(Freya's POV).
"Mom, when will Dev be here?" asked Adam when we had just left his school. He kept asking about Devan and it frustrated me.
"Adam, Devan is busy."
"But Mom said he'll return soon and buy me a present. He promised me," he whined.
I still didn't dare tell Adam that Devan was currently hospitalized. He would immediately force me to take him away to see Devan if I told him. And I don't want that to happen.
I've made enough concessions to the two of them and I don't want Devan and Adam to have a closer relationship.
My decision to stay away from Devan was right. I shouldn't have given him the chance to get closer to me in the first place.
"Adam, come on. You've only met a few times."
"But he's nice to me, Mom," he protested, "is he being bad to you, Mom? so you don't like him?"
"Adam, it's not about him being nice to us or not, but he's not our family."
"Well then, can you make him our family? I want Dev. I want to play with him."
I swallowed hard. Adam's words left me speechless. He was too young to understand what happened between adults. I also couldn't suddenly tell him to stay away from Adam because I was afraid it would have a traumatizing effect on him.
Especially since he had to grow up without a father beside him. I knew he wanted a father figure, but I never thought that he would like Devan so much when they had only met a few times.
"We'll talk about that later. I'll try to contact Dev and ask him to come here if he's not busy anymore," I lied.
"Really?"
"Yes, I'll ask him to come over when he's not busy." I helped him out of the car when we reached the courtyard, but I saw an unfamiliar car parked there.
I led Adam into the house and saw Jason sitting in the living room.
"Jason?" I called with a furrowed brow. I was surprised to see him in my house. "What are you doing in my house?" I asked.
He came straight to me as soon as he stood up and saw me coming.
"Vivian." She looked at me with a sad look.
"What's wrong? Is Devan okay?" I asked.
"Not good. He needs you."
"What do you mean?" I furrowed my brow.
"He's been refusing to eat since he woke up. We don't know what to do to get him to eat. Vivian, can you help me? Come to the hospital and persuade him to eat. I'm sure he'll take your word for it."
"Is he a child?!" I squealed in annoyance.
Was he doing this on purpose to get me to come see him? He was no longer a four-year-old who had to be forced to eat and feed. He's a 30-year-old grown man. How could he be that selfish and not care about his injured body?
"He just wants you by his side. I heard from Devan that you guys had a fight and you told her to stay away from him," Jason said, pleading with me with his sad expression. "Can you go with me to the hospital? At least, stay by his side until he gets better."
"I'm sorry, Jason. But I can't do it. I don't want him to get hurt again because of me and I've also made it clear that I don't want...."
"Please...he won't eat, Vivian. The doctor said that his condition could decline if he continues not to eat," he cut me off. Grasping both my hands pleadingly.
"Mom, what's wrong?" asked Adam.
I glanced at him who was still standing next to me. Looking at me and Jason in turn.
"Is Dev okay? Are you guys talking about him?"
"Adam...."
"Hey, Buddy. Are you Adam?"
"Jason, no!" I protested as Jason squatted in front of Adam and touched his arm. "Adam, get in the room right now."
"Vivian, please," Jason whispered as he looked at me. "Adam, can you persuade your mom to go to the hospital and see Devan?"
"Hospital? Is Dev sick?"
I growled in annoyance and immediately pulled Adam's hand. "Adam, get in the room right now!" I snapped.
"Vivian...."
"I'll go!" I cut him off quickly. "But please, stop bothering my son. Don't involve him in anything about him," I warned.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to use Adam to get you to come to the hospital."
"The fact is you did."
"Devan asked about it too. He wants to see him too."
"No," I insisted, "I want to go but Adam stays home."
Jason let out a long breath. He seemed disappointed by my cold demeanor, but I didn't care. I had to do it if I didn't want them to cross the line.
"Alright. Come with me now to the hospital," he told me.
"Adam, go to your room and change your clothes. Mom has to leave for a while to take care of something. Stay home and don't leave before I get home, okay?"
"But, Mom, is Dev sick? Can't I come with you guys?" he looked at me with teary eyes. His lips trembled indicating that he was about to cry.
"Adam, you're just a kid. Children shouldn't be in the hospital area. After Dev goes home, I promise to take you to meet him."
"Promise?"
"Promise," I said. “Tell Silvanna to help you take a shower. Okay?"
"Um..." He nodded and ran towards the kitchen area.
I then went to the hospital together with Jason. I'm not sure if what I did was right or not, but from the bottom of my heart, I'm still worried about her situation. Even after what happened between us.
I hope I don't regret every decision I make, and I won't hurt other people.