chapter 2
In my previous life, I followed Fred's advice and took Jeffery alone to the Main River to watch the race, trying to bond with him and be a good sister.
As a result, Jeffery broke free from my hand and disappeared without a trace. It wasn't until a commotion arose downstream of the Main River, and someone pulled out a barely conscious boy, that I realized it was Jeffery.
Later, due to his severe injuries, the police suspected child abuse and reviewed all nearby surveillance, but found nothing. In just five minutes, Jeffery vanished from my side and ended up barely alive downstream of the Main River.
I lowered my head in thought for a moment but still refused Fred's suggestion.
I said to Fred, "Dad, you should take Jeffery instead. I really don't feel confident about his safety if I take him alone."
Fred glared at me after hearing this and said impatiently, "It's just taking him to watch a dragon boat race! What's so hard about that? Do you have a problem with Jeffery or are you unhappy with me?"
After saying that, he stormed back to the hotel room without looking back. I turned to look at Jessica.
I persuaded, "Grandma, there are too many people today. If a stampede happens, it would be terrible. Let's not go and head back to the hotel instead."
I added, "After all, Jeffery is the only boy in the family."
Jessica looked down at Jeffery, who clearly wanted to watch the race.
She hesitated and said, "It's just a dragon boat race. We can watch from a distance. It's such a waste to stay in the hotel after coming all the way to Germany."
I looked at Jeffery, a worried expression on my face.
I said, "Better safe than sorry. If something really happens to Jeffery, our family line would end, wouldn't it?"
This sentence hit Jessica's weak spot. In her eyes, only a grandson could carry on the family lineage.
Seeing her waver, I immediately pulled Jessica and Jeffery back to the room.
I could clearly feel the small hand in my left palm pinch me hard, his palm covered in cold sweat.
I sneered inwardly, thinking, "Id like to see how he plans to frame me without going to the dragon boat race or the Main River."
After returning to the room, Jeffery, sitting on the sofa, kept staring out the window, restless. Before long, he ran to Jessica, crying and acting spoiled.
Jeffery pleaded, "Grandma, I want to watch the dragon boat race. I just have to go."
Seeing him cry, Jessica immediately became anxious.
She said, "Well... Mandy, why don't you take Jeffery to have a look? Just be extra careful."
I stood aside and clearly saw that Jeffery in Jessica's arms wasn't crying at all but was glaring at me sideways.
I thought disdainfully, "Would I really be outsmarted by a kid?"
I turned on the TV and switched to the live broadcast channel of the dragon boat race.
I said to Jeffery, "Look, this TV screen is so big, much clearer than watching it live."
Jeffery, seeing this, started throwing a tantrum and shouted, "I don't want to watch this stupid TV, I want to go there! Or I'll tell Dad you bullied me."
I snorted lightly and said, "Do as you like, but you're not stepping out of this room today."
My tough attitude instantly made Jeffery's face turn red with anger. He screamed hoarsely, "All you do is bully me! I hate you! Get out of my house!"
He lay on the ground crying and yelling, and before long, he started coughing violently, gasping for air as if he had respiratory alkalosis.
Looking at his noisy behavior, I couldn't help but frown. I thought, "He used to be so cute and clingy when he was little. How did staying with Grandma in the countryside for a few years turn him into such a brat?"
Jessica saw him gasping for air as he cried and quickly picked him up, anxiously saying, "Jeffery, breathe slowly. If anything happens to you, it'll be the death of me."
Seeing my indifferent attitude, Jeffery lay on the ground and started rolling his eyes, looking like he was about to faint. This completely panicked Jessica.
Jessica quickly said, "Alright, alright, I'll go watch the game with you, and Mandy will come too." Saying that, she went to the bedroom to grab her bag.
I took the opportunity to go to the bathroom and locked the hotel room door on my way.
But when I came out after washing my hands, the living room was empty. Seeing Jessica come out of the bedroom with a bag on her back and a similarly pale face, my heart sank.
I realized Jeffery had gone missing again!