayed with them for another half an hour. They didn’t think of going home for lunch until the noon.
Felice was cooking in the kitchen, while Jaquan brought Stony into the bathroom to take a bath.
He filled the bathtub with water and took off Stony’s clothes before putting him in. “Is the water cold?”
The heating in the bathroom had only been on for less than ten minutes, so it wasn’t very warm.
But Stony shook his head and said, “It’s not cold.”
While Jaquan was helping him making bubbles, Stony was staring at him.
“What is it?” Jaquan asked.
“I just feel strange. This is the first time a man has bathed me.” Stony covered his eyes and said, feeling a little embarrassed, “It was always Mom.”
Jaquan paused and said, “I’ll bathe you from now on, okay?”
Stony nodded and then shook his head, “After Mom picks me up, you can’t do this anymore.”
“When she comes, you can ask her to take me back.”
“What?” Stony goggled, “Is this okay?”
“Sure.” Jaquan smiled.
“Alright.” Stony suddenly lowered his head and plunged into the water.
Jaquan thought he was joking, but seeing Stony not coming out soon, he immediately stretched out his hand in panic, trying to pull him up, “What are you doing?”
“I can hold my breath.” Stony wiped off the water from his face and submerged himself again. A moment later, he said to Jaquan with his head above the water, “Mr. Jaquan, help me keep the time.”
Jaquan was relieved and turned on the timer on his phone.
“Why do you learn this?” He asked.
Stony did not get out of water to answer him.
Jaquan looked at his phone. Time flew from one second to sixty seconds. “Hey, it’s been a minute. Get out. Stop it.”
Stony waved his hand at him.
Jaquan was relieved and held his hand. He was really worried that he would sink like a stone, so every thirty seconds, he would remind Stony of the time.
“That’s enough, stop it. Get out. It’s been two minutes!” Jaquan was worried, so he pulled him up.
Stony’s face was soaked. He wiped off the water from his face and laughed happily at Jaquan. “Mom said if I was in danger some time, I could escape by feigning death. She asked me to hold my breath, so that it could look real.”
“…”
Jaquan was dumbfounded. “Why did your mother teach you this?”
“She said that sticking to one thing can test a person’s determination and perseverance, so I chose this.” Stony said with his big eyes blinking.
“Then why do you meditate on the sofa every day?” Jaquan asked.
“It’s also about this.”
“…”
“Hurry, clean up and get dressed, or you will catch a cold.” Jaquan lifted him up, rinsed him with hot water, and wrapped him in a large towel.
Yesterday, he bought a few sets of clothes at the supermarket. He was about to go to the balcony to bring them in when Allen knocked the door to the bathroom. He said, “I’ve brought Stony’s clothes. I’ll leave them at the door.”
Jaquan directly carried Stony to open the door. Allen hurriedly handed over the clothes and closed the door. He said from outside, “Don’t open the door. It’s still cold outside. It’s easy to catch a cold.”
Stony was wrapped in a large towel with his head out. His wet hair curled up. Jaquan rubbed his hair, took away his large towel, and tickled his belly, “It’s quite a big tummy.”
Stony giggled and went to poke his, “Mr. Jaquan, don’t you have a tummy?”
Jaquan rolled his shirt up and said, “I have muscles.”
“My mom used to have muscles.” Stony said proudly.
“What? She had muscles?” Jaquan was surprised. On second thought, perhaps her family had probably forced her to exercise since a young age.
“She said after giving birth to me, she lost it. Instead, there is much fat on her tummy.” Stony tilted his head and said, “But Mom didn’t blame me. She said I was a gift from God.”
“What did she say?” Jaquan was stunned for a moment, as if his chest was hit by something.
“I am a gift from God.” Stony said.
Jaquan smiled bitterly. “A gift from God? Did she say that?”
“Yeah.”
“What else did she say?” Jaquan asked softly as he dressed Stony.
“A lot.”
“Can you tell me the whole story?”
“Okay.”
…
**
Sydnee contacted different hospitals early in the morning to reexamine Lynn. The biggest hospital in Town South was called Town South Hospital. Its doctor met Sydnee and said something really helpful to her.
“Everyone knows what happens when an egg was hurled against a rock,” he said.
Only then did Sydnee know that Lynn’s fiancé was the son of the director of Town South Hospital. The other hospitals did not dare to offend him. Therefore, even if Lynn was seriously injured, they just assessed her to be a minor-injured patient.
Last night, it was the first time for Sydnee to sleep in a ward. Eliot, living in the same ward, unsettled her even though he kept a distance from her. What was more, the thought of Lynn’s parents’ arrival at midnight kept her awake. However, she didn’t see anyone coming. She heard Lynn had a sister, who hadn’t come yet for some reason.
Sydnee had been busy for an hour or two in the morning only to be told something like “egg and rock”, so she was upset and sent a message to Emily. Emily replied with a word, “Wait.”
She sat in the ward and waited. Lynn had just finished breakfast and was in good condition. Sydnee chatted with her, while Eliot went to the police station early in the morning to check on Lynn’s fiancé’s information. He hadn’t returned yet.
After a while, the door opened. Sydnee thought it was Eliot, but it was actually Lynn’s parents. Seeing Lynn, they were a little surprised. “How did you end up like this?”
Hearing this, Lynn cried on the hospital bed, the gauze soaked in her tears. She sobbed, “Dad, Mom …”
“Didn’t you say that it was a spat? How did you become like this?” Lynn’s mother saw through it first and immediately hit Jim, “Didn’t you say that guy just had a spat with her? Did it look like a spat?”
Hearing this, Sydnee sneered, “You all knew your son-in-law often use violence, but you still allow your daughter to marry him? Just for his money?”
“…” Jim was speechless for a moment before saying,” I don’t know. I only know that it was a fight. Any couple fights. It is common. Is it necessary to make this public? We are all decent families! “
“Decent? Your daughter had been beaten, and she was lying in the hospital now. You are still thinking about your so-called ‘decency’?” Sydnee was furious, “You don’t deserve to be her father!”
“Who are you? This is my family! It’s none of your business!” Jim frowned and looked at her.
“I didn’t come here for you! Don’t mess with me! “Sydnee said.
“Stop arguing! Lynn is still in bed!” Ruth roared.
Lynn said, “Dad, stop it. She’s a friend of Eliot …”
“Eliot? Maury’s son?” Jim was stunned for a moment and suddenly asked, “How could you get in touch with him? He knows about our affair? How could you?”
“He saved me this time, otherwise, I would …”
Before Lynn could finish her words, Jim interrupted, “What is he doing here? Making fun of us? Has Maury come yet? Eliot came here alone?”
Lynn turned around without saying a word, and cried silently.
Sydnee couldn’t stand it. She walked forward and said, “Is your reputation that important? Your daughter has been beaten. Show more care for her! She’s been bullied now. As her father, shouldn’t you protect her? Shouldn’t you settle a score with that bastard?”
“Settle a score?” Jim chuckled, “Little girl, you are saying this because you are young and innocent. When you reach our age, you will know how tough it is to survive in this society.”
“I don’t think it’s tough.” Sydnee said expressionlessly.
“That’s because you haven’t experienced what we have suffered!” Jim roared.
“Why should I experience it?” Sydnee sneered, “You sold your daughter for money. You want to climb the ladder of power and wealth. Suffering? This is what you asked for. But it’s none of your daughter’s fault! She should be loved and cared, not bullied!”
After she finished her words, the entire ward remained silent for a long time.
Sydnee was so angry that she walked towards the door. As soon as she opened it, she saw Eliot standing at the door. He smiled at her. “That was good.”
Sydnee was a little embarrassed. Just now, she was too mad to control herself.. If her parents found out she taught others’ parents a lesson, she would definitely be screwed.
