Chapter 87: Fetching the Scriptures

Hearing her ask about it, Jean Vance’s breath caught. He remembered how happy Felix Ford had been when he got the doll, and how incredibly gentle his mom was with him. He suddenly felt a pang of jealousy.

But this was no time to be jealous. He collected himself and said, "I was afraid I’d lose it, so I put it away."

"Oh, I see. It’s alright. If you lose it, Mom will just make you another one." Amanda Vance gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "Mom has been busy with the hospital and has neglected you a bit. Have you been any happier these past few days?"

"Mhm." Jean Vance leaned closer to her, his hand still in hers, the corners of his mouth lifting into a small smile. "As long as I can be with you, Mom, I’m happy."

Amanda Vance smiled and wrapped her arm around her son’s small body. "How about Mom tells you a bedtime story tonight?"

’That’s what she did to soothe Felix Ford. He’d grown out of needing that a long time ago.’

But he cherished her gentleness and wanted to experience the same treatment Felix received, so he didn’t refuse. He just nodded. "Okay."

Amanda Vance’s voice was soft. She’d gotten a lot of practice recently, and her storytelling was getting better and better. Jean Vance lay snuggled up against her, and before long, his eyelids grew heavy. ’Hearing Mom tell a story before bed... really is nice,’ he thought hazily.

He slept soundly through the night. After being dropped off at school, Amanda Vance went to the hospital. During her rounds, she saw Samuel Ford. He looked somewhat listless, his brows deeply furrowed as if wrestling with an intractable problem. Her curiosity piqued, she asked casually, "Is something wrong, President Ford?"

Samuel Ford shook his head. Then, remembering something, he asked, "What is your son like, Dr. Vance?"

"Hm?" Surprised by the question, Amanda Vance thought for a moment before replying, "He’s very well-behaved, sensible, and quite smart."

Hearing her words, Samuel Ford couldn’t help but think of the little terror at home and sighed.

His reaction made Amanda Vance even more curious. To return the courtesy, she asked, "And what about your son, President Ford?"

"Him? He’s mischievous, a troublemaker, a little hellion." Pinching the bridge of his nose, Samuel Ford looked up at her. "The complete opposite of your son, Dr. Vance."

’Oh, so he’s having trouble with his kid at home.’

’I never would have guessed President Ford’s son would be so different from him. And I certainly never thought President Ford would be bested by a child.’

She recalled the rumors she’d heard about him—the king of the business world, decisive and resolute, with a ruthless eye for investment, a man who held immense power. Looking at the man before her, tormented by his own son, Amanda Vance suddenly felt a disconnect. She shook her head.

’He’s a man, not a god. This actually makes him seem more real.’

"Do you have any good advice, Dr. Vance?" Samuel Ford asked when she didn’t speak. He recalled the few times he’d seen her with her son, and how harmonious their relationship seemed.

’That was how a parent and child should be.’

"Advice..." She was truly stumped. Jean had always been so well-behaved; he never gave her any trouble or caused her any headaches. He just... grew up. Thinking back, she realized she didn’t really have any special parenting method.

Shrugging helplessly, Amanda Vance said, "If you don’t mind, President Ford, you could tell me about your child. How do you two get along? What’s the problem? Perhaps I can offer some ideas then."

’That’s true.’

’Everyone’s situation is different. Her methods might not work for me.’

He normally had no interest in discussing his family matters with others, but looking at her now, he found himself willing to speak.

He began to speak slowly, recounting the course of events.

"...He was being so much better behaved a few days ago, but then he suddenly started acting up again. I have no idea how I offended him."

After listening, Amanda Vance agreed that his son sounded like quite a handful, but she also felt it probably wasn’t without reason.

After a moment of contemplation, she chose her words carefully. "I think when children throw tantrums, it’s usually because they’re unhappy about not getting something they want. It’s their way of protesting. Why don’t you start there, President Ford? Think about what it is your child wants."

’What did he want? He wanted his mother.’

’He knew that perfectly well, but there was nothing he could do about it.’

’He couldn’t give him that.’

"Alright, I understand. Thank you, Dr. Vance."

Seeing his brow still furrowed, Amanda Vance guessed her words hadn’t been much help. She smiled. Every family has its own problems, and an outsider can’t solve them. He would have to figure it out himself.

"However, I did hear you say just now, President Ford, that you took away something your child loves and told him to clean his room."

"Yes, but he didn’t clean it. The housekeeper did. I gave the item back to him in the end."

Amanda Vance nodded. "So, you never actually intended for your son to clean it himself; you just wanted to teach him a lesson. I think in that case, you didn’t achieve the effect you wanted. In fact, it probably just escalated the conflict."

"You wanted to set a rule, but the housekeeper ended up doing the work. He got his thing back without issue, so he wouldn’t think he did anything wrong. Instead, it becomes a form of defiance."

’It was true. Not long after, he ran away from home.’

’Even though he had expected it and managed to stop him in time, he could already imagine the huge battle that awaited him when he got home today.’

At this thought, Samuel Ford’s headache intensified.

"You could try talking with your son more, President Ford. Listen to his thoughts. They may be small, but children have their own ideas. Communication between parents and children is very important."

"Mhm." Since they were on the topic, Samuel Ford decided to ask directly, "So, is there anything I can do today?"

’After the scene he made yesterday, he’s probably going to tear the house down today.’

Amanda Vance thought of this too and felt an urge to laugh. She truly hadn’t expected such a serious man to have such an energetic child.

"Why not buy him something he likes? Some toys or anything, really."

’Just placate him for now. Save the house first.’

The image of President Ford, a mover and shaker in the outside world, coming home from work to find his house torn down by his own son, made her want to laugh.

She couldn’t quite hold it in, and her eyes filled with amusement. Her gaze towards him unconsciously took on a teasing quality.

Samuel Ford noticed but didn’t get angry. He just felt a bit helpless.

’I asked her for advice, and now she’s just enjoying the show?’

At that thought, the corners of his lips curved up as well. He let out a long breath. "Thank you for your help today, Dr. Vance. It was very helpful."

Amanda Vance felt she hadn’t been much help at all. She smiled. "You’re too kind, President Ford."

She glanced at the time and saw it was time for her appointments. "I have to go now."

"Mhm."

Samuel Ford lingered for a moment before heading to his office. When he got off work, he thought about what Amanda Vance had said and turned his car around, heading for the largest mall.

"This one, and this one."

After entering the toy store, he pointed out several items in a row. The sales assistant behind him was overjoyed, grabbing each item as he pointed to it.

Before long, the assistant’s arms were full.

Just as Samuel Ford was about to point to another, his phone suddenly rang.

The moment he answered, Rocco’s panicked voice came through the line, and his expression changed instantly.

"Boss! Something’s happened to the Young Master!"