As dusk descended that day, snowkes began to drift down once again.
<b>That </b>evening, Shermaine followed her usual routine.
Aber tutoring her ssmates on Zoom, she performed frame interption on the blurry vident,
Just before bedtime, Joshua brought her a ss of warm milk.
After falling asleep, Shermaine had a dream.
Π
The sun was shining brightly as five–year–old Shermaine, hot hair in cute pigtails and dressed in a pretty little dress, was gently helped into the car by her mother, who wore a warm, gentle smile. Behind the wheelsat Jameson
A kissnded en Shermaine’s check. “My sweetle,” Huth said, “have fun at the amusement park with Daddy
Shermaine frowned. “Mommy, aren’t <b>you </bing?”
“There’s an issue at the researchb where I used to work, so have to go and handle it,” Buth said regretfully. “Next time I’m free, I’ll go together with you and your brother.”
“Okay “Shermaine pouted
“Won’t you give Mommy a kiss?”
Shermaine leaned in and nted a <b>kiss </b>on Ruth’s cheek. “I’ll miss you, Mommy” she said sweetly.
“That’s my <b>good </b>girl.”
With that, the <b>car </b>pulled away.
In the car, Shermaine reached into her little backpack and pulled out a book. She opened <b>it </b>and started reading intently. When they stopped at a red light<b>, </b>Jameson nced back at her and asked, “What are you reading, Sheary?”
Shermaine answered seriously, “A magazine.”
Jameson said, “Clever girl”
“Yup
Maybe because Jameson was hardly ever home, things always felt a bit <b>awkward </b>between him <b>and </b>his <b>daughter</b>, and they just couldn’t seem to find anything to talk about
Ater about twenty minutes of driving, Jameson spoke up again, “Sheary, how about I bring a little boy to y with you at the amusement park today
“Who is <b>he</b>?” Shermaine asked.
“It’s the son of my friend,” said Jameson.
Shermaine nodded and <b>said</b>, “Okay!”
Soon, Jameson pulled over by the <b>roadside</b>. A woman opened the car door and lifted a little boy into the car.
The little boy looked glum.
Shermaine wasn’t the outgoing type, so when she saw him, she didn’t bother to <b>say </b>hello,
Chapter <b>113 </b>
After <b>a </b>brief exchange with the woman, Jameson drove off again.
Shermaine instinctively frowned at the woman outside the window but kept quiet.
Before long, they arrived at the amusement park.
But soon, the little boy threw a tantium, tears streaming down his face. “You’re my dad!” he sobbed. “Why do I have to call you uncle?”
Jameson was at a loss. He stammered, <b>“</b><b>Jason</b>, don’t cry. I will get you some ice cream, okay?”
Shermaine’s chubby face scrunched up in displeasure. “That’s nonsensel How could my daddy be your daddy? My daddy only has one son, and that’s <b>my </b>brother‘
The little boy cried out. “No, you’re lying! He is my daddy Mommy said he’s my daddy”
The argument quickly escted into a fight.
Shermaine balled her tiny fists and punched the boy <b>square </b>in the no
nose, giving him a nosebleed. He fell to the ground and burst into even louders.
At the sight, Jameson roughly shoved Shermaine aside and rushed to help the boy up. “Jason, are you <b>okay</b>?” he asked anxiously.
Jason sobbed, “Daddy, it hurts so <b>much</b>!”
Jameson gently
aly said to Jason,”
“I’m taking you
ou to the d
doctor now. Don’t cry, okay?”
Panicked, Jameson scooped Jason into his arms and rushed toward the clinic.
Shermaine watched her father’s receding figure, and in an instant, her eyes reddened as tears streamed down her chooks<b>. </b>She was crying so hard that when someone handed her a tissue, she <b>took </b>it automatically. After wiping her tears<b>, </b>her vision went ck, and she fainted.
Just then, Shermaine jolted awake and sat up in bed. Even though the room was warm from the heater, she <b>was </b>drenched in sweat.
She realized that what she had dreamed about was actually her own memory from before she was abducted at the age of five. So that was how she was abandoned back then. No wonder she <b>always </b>felt such intense loathing whenever she saw Jason.
Sure, hearing it from Janice was one thing, but recalling it firsthand was something else <b>entirely</b>. Only by reliving that memory did Shermaine realize just how absurd–and heartless–it all was.
Her own father<b>, </b>for the sake of his illegitimate son, abandoned her without a second thought<b>, </b>leaving her there <b>as </b>he rushed off to the clinic with Jason