Chapter 21
"How do you know?"
I was totally shocked, staring at Jason with wide eyes.
"In this entire Seaside City, if I want to know something, there's nothing I can't find out."
Jason crossed his arms, squinting his eyes with a dangerous tone, "So you're really going to send the kid to Brian's place?"
Hearing his words, I was confused.
If I don't send her to Brian's, where else would she go? To his place?
He made it sound like I wanted to be separated from Jessica!
I looked at him speechlessly and asked back, "What else?"
Jason sneered coldly, staring at me hard, saying, "You trust him that much? Can you even leave your favorite child with him? Is this how you act as a mother?"
His string of questions made me angry, and I couldn't help but snap back, "Like you can solve this! I have to go on a business trip, Jessica needs someone reliable to take care of her!"
"Am I not a person?" Jason's words left me stunned.
"What?" I thought I'd heard wrong.
Jason pointed at himself, emphasizing, "Am I not a person?"
What did he mean? Was he going to help me take care of Jessica?
My thoughts were in chaos, not quite understanding what Jason was trying to do.
Seeing my silence, Jason's gaze slowly fell on Jessica.
The next moment, Jason took a long stride, stretched out his arm, scooped up Jessica, picked her up, and headed toward the Alfa parked by the roadside.
"What are you doing?!" I jumped in fright and quickly chased after him.
Jason placed Jessica in the child seat, lowering his head to carefully fasten her seatbelt. "Am I not being obvious enough?"
He straightened up, pointing at Jessica, then at himself, "I'm taking Jessica home."
"Stop joking around." I frowned, trying to see something on Jason's face.
But he looked calm and composed, as if he'd just done something trivial.
But why would Jason help me take care of a child?
I couldn't figure it out, and didn't want to waste time on this. I turned to Jessica instead. "Jessica, get out of the car. My ride will be here soon."
Jessica, who was usually obedient, lowered her head and didn't respond.
I was about to say something when Jason cut in.
"Why don't you ask Jessica if she actually wants to go to Brian's house?"
"Of course she does, I specifically asked Jessica last night." I was confident about this.
But Jason raised an eyebrow, leaning casually against the car door, his tone lazy. "Then let Jessica choose for herself, whether to go home with me or go to Brian's house."
I had no problem with that and asked gently, "Jessica, you make the choice. Whatever you decide, I'll respect it."
Jessica blinked and asked, "Really?"
"Of course." In my mind, Jessica would definitely choose Brian. After all, that's what we'd agreed on last night.
Jason showed up this morning out of nowhere, wanting to take the child - how could Jessica possibly agree?
But Jessica's eyes lit up as she looked at Jason, her voice loud and clear, "Then I want to go to Jason's house!"
My smile froze.
Jason's smile looked especially genuine.
He tilted his head, examining my shocked expression, saying smugly, "How about that? Are you still going to force her to go to Brian's house?"
"No need." I shook my head gently.
Jason was Jessica's father after all. It was normal for Jessica to want to be close to her dad.
I couldn't selfishly take away Jessica's right.
"Thanks for doing this these few days. I'll come pick up Jessica first thing when I get back." I said to Jason helplessly.
Jason held his Facebook in front of me, saying, "Then add me back as a friend first?"
I'd almost forgotten I'd deleted him before.
For some reason, I felt like I'd been caught doing something wrong.
We added each other as friends again.
Jason suddenly reached out toward me.
I instantly tensed up, my whole body on guard, watching him warily and asking, "What are you doing?"
Jason looked at me with a half-smile, saying, "Give me Jessica's luggage."
He seemed to realize something, drawing out his words meaningfully, "What did you think I was going to do?"
I obviously couldn't say in front of Jessica.
Especially since Jessica was now staring at us curiously!
I gritted my teeth and handed the luggage to Jason.
Considering Jessica was going to stay at his place, I forced out a smile and said, "Thanks for your help."
"You're welcome, just remember to repay me later." Jason waved his hand magnanimously.
I was too angry to speak.
My ride arrived.
Time was tight, so I could only get in the car and leave first.
In the car, I couldn't help but think back on Jason's words.
Jason and Jessica watched me leave. The two of them high-fived.
"Yay! I knew you could do it!" Jessica cheered, the joy on her little face visible to the naked eye.
Jason patted her little head, his tone carrying a bit more indulgent helplessness. "Now you've really gotten me in trouble."
That phone call last night was him calling to question why I deleted him on Facebook.
He didn't expect Jessica to answer.
And last night, Jessica told Jason our real address and suggested that Jason come "snatch" her.
Jessica stuck out her tongue playfully and giggled. "But you still came in the end!"
Jason couldn't deny it and started the car.
Jessica sat in the car very curiously, looking left and right.
Jason found it amusing and asked, "You like it?"
"Yeah!" Jessica liked Jason driving her around.
"When you're an adult, I'll give you one."
Jason didn't understand what Jessica meant.
Jessica tilted her head and suddenly asked, "I'm not your child, but you'd still give me such an expensive gift?"
"You're a very good child, I like you, that's why I'd give you a gift."
"What if I were your biological child?"
"I don't have children," Jason answered without hesitation.
All these years, he'd kept his boundaries, not letting women near him - where would he get children?
"What if you really had one?" Jessica persisted.
"Absolutely impossible!" Jason was very firm.
Jessica was silent for a moment, then secretly rolled her eyes.
Oh my god! She really wanted to prove Dad wrong!
But no, for Mom's sake, she had to hold back!
I immediately called Brian, "Mr. Ethan, I'm on my way to the airport now."
"What about Jessica?" Brian was puzzled. "Didn't you say Jessica was coming over? I'm still waiting here for her."
"Jessica, I had a friend help watch her." I was vague, not wanting Brian to know it was Jason who took Jessica.
That would cause unnecessary trouble and would be hard to explain.
Fortunately, Brian didn't ask more questions. He said, "Okay, then I'll see you at the airport."
"Okay." After hanging up, I couldn't help but worry again.
What if Jason found out Jessica's true identity? Would he think I deliberately arranged for Jessica to get close to him?