Chapter 150: He Is Not Jean

Amanda Vance was unaware of any of this. She only overheard the nurses talking about someone being thrown out again, and from the sound of it, it was one of those two people from before.

She paid it no mind and kept walking. When she reached the parking garage, she unsurprisingly felt someone following her again.

She ignored them again. After she left the hospital, those people didn’t follow her out.

Her fingers tapped lightly on the steering wheel as Amanda Vance wondered pensively, ’So, they only follow me inside the hospital?’

That strange feeling surfaced again. She’d originally assumed they were up to something, but now it didn’t seem that was the case.

’What are they doing just watching me in the hospital, then? If they wanted to see a doctor, they could just make an appointment.’

Completely unable to figure it out, Amanda Vance shook her head and drove to the Grant family’s home.

Before she could even get out, she saw a little boy sitting on the steps. His eyes lit up when he saw her car, and he came running over with his little arms outstretched, his feet going PITTER-PATTER. In the background, she could still hear Hayden Grant’s exasperated voice shouting for him.

Bringing the car to a smooth stop, Amanda Vance got out. She looked at the little boy who had latched onto her leg, reached out to pinch his chubby little cheek, and said, "Be careful. What if the car had hit you?"

"You wouldn’t." Felix Ford hugged her leg, refusing to let go, and rubbed his little head against her waist. "Mommy wouldn’t have the heart to hit me. Besides, Mommy’s a really good driver. You wouldn’t hit me."

’He really does trust me.’

Shaking her head with an amused smile, Amanda Vance picked him up. The little boy immediately let go of her waist and wrapped his arms around her neck instead.

Hayden Grant walked out from inside, fuming. "You little brat, why were you running around like that? Aren’t you afraid of getting hit?"

"Nyah, nyah, nyah." Felix Ford made a face at him, then snuggled against Amanda Vance’s cheek and retorted in his small, squeaky voice, "Nuh-uh! My mommy’s an amazing driver."

’Besides, it’s not like I was trying to run into the car. I was looking where I was going.’

Hayden Grant was still fuming. He waved his hand dismissively at Amanda Vance. "Hurry up and take this kid away. In just a short while, he’s asked me eight hundred times if his mommy’s here yet. He’s unbelievably annoying. My throat’s gone hoarse just from answering him."

’Actually, that wasn’t the whole story. Yelling at the kid was also hell on the vocal cords. But it was close enough. It was all his fault, anyway.’

Looking at the boy now resting obediently on Amanda Vance’s shoulder, Hayden Grant rolled his eyes, speechless. He had no idea how a kid so young managed to be so two-faced.

When Amanda Vance was around, he was one person, unbelievably well-behaved. The second she was gone, he’d instantly turn into a little monster. The switch was effortless, completely natural. Not even a Sichuan opera face-changing master was that fast.

Amanda Vance raised her hand to stroke the boy’s cheek. "Thank you for all the trouble," she said to Hayden Grant.

Hayden Grant wasn’t too pleased to hear her being so formal. "It’s nothing, I was just kidding. Did you just get off work? Do you want to come in and sit for a while?"

"No, that’s okay. I should get going."

"Alright then. Drive safe on your way home."

"Mm."

"Bye-bye, Uncle," Felix Ford chimed in, waving at him with a purely innocent smile. He didn’t look like a Little Devil at all. If it weren’t for the mess inside that still needed cleaning, one might really think everything that just happened was an illusion.

Hayden Grant rolled his eyes, speechless.

’Little drama king.’

Felix Ford ignored his silent complaints, content to hug Amanda Vance and call out affectionately, "Mommy, Mommy." His words were filled with longing and affection. "Mommy, did you miss me?"

Before she could answer, he continued in a pitiful voice, "I missed you so much. Super, super, super much! On TV they say, ’a day apart feels like three years.’ We haven’t seen each other in a whole year!"

"Pfft—"

Amanda Vance burst out laughing. She pinched his little cheek and played along. "Is that so? A whole year? Then Mommy needs to get a good look at you. No wonder I missed you so much."

Hearing her say that she missed him, Felix Ford was overjoyed. He sat up straight, letting her look him over.

"Mm, sure enough. After a whole year, our Jean is still so handsome. You’re going to charm all the little girls when you grow up."

Felix Ford put his wrists together, cupping his hands under his chin like a flower. Blinking his big eyes, he asked in a soft, sweet voice, "But can I charm Mommy?"

Amanda Vance was completely overcome by her son’s cuteness and couldn’t stop laughing. "Of course! Our Jean is so handsome, who could possibly resist?"

Now Felix Ford was smiling so hard his eyes curved into crescents. He hugged her arm and snuggled against it. "Then I don’t want to charm any little girls. Just charming Mommy is enough for me."

’Who needs little girls? Not me. My mommy is the prettiest girl there is.’

It has to be said, every woman loves hearing sweet things, and Amanda Vance was no exception. Her son had her completely wrapped around his little finger. Her heart bloomed with joy, and she couldn’t help but plant a kiss on his little cheek. Seeing his eyes instantly squint shut in bliss made her laugh all over again. "Okay, okay, sit still. And for the record, having just my Jean is enough for Mommy, too."

Hearing this, Felix Ford’s happiness dimmed a little. He pouted. ’If just having Jean Vance is enough for her, then... what about me?’

But he didn’t dwell on it. Jean Vance had told him: Mom cared about him, too; she just didn’t know he existed. She thought she only had one child.

He didn’t linger on the thought and quickly cheered up again. His short legs started swinging as he reeled off a list of dishes. "Mommy, I want to eat these."

"Okay, Mommy will make them for you."

They were out of groceries anyway, so she took him to the supermarket.

He was five years old now, too old to ride in the shopping cart. He didn’t like it anyway; he much preferred to walk beside his mom.

When he saw a vegetable she needed, he would stand on his tiptoes to help her hold it, being an incredibly diligent little helper.

Amanda Vance watched him with a gentle look in her eyes.

After they finished getting their groceries, she saw the fruit aisle was right next to them and led him over.

"What do you want to eat?"

Felix Ford looked around, then pointed at one of the displays. "Tangerines! Mommy, I love tangerines most of all!"

Amanda Vance froze on the spot, and the smile in her eyes instantly stiffened.

She lowered her eyes to look at the happily smiling boy, her voice turning dry and raspy. "What... did you say you wanted to eat?"

"Tangerines, Mommy." Felix Ford tilted his head, looking at her and adding gleefully, "These little ones are the best! They aren’t sour at all."

As he spoke, he pulled a bag from the dispenser and began to fill it, stretching his little arms. "Do you want some, Mommy? I’m really good at picking them. I guarantee every single one will be sweet."

Amanda Vance didn’t answer. A look of bewilderment filled her eyes, and she stared at the boy in front of her as if in a daze.

’But... Jean is allergic to tangerines.’

"What’s wrong?" Seeing her stare, Felix Ford grew puzzled. He touched his own cheek. "Mommy, what is it? You’re looking at me like you don’t know who I am."

He pouted, a little upset.

Amanda Vance stared at him. ’That’s it. Jean never makes that face.’

’This child isn’t him.’

’Then who is he?’

An answer suddenly surfaced in her mind, leaving her even more shaken.

’But he... isn’t he already...’