Chapter 98: Her Self-Blame

"Is that Dr. Vance’s son?" Rocco asked, noticing the boy with the backpack. He carried himself with a calm air. Rocco gave him a puzzled glance, wondering why he was wearing a mask.

Jean nodded.

"Hurry, get in the car." Rocco breathed a sigh of relief and explained the situation again. Fearing the boy might not believe him, he added, "Kid, we’re not bad guys. If you don’t believe me, take a look. You know our Young Master."

Hearing this, Jean glanced over at Felix Ford. He touched his mask and said in a low voice, "I understand. Mom already told me. I won’t go to the hospital. My uncle is coming to get me in a bit, and I’ll go home with him."

Felix Ford sighed in relief. ’This is a great idea. This way, Dad won’t find out.’ But then he paused. ’Wait, what about me? Dad and Mom are both at the hospital, and I didn’t wear a mask when I came out today.’

’So the result will be the same, won’t it?’

He quickly looked at Jean, opening his mouth to say something. But after a glance at Rocco, he swallowed his words and simply stared at Jean with an urgent expression.

Jean flashed his phone and gave Felix an almost imperceptible nod. Then he said to Rocco, "Sir, if you don’t believe me, you can call my mom and ask."

Of course, he believed the boy.

Still, just to be safe, he called Samuel Ford. Amanda Vance was right beside him. After a brief exchange, Samuel handed her the phone.

"Hello, this is Jean Vance’s mother. You don’t need to pick him up; someone else will be getting him shortly."

"Alright."

After hanging up, Rocco looked at the boy outside the car. "Alright, kid, head back inside the school to wait. Stay safe, and remember to call your mom to let her know you’re okay once your uncle arrives."

"Okay." Jean nodded. He gave Felix another look, then waved goodbye to them.

Rocco watched in the rearview mirror until he saw Jean enter the school, only then did he relax. Suddenly, he remembered something else and chuckled. "Young Master, it looks like you and Dr. Vance’s son are pretty good friends, huh? You even trade clothes."

’No wonder something seemed off earlier,’ he thought. ’That outfit the other kid was wearing... wasn’t that exactly what the Young Master had on before he left the house this morning?’

’When kids get close, they love to share everything. Now they’re even sharing clothes. No one would believe they weren’t good friends.’

’This is good, though. The Young Master finally has a close friend to play with.’

Felix Ford looked down at the clothes he was wearing. ’Mom picked these out for me. I really like them.’ The thought made him miss his mother even more.

’But I don’t want to see Dad,’ he thought. ’I really don’t want to see him.’

As he was sulking, his phone suddenly buzzed. He picked it up and saw a message from Jean.

It was a photo of a kid clutching his stomach and rolling on the ground.

His eyes darted back and forth. He instantly got the idea. Copying the picture, he clutched his stomach and let out a groan. "Oww..."

Hearing the noise, Rocco whipped his head around. "What’s wrong, Young Master?"

"My stomach hurts." Felix clutched his belly and flopped onto the back seat, his face contorted in a pained expression.

Rocco panicked. He slammed his foot on the accelerator. "Don’t be scared, Young Master!" he said as he drove. "I’ll get you to the hospital right away."

Felix: "?"

Gritting his teeth, he said, "It’s not that my stomach hurts... I mean, I have to poop! Hurry and take me home! I don’t want to go to the hospital!"

Hearing that the stomachache was just because he had to use the bathroom, Rocco sighed in relief. "We’re almost at the hospital, Young Master. You can just use the restroom there."

Felix immediately threw a fit. "No! I only go at home! I can’t go anywhere else!"

’I’ve never heard him say that before.’

Rocco gave him a suspicious glance. Seeing the boy’s stubborn expression, he figured Felix was just throwing a tantrum to avoid seeing his father. He sighed and stopped trying to persuade him. "In that case, Young Master, you’d better call your father."

"Fine, I will!" Felix sat up in a huff, found Samuel Ford’s number, and dialed.

「At the hospital.」

Samuel Ford was sitting in a chair, quietly watching Amanda Vance eat her soup, when his phone suddenly rang. He answered it. "Hello?"

The moment he heard his father’s voice, Felix blurted out, "I want to go home! My stomach hurts and I have to go to the bathroom! I want to go home to do it!"

Fearing his father would say no, Felix had launched his tirade with full force, leaving no room for refusal.

Samuel Ford raised an eyebrow slightly. He knew the boy was doing it on purpose but wasn’t bothered. "Then go home."

With that, he hung up.

’Huh? He agreed that easily?’ Felix glanced at his phone, still in disbelief.

Rocco glanced at him, stifling a laugh. "See, Young Master? I told you. Your father cares a lot about you. Look how much he spoils you—he knew you were lying but still agreed."

Felix’s eyes went wide. "Who’s lying? I really do have to go to the bathroom!"

"Alright, alright, I believe you, I believe you." His tone was completely insincere. He turned the car around, adding, "Just keep your voice down, Young Master. Don’t push too hard, or... you know."

Felix froze for a second. Realizing what Rocco meant, he immediately pinched his nose with a look of disgust.

The gesture made Rocco crack up, and he stepped on the gas a little.

"Was that a call from your son, President Ford?" Amanda Vance asked, tilting her head after hearing the young voice on the phone.

"Yes." Samuel Ford nodded and explained the situation without her having to ask.

Seeing the look of resignation on his face, Amanda couldn’t help but smile. Her eyes twinkled with amusement, practically screaming, ’So even you have days like this.’

Seeing her vivid expression, Samuel’s own features softened. He chuckled and shook his head. "I’m quite envious of your son, Dr. Vance. He sounds so well-behaved."

’Her son called earlier, and he was polite and articulate. Not like Colt, who only knows how to throw tantrums.’

Amanda shook her head, smiling. "I’ve told you before, President Ford. Every child has their own personality; they’re all different. Some are more energetic, others are calmer. They’re all good kids. There’s no real difference."

’As long as they aren’t malicious, a little mischief is perfectly fine.’

"To be honest, President Ford, I actually wish Jean wasn’t so well-behaved."

Samuel raised an eyebrow, his gaze questioning her. He was clearly puzzled by her statement. ’Isn’t it a good thing for a child to be well-behaved?’

It was good, yes, but Amanda didn’t want him to be so mature at such a young age.

She gave a somewhat bitter smile, a hint of self-reproach in her eyes. "He’s only so well-behaved because he doesn’t want me to worry."

’Because he doesn’t want me to worry, he deliberately makes himself act obediently. He doesn’t cause a fuss or annoy me. Over time, it’s become a habit.’

’In the end, it was my failure as a mother. I’m the one who made him worry.’

After she finished speaking, Samuel thoughtfully rubbed his fingertips together. He recalled the few times he had seen her before; each time, someone had been deliberately causing trouble for her. ’And with all those rumors circulating,’ he mused, ’I know she’s enduring far more than I’ve seen.’

"I don’t think your son sees it as a burden, Dr. Vance. And I don’t think he blames you." After a moment of contemplation, Samuel suddenly spoke, looking directly into her eyes and enunciating each word. "On the contrary, he’s probably happy that he can help you in his own way. That’s something special that the two of you share."