Three Years Later, He Came Back Begging novel Chapter 277

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Jasper nodded, then quickly shook his head. "I wanna play with Grandpa and Grandma, and with you! Mom always runs away when we're playing!"

"And she uses cold water when she gives me a bath," he added with a pout.

In the past, he would have assumed the kid was just spouting nonsense. But now, those innocent words pierced straight through his heart.

He gently pulled the boy into a hug, silently apologizing to him.

Looking up, he saw his mother standing on the ground floor, smiling up at them. He hadn't realized when the hair at her temples had started to turn gray. A heavy wave of complex emotions crashed over him.

In every single aspect of his life, he had failed at the roles he was supposed to play.

Everything had started because of him, so it was only right that he be the one to end it all.

...

On the morning of New Year's Eve, Bonnie woke up early. She read for a while until she heard her mother calling her down for breakfast.

Setting aside her study materials, she took a seat at the dining table. Shirley glanced at her. "Wash the dishes when you're done. Your dad and I are heading to your grandparents' house. It's New Year's Eve, so we have to make an appearance. There are dumplings in the fridge; you can boil them for yourself tonight..."

"Mom," Bonnie said, stirring the red dates in her oatmeal with a spoon. "Let me go with you guys."

Their family had always spent the holidays at her grandparents' house alongside Patton's family. For the past three years, Bonnie had essentially run away from home, so her absence was expected. But now that she was back, if she didn't show up, she knew her mother would end up taking the brunt of the criticism on her behalf.