Chapter 230 My Mother

Chapter 230 My Mother

Joanna lifted her head from Evelyn's arms and pulled out a small box from her little bag.

She held it with both hands and presented it to Evelyn.

"Ms. Thomas, this is a gift for you. I spent a long time picking it out. I hope you like it."

Evelyn took it and opened it. Inside was a bracelet with a delicate chain holding a beautiful gemstone cut into a heart shape, reflecting soft light in the sunshine.

She could tell right away it was a real gemstone. Though not large, it was high quality and quite valuable.

"Joanna, this is too expensive. I can't accept it." Evelyn closed the box and handed it back.

Joanna put her hands behind her back, refusing to take it, looking up with an expression that left no room for argument.

"This is from me to you. I didn't get to give you a gift for your last birthday, so this makes up for it. I'll be really sad if you don't take it."

Her voice was soft, trailing off at the end, as if she was about to cry.

Evelyn looked at those bright eyes and sighed.

Brandon walked over and stood behind Joanna, looking at Evelyn with a gentle tone:

"It's Joanna's heartfelt gift. Just accept it. Whether it's expensive or not doesn't matter—what matters is that the child is thinking of you."

Evelyn glanced at him, put the small box in her bag, squatted down, and gently pressed Joanna's forehead.

"Okay, I'll keep it. Thank you, Joanna."

Joanna immediately smiled, showing a row of white teeth.

Andy stood a few steps away, watching this scene, his expression growing more upset.

He pressed his lips together, his fingers twisting the hem of his hoodie.

Though he wasn't crying or making a fuss, that downcast look made people feel even softer toward him.

Evelyn noticed and took the initiative to hold his hand.

Andy looked up, his eyes brightening, the corners of his mouth slowly curving up as he gripped her hand tightly.

Evelyn led him back and said to Brandon, "Andy, say hello to Mr. Robinson."

Andy looked at Brandon and obediently called out, "Mr. Robinson."

Brandon bent down, smiling as he patted his head. "Andy's such a good boy."

Brandon also squatted down and said to Andy, "Andy, this is Joanna. You've met before, remember? You can play together from now on."

Andy glanced at Joanna. Joanna was smiling at him, her eyes curved like crescents.

Andy didn't smile or speak, just nodded.

Just as they were about to walk into the amusement park, a black car suddenly turned the corner and stopped smoothly beside them.

Evelyn recognized that car.

The door opened and Luke got out from the driver's seat, wearing a dark light jacket and holding car keys.

Andy immediately let go of Evelyn's hand, ran over, hugged Luke's leg, and looked up shouting, "Dad, you're here!"

Luke bent down and picked him up.

Andy wrapped his arms around his neck and kissed his cheek, his eyes glancing at Joanna on the ground.

He seemed to be saying he had a dad too.

Evelyn looked at Luke and frowned. "Why are you here?"

Andy answered first, his voice crisp: "Mom, I asked Dad to come. I wanted Dad and Mom to play with me together."

His reason was sound, his expression innocent, as if all this was perfectly natural.

Evelyn looked at him, then at Luke, and ultimately said nothing.

He was already here—she couldn't send him away in front of the child.

But the discomfort in her heart was like oil floating on water, impossible to push down.

Brandon stood nearby, sensing the tension between them, and broke the silence: "Since you're here, join us. More people makes it livelier, and the kids will be happier."

Evelyn didn't respond, just turned and took Joanna's hand to walk inside.

The amusement park was crowded, with colorful balloons and cheerful music everywhere.

The roller coaster rumbled overhead, screams rising and falling.

The carousel's colored lights blinked on and off, children's laughter floating through the air with the music.

Andy stuck close to Evelyn the whole time, one hand holding hers, the other clutching her clothes, as if afraid she'd run away.

He pulled Evelyn along—now to the bumper cars, now to ride the little train, now to buy cotton candy.

At each attraction, he'd turn back to check if Joanna was following.

Seeing Joanna obediently holding Brandon's hand and not trying to steal Evelyn away, he'd turn back around, reassured.

Joanna was especially well-behaved today.

She didn't cling to Evelyn like before, nor did she try to take Andy's place.

She held Brandon's hand, quietly following behind. Occasionally when she saw an interesting attraction, she'd softly tell her dad "I want to try that one," and Brandon would take her.

She didn't compete or fight, didn't fuss or make noise, like a quiet little flower blooming at the edge of the lively crowd.

Evelyn won a big teddy bear at the balloon shooting booth—brown fur soft and fluffy, almost half her height when held.

She handed the bear to Andy. Andy hugged it, smiling with curved eyes: "Mom's amazing! Thank you, Mom!"

Joanna stood nearby, looking at the bear, unable to hide the envy in her eyes.

But she didn't ask for it, just glanced at it once, then lowered her head to play with the little flowers on her dress hem.

Evelyn noticed.

She picked up the air gun again, aimed, pulled the trigger—ten shots, all hits.

The vendor took down a pink rabbit plushie from the shelf and handed it to Evelyn, smiling: "You're a great shot."

Evelyn took the rabbit, squatted down, and held it out to Joanna.

"Joanna, this is for you. Do you like it?"

Joanna's eyes lit up immediately.

She took the rabbit, hugged it, and buried her little face in the rabbit's fluffy ears. "I love it! Thank you, Ms. Thomas!"

Andy, holding his bear, looked at the rabbit in Joanna's hands, his smile slowly fading.

He rushed over, stood in front of Joanna, stretched out one hand, his voice sharp and loud.

"Give the rabbit back! Mom won it, it's mine!"

Joanna immediately hugged the rabbit tighter.

She shook her head. "No, Ms. Thomas gave this to me. I can't give it to you."

Andy's face flushed red, his voice growing louder: "Why do you keep stealing my mom? Don't you have your own mom? Why are you always clinging to my mom?"

The noisy sounds of the amusement park seemed to hit pause instantly.

Joanna froze, her eyes immediately reddening, her lips trembling slightly.

She looked down at the rabbit in her hands, then looked up at Evelyn, tears spinning in her eyes.

Finally unable to hold back, she threw herself into Brandon's arms, buried her face in his chest, her shoulders shaking as she cried.

Brandon held her, gently patting her back.

He looked down at Joanna and said, "It's okay, Dad's here."

Then he looked up at Evelyn, his tone calm: "Sorry, we'll go look around over there."