Just as I expected, based on Audrey’s calm expression, she had no idea about what would be in store for the couple that had just been taken away.
As a mother, I was happy to a certain extent. However, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong at the sight of my child being so at peace and unruffled.
Ashton couldn’t be bothered by what had happened either. After the despicable couple had been brought away, he began coddling his dear daughter. “Can you forgive me now? Daddy just punished the bad guys that hurt Shaun.”
“Hmm…” Audrey clamped her tiny mouth shut as her bright eyes started looking around mischievously. Clearly, she was up to no good once again.
Ashton straightened up and frowned slightly. “Do you still have to think about it?”
“Yep!” Audrey yelled out happily. She was obviously in a much better mood now. With a bright smile, she held onto her father’s fingertips with her own small hands as she whined, “Daddy, let’s take Shaun home with us. We can’t just leave him here alone! Pretty please?”
The smile on Ashton’s face dissipated slowly at the sound of Audrey’s request. He glanced over at me helplessly before looking at the child on the hospital bed. Then, he stood up and walked toward him with Audrey in tow, staring down at him from above.
“Why didn’t you call for help?” Ashton asked.
Shaun was silent for a little while before answering hesitatingly, “The people who left me in the past never showed up again.”
It was more than heartbreaking to hear such words coming out of a six-year-old child’s mouth. He was so young, and yet he already knew how fickle relationships could be.
Behind every nonchalant expression lay layers upon layers of pain and bitterness.
No matter how suspicious he had been in the past, I knew this came straight from Shaun’s heart. It was probably because I could resonate with him, having been left behind myself.
I suddenly found myself warming up to Audrey’s suggestion.
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