Contract Marriage: The Replacement Groom novel Chapter 185

185 Rejected 

“M-mummy!” He called out with sparkling eyes. 

Jeslyn who was standing by the door smiled with tears streaming down her face and hurried into the room to hug Valen. 

“Child, mummy has missed you. You almost scared me to death” 

Valen said nothing and just hugged her even though the injection was pricking his wrist. He missed her a lot and he felt the only way to get enough of her was to engrave himself on her. 

Vera watched the two with envy and hatred. She was supposed to be the one getting the hugs and calling him her child. Valen didn’t even look at her twice even though she was supposed to be his ‘mother’. 

Not liking what she was seeing, she coughed into her fist to break them apart but nobody cared about her. 

She coughed again, a little louder than the first time but still, nobody responded. Annoyed, she finally spoke. “Jeslyn, he’s on needles. It must be hurting him. Also, he just woke up and needs some rest and fresh air.” 

Jeslyn broke the hug and grabbed Valen’s left hand to check the needle on his wrist to see if she accidentally hurt him but she couldn’t see anything because a brown tape was used to secure the needle to his wrist. 

“Don’t worry, he is fine,” Jeslyn said to Vera with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. 

“I was only worried as a mother.” Vera retorted. 

“I also have a mother’s instinct, so I understand your concern. I should allow you two some space for now.” She turned to look at Valen and smiled. “Child, you must be famished. Let mommy go prepare you something delicious.” She brushed his long and uneven bangs up before placing a soft kiss on his forehead. 

Valen wanted to stop her but when he heard she’d be cooking for him, he happily agreed with a nod and a smile on his lips. 

After Jeslyn walked out and closed the door, the smile disappeared in an instant and he turned sharply to look at Vera. 

“It’s 

my skin. Whether I get pricked by needles is not your concern. Don’t speak on my behalf next time… my daddy is not here, you should leave now.” Valen used to think that when he finally meets his mother, he would feel some connection, hate, or happiness. However, looking at this Vera, he feels absolutely nothing but disgust for her. 

She definitely cannot be his mother. It’s either his father made a mistake or Vera lied. Valen refused to believe he was related to this woman. 

Vera was stunned at the child’s sharp tongue. He’s just 6 years old, no, almost 7 years old! Aren’t words too heavy for him to use? He talked like they were old-time enemies and it offended Vera greatly but she still had to maintain a loving attitude. 

“Child, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause you agony. I was only worried that… fine. I was wrong. I-” 

“Go out! I’m feeling sleepy!” He lay down on his side, giving Vera his back. 

Valen wasn’t afraid that she would do anything to him because there were CCTV cameras in the room and the emergency button wasn’t far from his reach. 

Vera was so angry that her face alternated between red and blue. Still, she suppressed it and said with a fake smile; “Ok, I’ll see you later.” She turned and hurried out. She couldn’t wait to leave. After she left, Valen sat up. He stared at the shut door for a while with lots of thoughts running through his mind before turning his gaze back to the TV. His great-grandfather’s face was no longer on the screen, so he changed the channel to some anime. Too bad he didn’t hear what the old man said. 

Thanks to Jeslyn, he started watching anime. Even though he still doesn’t understand much about these cartoons that hardly die when killed, he knew that Jeslyn likes to see him watch them, so he’ll try to understand their concept. 

Along the corridor, Vera was running towards the sitting, crying. On her way, she spotted Rex and Maverick walking towards her. 

Vera’s cries increased. She was silently crying before but suddenly started to wail. 

Rex looked over his shoulder at Maverick. “Did you raise your hand on a woman?” 

Maverick gave him a death glare without saying anything. 

They’ve been together since, so when did he beat a woman who was coming out of the lab? 

Rex awkwardly scratched the tip of his nose and said; “That’s right, you don’t hit a woman….. Then why is she crying?” Looking at where Vera was coming from, he thought, ‘did Jeslyn bully her? That’s not right. They saw Jeslyn in the kitchen before coming here. 

His mind snapped and he exclaimed. “Valen!” 

Maverick looked at him like an idiot. 

“Mav,” Vera stretched her hands, intending to hug Maverick and bury her face on his chest but instead of Maverick, a tablet greeted her stomach. 

Maverick pushed her back with the edge of the tablet he was holding, stopping her from coming in contact with him. 

“May,” she called with grievance and took a step back, separating herself from the tablet. She wiped her tears and tried to speak but she couldn’t talk coherently. 

“I don’t have the whole day,” Maverick spoke in annoyance with a cold voice. 

Vera nodded before she started to lament; “Valen is awake but he seems to hate me. I’m his mother!” She wiped her face again, causing one who sees her to feel pity for her. 

“Mtcheeceew,” Rex hissed and walked forward, leaving Maverick and Vera on the passageway. 

After Rex left, Vera secretly signed. She hates that guy. 

“May, I know I wasn’t there for Valen when he was growing up. But we both know it was not my fault. Please,” she stretched out her hand and tried to hold his hand. Maverick had one hand in his pocket and the other was holding a tablet.