Renee arrived at Adie's wards with those doubts in her mind.
Leia and Abby were in the ward with Adie, but Adie was lying in bed listlessly without interacting with them much. He also seemed more aloof with Abby.
Abby tried to hold his hand a few times, but he shook her hand off. "Adie, why are you sad? Just smile-you look the best when you smile. Can you smile?" Abby wasn't upset even though Adie ignored her. She tried to make funny faces at him to make him laugh.
"I told you I don't want to. You're annoying. Get lost!" Adie looked more unhappy and pushed Abby away.
Renee happened to see that scene when she opened the door, and immediately shouted at Adie, "What are you doing, Adie? You're her elder brother!" She walked to Abby and hugged Abby, trying to pacify her. "Are you hurt? It's okay, I'm here now."
"No, I'm not." Abby shook her head and whispered, "Adie is just playing. Im sure he's scared because someone bullied him, that's why he's not smiling."
"I'm not scared!" Adie turned around, looking angry. "Do you think everyone is a coward like you?" "Adie..." Abby's large eyes filled with tears that she struggled to hold back. It was quite a pitiful sight.
Renee was heartbroken when she saw that. She glared at Adie and scolded, "Adie, you're being unreasonable. Why are you being so mean to Abby? Do you think I won't scold you just because you're sick?"
"Just hit me if that's what you want. It's always my fault anyway!" Adie burst out, then turned his back to them and looked out of the window. There seemed to be something weighing on his mind. “Ah, you..."
Before Renee could say anything else, Leia stopped her. "Hey, I think something's troubling Adie. You should try to talk to him. I'll take Abby out to give you both some time."
"Okay." Renee nodded.
‘When Leia left the ward with Abby, Adie seemed to relax. He turned to Renee and asked, "Where's Tiffany? Which ward is she in? I want to see her." He felt that he and Tiffany could share their woes because of their experiences. Only Tiffany could understand him.
"Her daddy took her home.” Renee pulled a chair out and sat beside Adie's bed. Her gaze was gentle as she murmured, "Adie, you're mad at me, aren't you?"
Adie’s expression became pitiful when he heard that, and he shook his head.
"No, I'm not.
1 like you the most, Mommy.
You're the best in the world.
1 wontt be mad at you no matter what happens.” "Then, why didn't you want to come back? You've always been very sensible, so you should have known that everyone was worried about you, right?" Renee asked in frustration.
She didn't mind him being naughty sometimes or having his own opinions, but he shouldn't play around with his life or trouble people who loved him.
"T didn't come back because I thought that maybe...
you didn't want me to!" Adie finally admitted.
"I'm sure you love Abby and Daddy more than me, and I'm not that important to you either.
You won't be sad even if I'm gone.” "What are you talking about, Adie?" Renee asked in surprise, not expecting her open-minded son to be so delicate. "You're my child.
Of course, I love you.
I would risk my life for you!" The one thing that mattered most to her was her children's safety. Her children were the only thing that could be used against her-she was willing to give up anything to ke ep them safe.
However, most parents were usually not appreciated despite their devotion.
"T don't need you to risk your life for me...
1 just hope you can pay more attention to me." Adie's eyes tumed watery as he told Renee what had been on his mind for years. "I'm your child too, but all you care about is Abby.
When she's scared, you hug and cuddle her, but when I'm scared, you ask me to be alone and try to overcome it.
Have you ever thought that sometimes I get scared too?" "Umm..." For a moment, Renee was at a loss for words.
She did raise Abby with great care whereas Adie was raised more harshly.
Although her love for them was the same, the impact on them was very different.
"I'm sorry, Adie...
I've neglected you all these years.
"A long sigh es caped Renee.
"You know our family is special.
Only you, Abby, Margaret, and I lived together for along time, so I naturally saw you as the man of the house and hoped that you could bear more responsibilities.
1 d epended on you a lot, and you became the backbone of our family.
I thought that we would face hardships together and build a loving and home for Abby and Margaret.
I'm sorry for being selfish.
You weren't an adult yet, but I forced you to become one.
I'm really sony." Tears ran down Renee's cheeks.
She thought that Adie was strong since he was a boy and didn't find anything wrong with the way she raised him.
Honestly, Adie acted like the man of
the house most of the time and took on responsibilities a boy his age shouldn't have to bear. Finally, Renee realized that he needed love, adoration, and attention too.
"I understand now...
I'll pay attention to you more in the future.
Can you forgive me?"
Renee sincerely apologized to Adie, hoping he would give her another chance.
"You know, this is my first time being a mom, so I'm quite inexperienced.
If you think I'm wrong, you should tell me, and I'll try to rectify it." "Mommy, don't do this..." Adie got scared seeing Renee being so gentle with him.
"You're not acting like yourself.
It's like you're possessed..." Renee was stunned, and she tried to suppress her urge to grab a feather duster and hit him.
She forced a smile onto her face.
"What do you mean? It's still me...
but gentler.
I'm usually very tender but I've got to be strict sometimes so you both will listen to me.
Since you don't think that's good, I'll be sweeter to you.
What do you think? Is a gentle mommy the kind of mommy you like?" Her whole face was stiff trying to maintain her smile.
She hoped she could be the kind of mother Adie wanted.
"No, Mommy, please act normal.
I was wrong to ask for too much -your past self was already good,” Adie begged.
Renee was never this patient and gentle, and it cre eped him out.
He hurriedly leaped out of bed, and stood on tiptoe to get the feather duster from the table.
He went to Renee and offered it to her with both hands.
"Mommy, this is what you're used to.
Please ke ep it with you-you can hit my hands with it whenever you want to." Renee's jaw dropped. Had she given her son Stockholm syndrome with her dictator -like ways? Adie didn't seem to know how to process Renee's gentleness and attention. "Don't worry, I know that I've wronged you.
I won't be rough with you again from now on.
I won't ke ep any feather dusters in our house from now on!" Renee smacked her chest and promised solemnly, feeling guilty.
She finally realized that children were ind ependent individuals who had their own minds and couldn't be suppressed with violence.
She had ignored Adie's feelings before this, which was why he had preferred staying with the kidnapper instead of going home.
"Mommy, do you mean it? You won't hit me again? Adie blinked and asked G
Renee seriously
"Of course.
Why would I lie to you?" Renee fried to smile wider.
"You won't hit me no matter what I
do?" Adie persisted, staring at Renee
intently the
Nontent is on
"I think so..." Renee's smile seemed to falter, and she gritted her teeth.
“I guess I won't hit you again.” "That's good." Adie nodded and solemnly! don't want to study anymore.
1 want to go back to Sun Island and live there alone.
Will you let me, Mommy?"