Chapter 147
"Mrs. Jennifer Harrison," the bodyguard greeted her again, his tone respectful.
Jennifer glanced at him, her eyebrows raised. "You're Henry's bodyguard? What are you doing here?"
The bodyguard replied straightforwardly, "Mr Harrison assigned me to be Mrs. Harrison's bodyguard. She asked me to stay and protect this little girl Emma."
"Where's Victoria?" Jennifer pressed.
"She's on the roller coaster," he answered.
A cold smile flickered across Jennifer's face.
She tightened her grip on Jude's hand and said, "Jude, don't bother looking for her. She's too busy playing with someone else's kid to care about you. Let's go find something fun to do."
Jude's face fell at her words, his eyes drifting toward the direction of the roller coaster. His mother had brought Emma to the amusement park, but she had never taken him along.
Jude didn't fully understand this feeling before, but now he recognized it, disappointment, sadness, and a sense of injustice swirled inside him.
He stubbornly planted his feet, declaring, "I'm not going."
Jennifer frowned. "Jude, are you being disobedient?"
His expression hardened. "I want to wait for my mom."
Jennifer's eyes flashed with surprise. She mused, "When does he start to change his mind about Victoria?"
This wasn't what she wanted to see. But with so many people around, she couldn't say much more.
"Fine, let's just wait inside," Jennifer said, leading Jude into a toy store, where they found a spot to sit.
Once settled, Jude kept his gaze fixed on the roller coaster, anticipation written all over his face. Soon enough, he spotted two familiar figures approaching.
He jumped up, ready to dash out, but Jennifer held him back. "Jude, wait a moment."
He pouted, his eyes glued to Victoria.
When Emma saw them return, she beamed brightly. "Mommy! Ms. Victoria! Look! I'm practicing boxing!"
Evie chimed in, "Did you learn it all?"
Victoria looked puzzled. "Why are you learning boxing?"
Emma puffed out her chest proudly. "I'm learning to beat up bad guys to protect you both!"
In that instant, both women felt a swell of emotion.
Victoria squatted down and kissed Emma affectionately. "Sweetheart, how are you this adorable? I might just have to steal you away!"
Evie quickly interjected, "Hey now, you can borrow her for a few days, but you have to return her!"
Victoria chuckled. "Did you hear that, Emma? Your mom wants to lend you to me."
Emma burst into laughter. "My mom might even ask for interest!"
"Absolutely." Evie nodded in agreement.
Victoria playfully tapped Emma's nose. "Alright, what do you want to eat? I'm treating you to a feast!"
Emma replied, "Ms. Victoria, Jude is here, too!"
Victoria's expression shifted as she asked, "Where is he?"
Emma pointed toward the toy store. "He's over there with his grandma. I don't like his grandma. She looks scary and doesn't talk nicely."
Victoria's brow furrowed. "Did she say something to you?"
Emma shook her head. "No, not really."
Evie added, "You should go check it out. If you don't, who knows what that old woman might say in front of your son?"
She suspected that Jude's aversion to Victoria was likely influenced by the adults around him. After all, he spent most of his time at Harrison Villa, only returning home once a week.
Victoria lowered her gaze, deep in thought. Before she could respond, a voice broke through.
"Mom."
She looked up to see Jude emerging from the toy store, practically running toward her, his eyes bright with excitement.
Behind him, Jennifer followed, her expression as cold as ever.
Jennifer's expression was icy as she glared at Victoria. "Victoria, what kind of mother are you? Abandoning your own son to take care of someone else's?"
Victoria straightened, her face hardening.
"Mrs. Jennifer Harrison, you have no right to judge me.
You took my son away from me when he was just two or three years old.
The time he spent at Harrison Villa has made him forget who I am as his mother.
I should be asking you if you even know how to raise a child. "
Jennifer's face darkened instantly. "Didn't you lose your memory?"
Victoria retorted coldly, "I've regained it. And now I want to know, Mrs. Jennifer Harrison, why are you trying to drive a wedge between Jude and me? Are you really that desperate to keep him from being close to me?"
She stepped closer to Jennifer, her eyes glinting with determination.
Victoria had once been ready to throw in the towel, so she didn't bother with the details.
But there were things she'd always wanted to ask, questions that had been burning in the back of her mind.
Back then, though, she'd been playing the part of the amnesiac–asking too much would've risked blowing her cover.
Now, with nothing left to lose, Victoria felt a strange sense of freedom.
Jude was only five; his distance from her was a result of everyone at Harrison Villa's influence.
Jennifer scoffed, saying, "I've known what kind of woman you are from the start. I won't let you influence him. He'll learn nothing good from you."
Victoria retorted, "You're just like Henry, clinging to what happened five years ago. Let me be clear, I did not drug anyone five years ago, and I wouldn't stoop to that level."
But without evidence to back her claims, her words felt weak. Jennifer looked at her with the disdain one might reserve for a clown.
"Now that you've reaped all the benefits, you expect anyone to believe you didn't drug?"
Her tone dripped with sarcasm as she grasped Jude's small hand. "Come on, Jude, let's go."
Yet, Jude's gaze remained fixed on Victoria as he was silently pleading for her attention.
Victoria felt a wave of frustration wash over her. Clenching her fists, she suddenly asked, "Do you want to come with me?"
Jude's eyes lit up. "Mom, have you chosen me?"
Jennifer's voice cut through the moment. "Victoria, what are you trying to do?"
Ignoring her, Victoria crouched down to look Jude in the eye. "If your father and I get divorced, who do you want to be with?"
Jude's face transformed with disbelief.
He thought, "Oh my gosh! Mom really chose me! Are they going to fight for custody?"
"I choose you!" he exclaimed without hesitation.
A smile finally broke across Victoria's face. "Great! Then let's go have some fun today."
Jude grabbed her hand, his heart racing with excitement, on the verge of tears. He was being good, trying his best to earn his mother's love, and now he felt like he had succeeded!
But Jennifer's expression soured further. "Take Mr. Jude Harrison away."
The bodyguard stepped forward, ready to scoop Jude up.
"Let go of me!" Jude protested, struggling against the grip.
Victoria turned to Jennifer, her voice laced with defiance. "What's this? You were just accusing me of neglecting him, and now that I want to take him out, you're stopping me?"
Her gaze was sharp, and Jennifer bristled with irritation. Jennifer thought, "She used to look at me like I hung the moon. Now? She's got this attitude like she doesn't give a damn anymore. What's gotten into her?"
"Victoria, have you forgotten your place? Is this how you speak to me? Jude is the heir to the Harrison family. Do you really think you can just take him away?"