Chapter 43: Meet Jasper
Looking at Isla's aggressive manner, my expression remained serious and cold, showing no emotional fluctuation on my face.
"Mom, Jasper got lost after being picked up by someone before, so I told the teacher that only her parents could pick her up. You just came back from abroad to pick up the child. The teacher was doing this for the child's good. It seems like nobody did anything wrong here."
Hearing my words, Isla's teeth trembled with anger. "What? Jasper got lost before? Who picked her up?"
I lifted my eyelids slightly and said flatly, "Ava."
Instantly, Isla's face showed surprise. She choked on her words, looking both embarrassed and slightly angry.
She stammered, "This... this must be a misunderstanding, right? Or are you making this up? Why has Tyler never mentioned this to me?"
"Tyler naturally wouldn't tell you, but it's true. Even Grandma knows about it." I deliberately brought up Cleo to make Isla shut up.
Besides, Jasper was right here with us, and I was afraid he'd remember those bad experiences.
Hearing that even Cleo knew, Isla's expression changed repeatedly. She had no choice but to believe it, but I didn't expect her to still make excuses for Ava. "That must have been an accident because Ava was busy with work. She's a famous cellist. Jasper is a child who runs around - that's normal. You shouldn't hold it against her."
Hearing this, I laughed with contempt, wearing a mocking smile. Isla was even more disgusting than I had imagined.
What kind of spell had Ava cast on them to make everyone in the Thompson family find excuses for her?
If it had been me who lost Jasper before, the Thompson family would definitely have used that opportunity to kick me out and loudly proclaimed that I wasn't a qualified mother.
"Mom, is there anything else? If not, I'll take Jasper home first. He still has piano lessons after finishing his homework."
Isla's face looked terrible. She said with a stern expression, "This is my first time picking up Jasper. I want to take him out to play. You can go home first."
"Jasper has piano lessons after homework. He can't play today. Right, Jasper?" As I spoke, I deliberately threw the question to Jasper.
And Jasper came through. He said to Isla, "Grandma, I have piano lessons tonight. Jasper likes piano lessons, and the teacher said studying comes first."
Since even a child said this, Isla felt her face burning with embarrassment. In the end, she could only watch helplessly as I left with Jasper.
On the way back, Jasper sat in the back seat and asked me, "Mommy, I feel like Grandma keeps bullying you. I don't like Grandma anymore."
Hearing Jasper's words, a sense of comfort rose in my heart.
I never expected Jasper to say something like that.
It seemed that Jasper now saw me as his mother again and was giving me the feeling of a child's love for their mother.
Through the rearview mirror, I looked at Jasper in the back seat with gentle eyes and said comfortingly, "It's okay, Jasper. Adult matters have nothing to do with you. You just need to know that everyone loves you."
Jasper's little face puffed up. "But I also hope everyone loves Mommy the way they love me."
My eyes dimmed slightly, and my bitter smile didn't reach my eyes. "It's okay. I just need to have Jasper."
"Don't worry, Mommy. I love Mommy the most!"
At that moment, my heart felt warm - so warm that a sour feeling filled every part of my chest. My eyes became slightly red, but I forced myself to control my emotions so Jasper wouldn't notice anything unusual.
-
The day Liliana returned to the country arrived quickly. After lunch, Isla started having the servants busy around the house, even buying lots of things to prepare a welcome ceremony.
Jasper, being a child, was naturally interested in fun things, so he ran around the living room happily.
Tyler and Gray went to the company, leaving only a few of us at home.
Watching them busily decorating for Liliana's welcome ceremony, I stood in the living room, not knowing what to do for a moment.
Isla, who was blowing up balloons with a pump, saw me standing there and couldn't help but mock, "Sophia, can't you see we're all busy? Why are you standing there like a piece of wood? Don't you know to come help?"
I naturally didn't want to help with this, so I said, "I have things to do. I'm going upstairs."
With that, I went upstairs without looking back.
Before going upstairs, I heard Isla deliberately muttering to the servant, "What kind of person is she? She's really been spoiled to the point where she doesn't know who she is."
I ignored this and returned to my room.
Sitting at my desk, my heart sank heavily, and my heartbeat suddenly became dull, as if hot air was blocked in my chest. I felt an inexplicable complexity and helplessness inside.
Once Liliana came back, I would become a thorn in the side of everyone in the Thompson family, and their forces would only grow stronger.
Living with them every day felt like a challenge to me.
Although I was Tyler's wife, I was less welcome than the other woman.
Thinking about all the trivial matters I'd have to deal with next, I felt a splitting headache. The frustration in my heart rolled like a heat wave in my chest, making it hard to breathe.
Just then, Zachary sent me a message, which finally released me from my frustration.
Zachary: "Sophia, there's been a change in the domestic branch office plan. Headquarters is concerned that the two of us can't handle everything in the early stages. Several excellent international students have passed headquarters' screening, and they plan to send these students back to the domestic branch office to work for us."
Seeing this message, I had no objections. I replied, "That's good. Having more people will only be beneficial, but we don't know these international students very well, so we'll still need to work together and adjust to each other."
Zachary: "I'll meet with them first when I get back. From what the higher-ups say, they're all happy to return to the country. After all, they're international students - working back home is still better than staying abroad."
Me: "Young people fresh out of school are full of energy. That's good for us."
Zachary: "Yes, one of the international students will be back in the next few days. Her home is also in Harmony City. If you need anything, just have her help you. You're now her direct supervisor."
Seeing the words "direct supervisor," I felt a bit embarrassed, so I said, "Don't say that. The branch office hasn't even been established yet. How can I be considered a supervisor?"
Zachary: "You are the supervisor. Don't be modest. Headquarters will send you your appointment letter soon."
Seeing this, my heart leaped with joy. "That's great! Please thank them for me."
Zachary: "Hahaha, now you can relax, right? I'll arrange all these appointment matters for you. You've been working hard too. You've been handling the domestic branch office contracts and renovation matters all by yourself, and I haven't been able to help."