Chapter 76: He’s Mine
JULIA
‘Mommy, mommy…
I felt myself getting shaken awake, so I opened my eyes, only to see Andy standing next to me. I looked around and found myself in the living room, sitting on the floor while leaning my head against the couch.
Andy looked at me with wide eyes. “Did you sleep here, mommy?”
I smiled and nodded, reaching for a hug. He did so without any complaints. Last night, I thought hard about what Sarah had told me. I stayed in the living room to think about it for a while, but I must have ended up passing out here.
I broke from his hug, only to see him with teary eyes. My eyes widened slightly, and he tried to wipe them as quickly as possible. However, I held onto his arms and looked at him with furrowed eyebrows.
“What happened?” I asked. “Are you hurt?”
He shook his head. “Mommy is hurting, though.“,
My heart felt like it stopped. I pursed my lips and shook my head. “Why would you say that? Why would I get hurt when you’re here?”
“But you’re tired, mommy,” he said in a soft voice, making my heart break. “You have school, and I know that you are trying to fight those evil men.”
I chuckled, trying to mask my tiredness and lighten up the atmosphere. “I’m doing it for you, bub.”
He shook his head. “If you’re hurt, then don’t do it for me, mommy,” he said in a pleading tone. “I don’t need anyone else. I just need you.
With that, he pulled me in a hug once more. “Don’t leave me, please.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat and tried to smile. I softly caressed his back and nodded.
“Never,” I muttered. “I’ll never leave you, bub.”
‘But I’m afraid we’re in too deep now.”
Once more, I broke away from our hug and mustered the brightest smile while pushing his hair back.
“Mommy’s going somewhere today, hmm?” I said. “Aunt Sarah is coming with me, so we’re going to your grandma’s place.”
He nodded in understanding.
“Let’s get ready,” I said, standing and leading him to his room. I helped him with getting dressed, although he insisted he could do it on his own. I realized that he might be too independent because of our circumstances.
Still, I wanted to indulge him and let him be a kid without worrying about anything else.
Just then, Sarah came out of her room, ready to go out.
I nodded and grabbed my bag. “Yeah, let’s go.”
The three of us went to her car and drove to my parents‘ house. I had already informed them beforehand, but I haven’t received a reply just yet.
Chapter 76 He’s Mine
+25 BONUS
“Wait here,” I said to Sarah as I gently carried Andy. He had fallen asleep in the car ride, so Sarah merely nodded.
I went to the door and rang the doorbell. It took a while before they answered, and when they did, I saw my mom with disheveled hair and hollow eyes. I frowned. She looked like she hadn’t slept in days. Her gaze went to Andy, then back to me, and she stepped aside without a word.
“Place him there,” she said, gesturing vaguely toward their bed. I hesitated, my arms tightening around Andy. Back then, she would’ve swooped in immediately, cooing over him, asking about his day, and offering to make him a snack.
I was thankful for that, of course. She treated Andy with the warmth she used with me before, but not anymore. I placed Andy on their bed and placed a kiss on his cheek before going back out.
“I’ll be back in the afternoon,” I said, about to head out.
“Where are you off to again?” she asked, making me halt.
“Somewhere important,” I said. “So, I really need to leave
I thought she was going to let me go easily, so her next words surprised me.
“Just stop, Julia,” she said, her voice rising. “You shouldn’t chase after Evan anymore.”
I froze, turning to her with furrowed eyebrows.
“What?” I asked. “You’re the one who wanted me to introduce Andy to him. And now you don’t want that?”
She shook her head, her lips pressed into a thin line. “You were never meant to be with each other. This ruined everything ”
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, “What are you talking about now?” I asked, running my fingers through my hair.
“We lost our stable job because you got into that relationship,” she said, her voice cold. “You left. Everything is not well. Andy doesn’t seem like a normal boy.”
but
Her words cut deeper than I thought possible. I felt the tears welling up in my eyes. “I’m trying my best,” I said, my voice shaking. “I’ve always placed his interests above mine. I’ve always thought of being with you guys, you’re making it so hard. I know we were never rich, but is that how we should be? Always in the shadows of others?”
“Sometimes, there are things out of our reach,” she said, walking closer to where I was. “It’s hard raising Andy, right? Garyn is willing to give him the best life in the entire world. He deserves that, you know it.”
I clenched my jaw and looked to the side. “I see,” I muttered “Did Garyn talk to you?”
She didn’t respond. Her gaze dropped to the floor, and for a moment, the room was silent except for the sound of Andy humming softly to himself from their bed.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “I’m done,” I said. “I’ll show all of you that I may have made bad decisions, but never a mistake. Andy’s not a mistake. And he’s mine. I raised him for five years, all on my own because none of you wanted to accept him.”
“Now, because someone suddenly shows up with better options in life, you want me to give him away… Just like that? Maybe it’s easy for you to say because you weren’t there from the beginning,” I muttered.
With that, I went back to their bed and carried Andy once more. I didn’t feel safe leaving him here anymore,
“I’ll give him a good life,” I said. “I’m going to.”
Chapter 76. He’s Mine
“If you don’t want to be there, then that’s fine with me.”
