Sheryl and Charles were aware that Clark was too sensible and intelligent for his age. They never had to worry about Shirley when Clark was around. And Clark never failed to surprise them. Especially during some crisis, the courage and sensitivity that the boy showed every time were commendable. Charles gazed at Clark affectionately as he heard him speak. "Dad, I know why you didn't let me and Shirley go to school and why Grandma wasn't home. I also know what made our workaholic mom avoid going for work and stay with us at home instead," Clark spoke in a very low and polite manner looking up at his father. He had bottled up his observations all these days. Now that he met his parents after being saved from the kidnapper, he thought it was the right time to tell them about how he felt.
"So you knew all of this?" Charles asked, his eyes almost popping out. Sheryl was also taken aback by what her son said. Both of them stared at him with much admiration in their eyes.
"Yes, I knew all of this. At that time, Mommy always looked preoccupied and glum. So I didn't tell you," Clark confirmed and turned his face towards Sheryl.
"To be honest, I don't believe Mommy could ever do something as bad and demeaning as it was shown in the report I saw on my phone. She is so caring towards me, Shirley and you. How could she be like that?" he added. He looked quite miffed with all those false reports.
"So I never even thought of asking Mommy about this. I knew you believed in her. Now that you were willing to believe in her, I didn't see why I can't believe her. I even had faith in you. I had been waiting for you to help Mommy and prove the entire rumour to be false. I thought Mommy could have claimed the fact and proved her innocence. But unexpectedly I and Shirley got kidnapped.
I heard what he asked Mommy to do. So I became all the more clear and confirmed that Mommy had been set up. I knew Mommy was innocent, but I didn't know if others felt the same way. They must be convinced that Mommy was that kind of a bad person as she was described in news!"
"Turns out you knew about this, Clark," Charles remarked stroking his cheeks gently, as he surveyed his son from top to bottom. He wondered how his son could be so intelligent, sensitive and obedient at such a young age.
"Oh, yeah. I came to know about it long before, but I chose to believe Mommy," Clark stressed. Sheryl's heart melted to see the unflinching love and confidence Clark showed towards her. Her eyes welled up with happy tears as she heard him speak.
"But I know that others might not believe Mommy as I do. So I think the footage in this place might help you reveal the truth in front of everyone. What do you think, Daddy?" Clark advised with a firm look in his eyes.
Charles stared at his son with much amazement as Clark very explicitly analyzed and explained the entire situation. At the moment, a thought occurred to Charles that his son would turn out to be a better adult than him.
"You're right, Clark. You are more considerate than me. I am proud of you," Charles praised with a bright smile, as his chest swelled.
He turned his gaze from his son to his wife and daughter. Both Sheryl and Shirley stared at Clark with appreciation.
Sheryl admired Clark's wit. More importantly, she was touched by the sensitivity Clark showed towards her. Her eyes were teary, and there was a soothing smile on her lips. No matter how much her enemies tried to pull her down, she would always emerge as a winner. And it was all because of the angelic kids she was blessed with.
"Thank you for your useful advice, Clark. Stay here with Mommy and Shirley, okay? I will go get the surveillance video," Charles said with a contented look.
"Got it, Daddy. I will protect my mom and my sister," Clark grinned and erected his spine like a responsible man of the family.
"That's my good son," Charles concluded as he ruffled Clark's hair fondly. As soon as he finished his statement, he glanced around the villa.
Considering that the control room was much likely to be in a porter's lodge, he decided to check that place first.
"Shirley, Clark, would you like to join Daddy? In this way, we all can be together while he looks for the video," Sheryl suggested, as she watched Charles running towards the porter's lodge. She found it rather boring to stay where they were and wait for her husband to return.
She thought it would be better to be with Charles. For Sheryl, the time they had just got over was too terrible to let any one of them be out of her sight even for a moment. She just could not bear the sight of Charles moving towards the porter's lodge all alone. She rather preferred that all four of them stay together wherever they went.
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