Three Years Later, He Came Back Begging novel Chapter 277

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.

Shirley's heart swelled with warmth, though she felt a bit too shy to show it in front of her daughter. She smiled and deflected, "There's nothing to hold my head down about. Besides, no one's bullying me. Alright, hurry up and eat. We'll head over early."

Bonnie nodded obediently and took a small bite of her oatmeal.

Soon after, Bachelor woke up. Not long after taking his seat, he and Shirley began exchanging silent, tense looks. Shirley couldn't be bothered with him and completely pretended not to notice.

Bonnie caught it too. Her intuition told her they were hiding something from her, but since they weren't saying anything, she didn't push it.

By the time she finished doing the dishes, she found Bachelor sporting a deeply displeased expression. His foul mood didn't let up even as the three of them headed out and he went to pull the car around.

Biting her lip, she finally asked, "Mom, did you and Dad get into a fight?"