Chapter 7: Little Scumbag?
2133 Words
Upon hearing that, Aaron’s eyes instantly lit up. He smiled and nodded.
“Here I was wondering who came by. It turned out to be these two little wretches!”
These insulting words instantly destroyed the warm atmosphere of the moment.
Henry’s gaze changed. His face took on a ghastly expression when he saw Maya, who was standing at the living room’s doorway in her pajamas and with her arms folded to her chest, coldly inspect Aaron, who was in his embrace.
He fumed, “What are you talking about?! Aaron is your grandson!”
Aaron looked at her, and his shoulders inadvertently shrank. He then remembered his mother telling him not to talk back to Maya and Aurora. He could not help but purse his lips at that. He turned to raise his small face and looked at her with a slight grin.
“Grandma!”
Maya leered at him, spouting extremely unpleasant words,
“Oh, don’t you call me that! You are no grandson of mine!”
Henry could not refrain from raging, his heart burning in flames.
“What do you mean?!”
“What do I mean? Literally that! You acknowledge him; it’s your business. I don’t! Who would want to acknowledge this bastard born to a mom, but no dad?”
Maya shot him a cold glance. Suddenly raising her voice, she looked in the direction of the kitchen and, intentionally or otherwise, criticized harshly,
“Giving birth to a son at such a young age without marrying first, becoming a mother even before graduation, not knowing the identity of the father of her child… Where did this bastard come from, then?! Born to a father but acknowledged by none?”
Brielle’s face turned pale. She pursed her lips as she heard Maya continue with her mean words,
“Also, the company folded because of her. Life in the Kinslee family has been tough for the past few years, but someone still doesn’t appreciate our good intentions and doesn’t know her place. She persisted on bringing back a burden and living off of us. Does she know shame at all?! She may be able to bear this disgrace but not me! I don’t even know where to hide my face whenever others learn of this!”
In the kitchen, Brielle overheard the unpleasant words from the living room. Halting her hands’ movements as her face turned much paler, she furiously spun around.
“You… should know when to stop!”
“Maya, are you done?! How can one’s mouth be this vicious? Back then, if it weren’t for Brielle, the Kinslee family—” Her father abruptly stopped his words and did not go on!
From then until now, he had kept the origin of that huge money from Brielle a secret for her sake. After all, if news of her surrogacy were to get out, it would completely ruin her reputation. Thus, what Maya knew was that the debt was paid off with the Kinslee family ’s financial assets.
“What? Go on! What would happen without her?”
Maya felt thoroughly humiliated and became extremely upset. Her eyes turned red as tears threatened to spill from them. In fact, she was so angry that she laughed,
“Alright! You’re here to push aside your own family, aren’t you?! You even yelled at me! Henry, what did I do all this for? I did this for the Kinslee family ! Back then, when the company closed down, I even asked my parents for some money. I’m ashamed to go back now! Hah! Now, you’re yelling at me because of two outsiders?! Are you going to chase me and Aurora out tomorrow for them, then?!”
Henry was seething with rage that his face turned livid and his voice rose in volume.
“You! Don’t make trouble out of nothing, say what and what!”
Maya screamed, “When did I make trouble out of nothing?!”
In response, Aaron hurriedly stood up from the sofa and walked over to Maya’s side, his small hands cautiously grabbing on to the hem of her clothes.
“Grandma, don’t be angry! Aaron is not a bastard! Aaron has a daddy—”
Maya lowered her head and shot Aaron a cold glance. No matter which angle she looked at his youthful face, she could only feel annoyance. The flames in her heart raged even more. She squinted her eyes, raised her hand, and swung it down his face.
“You little bastard, stop pretending to be a good boy! What are you, anyway?! Get out of my way! It’s all because of you!”
Aaron’s face twisted to the side from the force of her slap. He slowly lowered his head and touched his cheek with his small hand. The strands of his bangs hid his eyes from view, thus except for his tightly pursed lips, his facial expression could not be seen.
Brielle heard the commotion and rushed out of the kitchen. When she saw that Aaron had been hit, her anger was instantly provoked. With an aching heart, she dashed over to Aaron’s side and held him in her embrace. Looking up, her eyes were cold.
Witnessing this, her father was unable to suppress his rage. He stood up and rushed toward Maya. He lifted his palm at her but was stopped mid-action by a tug at the hem of his clothes. Stunned, he lowered his head.
It was only then that Aaron lifted his small face. With a half-swollen face, he formed an elegant smile.
“Grandpa, stop fighting! Aaron learned something in school today; if a family lives in harmony, all affairs will prosper!”
Henry’s hand halted mid-air. He hesitated for a moment before lowering it weakly. In his eyes, complicated emotions played. Maya was obviously scared by his anger, but, in the end, she saw him turn around to pour water for Aaron.
This child was so sensible that he gradually found having Maya for a wife as a misfortune to the family! He had thought of divorcing her but knew that the latter would make a scene. Moreover, it would be shameful if words got out around the neighbourhood!
Brielle cautiously observed the handprint on Aaron’s face. With fear lingering in her heart, she raised her head and stared intently at Maya. She then got up and pulled Aaron along to the kitchen.
This dinner affair was dismal just like the ones before.
After Aurora came back, the mood became even more depressing. Aurora had never liked Brielle from the very start. This was understandable, though. Henry and Maya had pampered her like a little princess and showered her with lots of love ever since she was young.
However, one day, another ‘daughter’ barged into their harmonious family of three, and she snatched away more than half of her father’s love. From then on, her father was no longer just hers. If there was anything good, he would not think of only her. If this were to happen to anyone, they would more or less be concerned as well.
Brielle was perfect; she got good grades, was studious, and was patient with her. Because she was too good, her father loved Brielle more. This was why Aurora was unwilling to accept her and why she hated her so.
Back when Aurora was undergoing her rebellious phase, she only felt jealousy toward and disdain for the ‘outsider’, Brielle. Aaron needed not be mentioned, as she simply had no room for him! In her heart, he was just a bastard – born to a father but acknowledged by none!
Around the dining table, it was somewhat quiet.
From time to time, Aaron would pick up some food for Henry, while Brielle would share about interesting tidbits at work. The mood was then more relaxed.
Despite Maya and Aurora not liking Aaron, they dared not be impudent or openly show it with Henry around.
After dinner, Henry received a phone call and had to head out. He reminded Brielle of things and went off in a hurry.
Brielle did not wish to stay long in this house, so she promptly cleared away the dishes and decided to wash them before leaving.
Aaron assisted his mother in washing the dishes by holding up bowls to her with his small hands. He was somewhat afraid of Maya and Aurora, so after Henry left, he stuck with Brielle in the kitchen.
Aaron assisted his mother in washing the dishes by holding up bowls to her with his small hands. He was somewhat afraid of Maya and Aurora, so after Henry left, he stuck with Brielle in the kitchen.
In the living room, Aurora shifted her sight toward the mother-son pair in the kitchen with hatred. She whined to Maya,
“Mom, why did you let that wretch into our family? Looking at her is so depressing! I lost my good mood!”
Maya sat on the sofa, her expression not looking good as well.
“Hmph! Who knows? You’ll have to ask your father that!”
“A wretch and a bastard. Why did our family encounter these two disasters?”
“Aurora, don’t let your father hear that! Otherwise, he’s going to help the outsiders and scold us, mother and daughter! You haven’t seen your father’s expression today; it was really scary!”
When she heard about it, Aurora’s face drained of color. “Dad actually helped them?!”
Regarding this, Maya was enraged. “He did!”
Aurora clenched her fists tightly and snorted coldly.
“He’s just a bastard! His father doesn’t want him, and we don’t even know which guy she fooled around with to have him.”
“Don’t learn from that woman, having a baby before marriage and at such a young age. If words of this get out, it’s really too shameful!”
Brielle continued to wash the dishes with her head lowered, but her movement was now as rigid as a robot’s. Under the dim yellow light, her expression was strangely stiff. Although they were separated by a door, the two’s unpleasant words could still be heard clearly, and she found them unbearable!
The ridicules from the living room continued. Brielle furiously let go of the dishes, but as she was about to confront the mother-daughter pair, a tender hand suddenly held her arm gently.
Startled, Brielle lowered her head and saw Aaron snuggling up by her side. He was looking up at her with a smile. His pair of intelligent eyes seemed to penetrate through her complex emotions.
“Mommy, Aaron will help you wash the dishes so that we can go home fast!” After saying this, he tiptoed and struggled to reach into the sink with his two little hands. Brielle was in a daze for a moment. She then pursed her lips and decided to rein in her anger once more.
Her anger nearly exploded for so many times today, but she had to hold it in each time.
They could target her. She could listen, she could endure, and she could bear. After all, she also knew that she owed the Kinslee family so much. If it were not for her father, she would not have such a good life. He gave her a home. Unfortunately, this home did not welcome her.
Even if she was despised again and again, she could tolerate it all. However, a human heart was ultimately made of flesh. Aaron did not do anything wrong to them! He was just an innocent child. He was still so young, and he should not relive the darkness she had gone through when she was young! If Aaron were not present, she certainly would flare up!
Aaron was by her side, however. As a mother, she wanted to leave Aaron with a lovely childhood.
Thus, she could only resolve not to step foot into the Kinslee family ’s house ever again.
Inside a car heading back home, Brielle weakly buried her face into the shoulder nook of Aaron, who was sitting on her lap, and grasped his little hand a little tightly.
She regretted it for a fleeting moment. She should not have been selfish to let Aaron stay by her side. Perhaps, by that man’s side, her son would have a father and a mother, and he would not have to bear with all this humiliation. At that man’s house, Aaron would live a much happier life, right? However, she hated to part with him.
Six years of relationship. Blood was really thicker than water. She could no longer let go of this cute and sensible child.
“Mommy…” Aaron remained still and let her lean on his narrow shoulder.
- Writer
