hapter 17
The little boy looked up at her and repeated, “You bumped into me. You have to take responsibility.”
Sharon studied him for a moment, then asked gently, “Do you want me to take you to the hospital?”
After a few seconds of hesitation, he gave a small, deliberate nod.
She tried again. “Should we call your parents first?”
This time, he shook his head hard, no trace of hesitation. His resistance was clear as day.
Sharon frowned slightly. Could he be… a victim of abuse? Was that why he didn’t want to involve his family?
In any case, a check–up wouldn’t hurt. If she found any signs of serious injury, she’d have no choice but to call the police.
With that thought, she softened her tone. “Okay. I’ll let my friend know, and then I’ll take you to the hospital.”
She reached out and gently took the boy’s hand.
His hand was cold.
It reminded her of when Theo had been weak and frail, his body always chilled. Back then, the doctors said his condition was congenital–nothing that could be resolved quickly. It would take years of careful care and treatment.
She had watched him suffer, feeling helpless and guilty, wishing she could take his pain as her own. But that wasn’t possible.
So she did everything else she could.
She taught herself alternative medicine, learned acupuncture and massage therapy, brewed herbal tonics, designed special diets
Maybe it was that instinct of a mother, something that stayed with her even when she was disappointed in Theo. Now, seeing another child so small and fragile, her heart softened before she even realized it.
The boy blinked in surprise when Sharon took his hand.
Her palm was warm and soft, a kind of warmth that made him want to hold on. Without thinking, he gripped her hand more tightly and walked with her.
Sharon noticed he didn’t resist, and looked down at him, offering a gentle smile.
For some reason, the boy quickly lowered his head.
She didn’t think much of it and led him back to the private room.
Wendy was lounging in a chair, sipping wine after a long karaoke session. When she saw Sharon walk in, she waved her over. ” Sharon, you’re back? Come, let’s toast–wait, is that Theo?”
The lighting near the door was dim, and Wendy could only make out that Sharon was holding hands with a small child. She hadn’t seen the boy’s face clearly and assumed it was Theo.
“No,” Sharon said. “I bumped into him in the hallway. He didn’t look well, so I’m going to take him to the hospital.”
As the boy stepped into the light, Wendy finally saw his face.
“Wow! What a beautiful kid! He could pass for Theo’s twin.”
She got up quickly and walked over, reaching out to pinch the boy’s cheek.
But the boy ducked away, slipping behind Sharon, clearly unhappy with the gesture.
Wendy froze for a second, then let out a laugh. “What a little character.”
Chapter 17
“Wendy,” Sharon said gently, “maybe don’t. He probably doesn’t ke being touched like that.”
+25 BONUS
Wendy backed off without protest. “Where are his parents? Are you sure it’s okay to just take him with you? What if someone thinks we’re kidnapping him or something?”
Sharon turned back to the boy. “Sweetie, are you sure we shouldn’t call your family…”
Before she could finish, the boy clutched her hand in a tight grip, so strong it actually hurt.
“No! I don’t want to call them!” he said, voice sharp and anxious.
Sharon looked at Wendy, helpless.
Wendy sighed. “All right, let’s just go to the hospital first.”
The two women took the boy to the hospital and had him examined.
There were no injuries, no signs of abuse.
Sharon let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, but a deeper question surfaced.
If he wasn’t being mistreated… why was he so afraid of contacting his family?
That thought had barely taken shape when hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor.
Then the hospital door burst open.
A tall man stormed into the room.
