Chapter 119: Paying the Price

Amanda didn’t let the somber mood linger. While it was true she harbored hatred in her heart, she didn’t want her son to be filled with it too.

He was still too young. He didn’t need to be involved in adult disputes; he just needed to live a happy and carefree life.

She rested her chin on his forehead, nuzzling him gently. "Mommy’s okay, don’t worry," Amanda said. "You know me—the Vance Family means nothing to Mommy. I just want to torture them for a bit. I don’t want to let them get away that easily."

"Mhm." Jean Vance looked up at her, wrapping his small arms around her waist and burying his head against her. "Mommy, no matter what, I’ll always be by your side."

Amanda hugged his small body tightly, murmuring softly, "Okay."

After tucking him in, Amanda returned to her room and noticed a missed call on her phone.

It was from Samuel Ford.

Puzzled, she called him back. "President Ford, this is Amanda Vance."

When the call connected, Samuel Ford was sitting in his study. The ashtray on the desk held several still-warm cigarette butts.

Hearing her voice, Samuel Ford rose and walked to the window. He slid it open and responded softly.

Amanda couldn’t quite figure out what he was thinking. After a moment, she took the initiative to ask, "President Ford, you called me just now? Is something the matter?"

"No, I dialed by accident."

Amanda was speechless. She had been wracking her brain but never would have guessed that answer. She glanced at her phone, wondering if it was really Samuel Ford on the other end. ’Why does it sound like he’s sulking?’

’He couldn’t be that childish, right?’

’Must be my imagination.’

For a moment, they were both quiet. The atmosphere was stagnant until Samuel Ford finally broke the silence, asking in a low voice, "Dr. Vance, have you eaten?"

Amanda glanced at the contact name on her phone again. ’Is this really Samuel Ford? He makes small talk?’

A bit dazed, she replied instinctively, "I have."

"Did you eat by yourself, Dr. Vance?"

"No, Jean’s uncle was here too."

"His uncle, huh..."

For some reason, Amanda could have sworn she heard a hint of joy in his trailing-off tone. It was so obvious, she was sure she hadn’t misheard it this time, which made her all the more surprised. "Yes. Is something wrong?"

"It’s nothing. I’m glad you’ve eaten. You work hard, Dr. Vance. Get some sleep early tonight."

"Oh."

After hanging up, Amanda still felt a bit out of it. ’Samuel Ford was acting so strangely today.’

Samuel Ford had wanted to chat a bit longer, but he was afraid she would notice too much, so he had hastily hung up.

His face was reflected in the windowpane. He couldn’t help but raise a hand to touch the corners of his upturned lips, feeling an undeniable joy in his heart.

Something was rising in his heart, slowly sprouting like a small bud.

Amanda stared thoughtfully at her phone screen for a while, still unable to figure out the reason for his call.

Since she couldn’t make sense of it, she decided to stop thinking about it.

The next day, Felix Ford was insistent on being taken to school right away. His enthusiastic display made Samuel Ford give him a few extra looks. ’Since when did he like going to school this much?’

Felix Ford didn’t care about that. All he knew was that if he went to school, he could go home with Mommy afterward.

Seeing his father still eating at a snail’s pace, he grew displeased. "Dad, hurry up!"

’Why is he so slow at everything?’ Felix thought. ’No wonder Jean doesn’t want him. I don’t want him as a dad anymore, either!’

Samuel Ford lifted his gaze to look at him, wiped his mouth unhurriedly, and asked, "What’s so appealing about kindergarten?"

’Kindergarten isn’t, but leaving kindergarten is.’

Of course, he wouldn’t say that out loud. Instead, he gave his father a scornful look and declared righteously, "Can’t I like going to school?"

He ticked off the benefits of kindergarten on his fingers. "I get to play with the other kids, and we can play games, sing, and read books. I like all of it!"

’Heh. Utter nonsense.’

’No one at school even plays with him, and he’s never once sung along properly with the teacher. His teacher has called me several times because he always disrupts singing time. And reading? That’s even more absurd. I’ve never even seen him open a book.’

Father and son stared at each other, and the meaning in Samuel Ford’s eyes was transmitted without reservation. Felix Ford pouted, clearly unhappy.

He jumped down from his chair in a huff, grunted loudly at him, and cried out in protest, "Mean dad!"

’Always calling my bluff.’

He ran upstairs to grab his little backpack and, not wanting to call for his father again, went straight to Rocco to say he was going to school.

Rocco went, "Uh..." and looked up at Samuel Ford by the dining table. When he saw him nod, Rocco finally said, "Alright."

It was no wonder Sir had asked. The young master used to avoid school like the plague, so his sudden desire to go did seem a little fishy.

But regardless, his willingness to go to school was a good thing.

The moment the car stopped, Felix Ford couldn’t wait to throw open the door and jump out, making Rocco’s eyelid twitch. "Be careful, Young Master."

’That’s way too dangerous,’ he thought. ’What if a car had been coming up behind us?’

Felix Ford ignored him, already far away with his little backpack on. He ran as if he had jets on his heels, his brilliant smile a stark contrast to the children crying at the entrance, not wanting to go to school.

Another parent noticed him and tried to coax their own child. "Look at that little boy, see how happy he is to go to school? Yanyan, you should be more like him."

Rocco, who happened to overhear this: "..."

’Better not,’ Rocco thought. ’Out of everyone to learn from, they pick the Little Devil. If their kid really did end up like him, they’d be the ones crying later.’

Imagining the scene, Rocco shook his head sharply to stop his runaway thoughts. He saw Felix catch up to another child, looking to be in a great mood, and breathed a sigh of relief. ’Looks like the Young Master’s willingness to come to school is most likely because of this kid. He probably just wants to play with him.’

’No wonder.’

’It’s just... that kid’s back looks a little familiar.’

"Jean! Jean!" Felix Ford skipped along beside him, tilting his head. "Why are you ignoring me again?"

Sensing that the gaze on them had vanished, Jean Vance glanced back. Seeing that Rocco had already left, he said to Felix Ford, "Don’t stand so close to me at school from now on. We have to be careful, or someone will find out."

"Oh." The two of them together were indeed conspicuous. Felix Ford agreed, then asked in a low voice, "How did you get Mommy to leave yesterday?"

Remembering yesterday’s events inevitably brought the Vance Family to mind, and Jean Vance’s eyes darkened for a moment.

Seeing him like this, Felix Ford immediately grew anxious. "Did something happen to Mommy?"

Jean Vance glanced at him. Seeing Felix’s face full of anxiety and worry, his own expression softened a little. "No, don’t worry. Mommy is very strong. No one can bully her."

Felix Ford let out a long sigh of relief. ’It’s fine as long as she’s okay. That’s all that matters.’

However, he then remembered the people who were always relentlessly bullying Mommy, and his little face darkened. "Those two big witches and the little witch from the Vance Family are always bullying Mommy."

At the mention of them, Jean Vance’s eyes narrowed, his gaze turning utterly cold. "Then we’ll make them pay the price."