It dawned on Joey how he was fooled, but there was nothing he could do aside from venting his anger
on slamming the door close as he strode out.
After putting away his phone, Carson trailed behind him leisurely. They walked a good distance; Carson
treaded closely after Joey.
“Why are you following me?” Joey stopped in his tracks. He pivoted, frowned and looked up at Carson.
The latter made no effort in minimizing his presence as he followed Joey.
“I’m sending you to your mommy.” Carson said.
“There are so many people here. What if you get lost? Now that I ran into you, I’m obliged to send you
back to your mommy safe and sound.”
“I know the way. Don’t worry, I won’t get lost,” Joey said in a tough tone.
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that. You remember last time,”
Before Carson could finish, Joey’s face dimmed, cutting whatever words were about to slip off Carson’s
lips. Joey couldn’t have made it more obvious that he had no intention of hearing what happened last
time, so Carson changed the topic.
“Anyway, the hospital is not always safe. Did you watch the news? Many kids got lost in hospitals and
were targeted by human traffickers. Then, they couldn’t be found anymore. Do you want to be an
addition to their collection? Look at you. You’re only around three or four years old, and you’re so
handsome. It wouldn’t surprise me if you’ve already been targeted by human traffickers.”
Carson tried to frighten him in hopes that Joey would give in and let Carson follow him.
Unfortunately, although Joey was a kid, he was more mature and intelligent than his peers. What Carson
told him did not frighten him-not even an ounce.
“Hey, look up,” Joey urged. Carson raised an eyebrow and looked at the ceiling.
Before he could see what Joey wanted him to look at on the ceiling, he heard the child’s voice, sounding
like he was talking to a fool.
“A surveillance camera is over your head,” Joey said.
“You know, there’s a camera every one hundred meters all over the hospital, and it’s connected to the
public security monitoring system.”
Carson tilted his head down to look at him and heard Joey say, “The news you referred to is from more
than ten years ago, am I right?”
Carson was dead silent.
“You should read the latest news. But then again, I can understand why you don’t since you’re busy.”
Joey didn’t mention a word about what had happened to the Sullivan Group, but he urged Carson once
more.
“I’m safe. You can go back to your work!”
After saying that, Joey turned on his heels and took a step forward.
But with one hand tucked in his pocket, Carson stayed where he stood, not fazed by the walking child.
He cracked a smile and uttered, “I thought you were so heartless that you didn’t care for your father at
all.”
Joey stopped and looked over his shoulder and at Carson. His tone as he denied Carson’s observation
wavered, signaling that even he wasn’t sure about his answer.
“I don’t care about him.”
“If you didn’t, then why would you waste your time keeping an eye on the Sullivan Group?” Carson asked
sharply.
Joey’s lips pursed into a thin line and he frowned.
“I saw the news on TV and changed the channel as soon as I read the headlines. I don’t care!”
“Alright. If you say so…” Carson took a calculated step forward and looked at the time his watch read.
“If I’m not mistaken, you’re here to have your arm checked. Yes?” Joey kept his mouth shut, relaying that
he wanted to end his conversation with Carson.
“Well, your father is also having a check-up here. Do you want to see him?”
“No.”
Carson looked into Joey’s eyes and didn’t say anything to him, no matter how cunning Joey was, a kid
would always be a kid
Joey felt uneasy under Carson’s gaze, but he stood on his ground. He looked away and said, “I said I
wouldn’t go. I have to end our talk now, or Mommy will start worrying about me.”
Carson stretched out his arm to prevent Joey from escaping him.
“Kid, I really don’t understand one thing.”
“You’re an adult, yet you don’t even understand everything. Then do you think I, a three-year-old child,
can understand what is even beyond your comprehension?” , Joey walked away from Carson’s extended
arm.
But this time, Carson didn’t intend to let him go so easily.
“Joey, even if you don’t like your father, you must know that he saved you.” Carson creased his brows.
“It’s not too much to ask you to visit him, isn’t it? I really don’t understand why you hate him so much.
Where is your loathe coming from? Why don’t you make an effort and go see him now? He put his life on
the line-and almost lost it just to save you, kid. Do you know what he looked like when he knew you’re
his son and the expression he wore when he found out something had happened to you?” Carson
touched Joey’s forehead.
“How can you be so heartless? You don’t even acknowledge him as your own father.” Hearing this, Joey
shook off Carson’s hand and his eyes suddenly turned red.
“It’s not that I don’t recognize him. It’s because he doesn’t want me!” Joey’s revelation stunned Carson.
“What? He doesn’t want you? Are you kidding me? You have no idea how happy he is to know that
you’re his son! Why would you ever think that he doesn’t want you?”
“He abandoned me.” The grief Joey had been suppressing the past few days had riled up inside him and
was released under the guise of tears welling up in his eyes. He was a kid, after all.
Panic overwhelmed Carson as he saw little Joey starting to cry. He reached out his hand and tried to
wipe the little guy’s tears, but Joey turned his head sideways, avoiding his hand.
“Joey, is there some kind of misunderstanding between…”
A thought crossed Carson’s mind before he could finish his sentence.
“Of course, that must be it. A misunderstanding!” Joey wiped his tears with the back of his hand.
“There’s nothing like that.” “No, Joey, listen to me. Your father didn’t mean to deny you. ”
“I’m going abroad.” Joey interrupted him with red eyes. Carson was taken by surprise.
“You’re going abroad?”
“Yes.” Joey nodded.
“Mommy has made up her mind. We will leave Apliaria after the cast is removed next week. She plans
on leaving for good. With me, of course.”
The news sent Carson’s brows knitted together. He looked serious.
Joey took a deep breath and continued, “And I don’t care if I have a father or not. My mommy and Mr.
Jimenez are going to be together.”
“What? I don’t think we’re on the same page here.”
“Mr. Jimenez will leave Apliaria with me and my mommy. Although Mommy hasn’t completely accepted
him, the two of them will eventually get along with each other. They will definitely be happy together.”
As soon as Joey finished his words, his watch vibrated. Joey understood that Rachel was worried about
him being out for too long and was looking for him. When she was about two hundred meters away, his
watch would vibrate to remind him that they were close to each other.
“My mommy is looking for me. I’m leaving. Goodbye”
After saying that, Joey scurried towards where Rachel was. Standing still and looking at Joey’s back,
Carson narrowed his eyes. He didn’t come to his senses until he got a call from Ivan. He turned around
and left, heading towards the opposite direction. He went into the elevator and headed for the ward
where Victor was.
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