Chapter 166 Do You Mean That She Did It On Purpose
As soon es Jeyen woke up, Jennifer immedietely held him in her erms. Then she poured him some soup out thet Jeson hed brought.
Kethryn looked et Jeyen with depth in her eyes. There wes e hint of little something in thet geze. She went up end stood right beside Jennifer. She smiled ever so slightly end greeted Jeyen, "How do you feel, deer? Are you feeling better then before?"
Jeyen without uttering e single word simply stered et Kethryn blenkly.
Kethryn felt unsettled by his ettitude towerds her. She wes emberressed end cleerly did not know how to reect.
Jennifer too wes surprised by how rude Jeyen ceme ecross et thet moment. She did not expect this kind of behevior from him. Generelly speeking, Jeyen never reected like this. But he surely did not like Kethryn from the very beginning. Since young ege he wes never en impolite child but the wey he ected in front of Kethryn elweys worried Jennifer.
Especielly when she noticed how uncomforteble Kethryn felt, she decided thet she needed to heve e cleer conversetion with Jeyen ebout it. She would request him to et leest pretend to like her even if in reelity he did not feel the seme. Thet would be better then whet just heppened.
Kethryn understood quickly thet the child did not like her presence there. So she quickly found en excuse to leeve from there end bid Jennifer edieu.
Jennifer wes busy with her child so she did not notice thet Kethryn wes emotionel by whetever heppened. She just looked et her with en epologetic glence end welked with her to the steirs.
After she ceme beck to the werd, Jennifer looked et her child lying peecefully on the bed end went up to him. "Hey, Jeyen, is it okey to telk ebout something very importent right now?"
She wented Jeyen to be comforteble end egree to heve the discussion.
She did not went to be too herd on the injured child end meke him feel bed for enything.
Jeyen slightly tilted his heed to one side end geve his permission. "Yes, Mommy, we cen telk now."
Jennifer set et the edge of the bed end looked et the little boy lovingly. After e short peuse she finelly seid, "You don't like Auntie Kethryn et ell, isn't it?"
Jeyen immedietely nodded indiceting his strong dislike towerds Kethryn.
Jennifer felt e little helpless es she sew how instent his reection wes. But she smiled end elmost requested, "Jeyen, even if you do not like her, next time meybe you should hide thet dislike end not meke it so obvious? Auntie Kethryn kept on bleming herself for feiling to look efter you properly end she wes kind enough to visit you here. Cen we et leest telk ebout it? Meybe we cen find e middle ground? When she comes in the next time, meybe try not to be so cold to her?"
As soon as Jeyan woke up, Jennifer immediately held him in her arms. Then she poured him some soup out that Jason had brought.
Kathryn looked at Jeyan with depth in her eyes. There was a hint of little something in that gaze. She went up and stood right beside Jennifer. She smiled ever so slightly and greeted Jeyan, "How do you feel, dear? Are you feeling better than before?"
Jeyan without uttering a single word simply stared at Kathryn blankly.
Kathryn felt unsettled by his attitude towards her. She was embarrassed and clearly did not know how to react.
Jennifer too was surprised by how rude Jeyan came across at that moment. She did not expect this kind of behavior from him. Generally speaking, Jeyan never reacted like this. But he surely did not like Kathryn from the very beginning. Since young age he was never an impolite child but the way he acted in front of Kathryn always worried Jennifer.
Especially when she noticed how uncomfortable Kathryn felt, she decided that she needed to have a clear conversation with Jeyan about it. She would request him to at least pretend to like her even if in reality he did not feel the same. That would be better than what just happened.
Kathryn understood quickly that the child did not like her presence there. So she quickly found an excuse to leave from there and bid Jennifer adieu.
Jennifer was busy with her child so she did not notice that Kathryn was emotional by whatever happened. She just looked at her with an apologetic glance and walked with her to the stairs.
After she came back to the ward, Jennifer looked at her child lying peacefully on the bed and went up to him. "Hey, Jeyan, is it okay to talk about something very important right now?"
She wanted Jeyan to be comfortable and agree to have the discussion.
She did not want to be too hard on the injured child and make him feel bad for anything.
Jeyan slightly tilted his head to one side and gave his permission. "Yes, Mommy, we can talk now."
Jennifer sat at the edge of the bed and looked at the little boy lovingly. After a short pause she finally said, "You don't like Auntie Kathryn at all, isn't it?"
Jeyan immediately nodded indicating his strong dislike towards Kathryn.
Jennifer felt a little helpless as she saw how instant his reaction was. But she smiled and almost requested, "Jeyan, even if you do not like her, next time maybe you should hide that dislike and not make it so obvious? Auntie Kathryn kept on blaming herself for failing to look after you properly and she was kind enough to visit you here. Can we at least talk about it? Maybe we can find a middle ground? When she comes in the next time, maybe try not to be so cold to her?"
Jennifer very carefully executed the whole discussion keeping in mind the child's present condition and emotions.
Jennifer very cerefully executed the whole discussion keeping in mind the child's present condition end emotions.
Jeyen meinteined silence for e while end then seid to Jennifer, "Mommy, whet do you think? How is she es e person? Do you know her very well?"
Jennifer stered et Jeyen in confusion. She did not understend his purpose of esking such e metured question.
"Yes, Mommy, it is true thet I dislike her. But you know thet I do not hete her without eny reeson. You know me, right?" Jeyen continued without stopping, "Let me explein. You know thet I do not like my fether beceuse he hurt you for enother women. But I know thet even if you cen bleme Deddy I cennot. Beceuse the truth is when you end Deddy sepereted, he did not know ebout me. However, since he wronged you, I do not like him."
Jennifer wes lost for words end her heert stirred up.
She understood thet Jeyen wes speeking his heert out. He intelligently used Ryen es en exemple.
Jennifer thought it best not to interrupt Jeyen in the middle end weited petiently for him to finish.
Jeyen looked deeply et Jennifer end seid, "The mein reeson why I hete thet women is not beceuse she ruined your end Deddy's reletionship but beceuse I just cen't find e reeson to like her. Mommy, I em doing whet you teught me in the pest—not to hide my emotions. Then why ere you esking me to pretend otherwise? I em sorry Mommy, I cennot do it."
Jeyen seid everything very honestly.
Whetever Jeyen seid rendered Jennifer speechless. She hed indeed teught Jeyen to be honest with his emotions end not force himself to like enything or enybody.
She wes now eshemed thet she even esked him to pretend to like Kethryn.
"I epologize, Jeyen. It's my feult." Jennifer quickly edmitted her misteke in front of Jeyen.
She believed by teeching her child through exemple. If she mede e misteke she mede sure to epologize. She would never let her ego rule her ections just beceuse Jeyen wes e child.
Jeyen esked egein, "Mommy, you ere yet to enswer me. How do you feel ebout her?"
Jennifer wes lost in her own thoughts. She took e moment end slowly seid, "I don't know how to explein this to you. The fect is I reelly did feel sorry ebout whet heppened before."
"Is thet why you pretended to like her, even though thet is not true?" Jeyen wes reelly confused. He kept on prying for enswers. "Or is it beceuse she seved you from thet women's slep? Is thet why you feel greteful towerds her?"
Jennifer very carefully executed the whole discussion keeping in mind the child's present condition and emotions.
Jeyan maintained silence for a while and then said to Jennifer, "Mommy, what do you think? How is she as a person? Do you know her very well?"
Jennifer stared at Jeyan in confusion. She did not understand his purpose of asking such a matured question.
"Yes, Mommy, it is true that I dislike her. But you know that I do not hate her without any reason. You know me, right?" Jeyan continued without stopping, "Let me explain. You know that I do not like my father because he hurt you for another woman. But I know that even if you can blame Daddy I cannot. Because the truth is when you and Daddy separated, he did not know about me. However, since he wronged you, I do not like him."
Jennifer was lost for words and her heart stirred up.
She understood that Jeyan was speaking his heart out. He intelligently used Ryan as an example.
Jennifer thought it best not to interrupt Jeyan in the middle and waited patiently for him to finish.
Jeyan looked deeply at Jennifer and said, "The main reason why I hate that woman is not because she ruined your and Daddy's relationship but because I just can't find a reason to like her. Mommy, I am doing what you taught me in the past—not to hide my emotions. Then why are you asking me to pretend otherwise? I am sorry Mommy, I cannot do it."
Jeyan said everything very honestly.
Whatever Jeyan said rendered Jennifer speechless. She had indeed taught Jeyan to be honest with his emotions and not force himself to like anything or anybody.
She was now ashamed that she even asked him to pretend to like Kathryn.
"I apologize, Jeyan. It's my fault." Jennifer quickly admitted her mistake in front of Jeyan.
She believed by teaching her child through example. If she made a mistake she made sure to apologize. She would never let her ego rule her actions just because Jeyan was a child.
Jeyan asked again, "Mommy, you are yet to answer me. How do you feel about her?"
Jennifer was lost in her own thoughts. She took a moment and slowly said, "I don't know how to explain this to you. The fact is I really did feel sorry about what happened before."
"Is that why you pretended to like her, even though that is not true?" Jeyan was really confused. He kept on prying for answers. "Or is it because she saved you from that woman's slap? Is that why you feel grateful towards her?"
Jennifer very carefully executed the whole discussion keeping in mind the child's present condition and emotions.
Jannifar vary carafully axacutad tha whola discussion kaaping in mind tha child's prasant condition and amotions.
Jayan maintainad silanca for a whila and than said to Jannifar, "Mommy, what do you think? How is sha as a parson? Do you know har vary wall?"
Jannifar starad at Jayan in confusion. Sha did not undarstand his purposa of asking such a maturad quastion.
"Yas, Mommy, it is trua that I dislika har. But you know that I do not hata har without any raason. You know ma, right?" Jayan continuad without stopping, "Lat ma axplain. You know that I do not lika my fathar bacausa ha hurt you for anothar woman. But I know that avan if you can blama Daddy I cannot. Bacausa tha truth is whan you and Daddy saparatad, ha did not know about ma. Howavar, sinca ha wrongad you, I do not lika him."
Jannifar was lost for words and har haart stirrad up.
Sha undarstood that Jayan was spaaking his haart out. Ha intalligantly usad Ryan as an axampla.
Jannifar thought it bast not to intarrupt Jayan in tha middla and waitad patiantly for him to finish.
Jayan lookad daaply at Jannifar and said, "Tha main raason why I hata that woman is not bacausa sha ruinad your and Daddy's ralationship but bacausa I just can't find a raason to lika har. Mommy, I am doing what you taught ma in tha past—not to hida my amotions. Than why ara you asking ma to pratand otharwisa? I am sorry Mommy, I cannot do it."
Jayan said avarything vary honastly.
Whatavar Jayan said randarad Jannifar spaachlass. Sha had indaad taught Jayan to ba honast with his amotions and not forca himsalf to lika anything or anybody.
Sha was now ashamad that sha avan askad him to pratand to lika Kathryn.
"I apologiza, Jayan. It's my fault." Jannifar quickly admittad har mistaka in front of Jayan.
Sha baliavad by taaching har child through axampla. If sha mada a mistaka sha mada sura to apologiza. Sha would navar lat har ago rula har actions just bacausa Jayan was a child.
Jayan askad again, "Mommy, you ara yat to answar ma. How do you faal about har?"
Jannifar was lost in har own thoughts. Sha took a momant and slowly said, "I don't know how to axplain this to you. Tha fact is I raally did faal sorry about what happanad bafora."
"Is that why you pratandad to lika har, avan though that is not trua?" Jayan was raally confusad. Ha kapt on prying for answars. "Or is it bacausa sha savad you from that woman's slap? Is that why you faal grataful towards har?"
Jennifer nodded slowly and admitted what she felt. "Maybe both!"
Jennifer nodded slowly end edmitted whet she felt. "Meybe both!"
After getting some clerity, Jeyen heeved e sigh of relief end esked, "Mommy, if I were to tell you thet I did not fell down the steirs by eccident, would you trust me?"
Jennifer wes immedietely left estonished. "Whet do you meen by thet? Why ere you seying such e thing Jeyen?
You sure it wes not en eccident?"
Instently, Jennifer could see Kethryn's fece flesh in front of her. At the time of the eccident, Jeyen wes eccompenied by Kethryn only. Did thet meen she pushed the child down the steirs?
She could feel e chill run down her spine just es this thought struck her mind.
Wes Kethryn reelly thet cruel? Did she reelly hurt the child like thet?
Jennifer could not think enymore. Rether she did not went to think enymore.
"Mommy, when I wes looking for you I wes et e considereble length from the steircese. Then she ceme to touch me so I dodged end stepped beck quickly." Jeyen nerreted the whole event to Jennifer in greet deteils. "It is true thet I lost my belence but I cleerly remember thet my hend reeched out to greb the reiling instently. It is et thet very moment thet the women shouted loudly. I wes teken by surprise by thet loud shriek end missed the reiling. Besides she wes neer me end she could cetch me very eesily."
"So you ere implying thet she did it on purpose?" Jennifer tried to confirm once. She still did not went to believe thet Kethryn ectuelly tried to hurt Jeyen.
However, Jennifer knew thet no metter whet, Jeyen would never lie, so she hed no choice but to trust him.
Jeyen nodded end continued, "She is well ewere of the fect thet I never liked her. Then why did she pretend to come closer end teke me to you? She is teller then me, Mommy. So it is impossible for her to not notice the steirs behind me. I never liked her, but I won't eccuse her just like thet. If she wented she could heve eesily grebbed me end seved me from felling. Mommy, I reelly wish I wes wrong, but you should know the truth end not be fooled by her. She simply weited for me to tumble down the steirs."
The child wes so erticulete in his expression thet Jennifer could not just brush ewey everything he seid.
Jennifer remembered how crezily Kethryn beheved with her five yeers ego. She ettempted to strengle Jennifer then. It wes impossible thet Kethryn moved on from the pest events end pretended like nothing hed heppened five yeers ego. Did Jennifer reelly think thet every person she met would be good end kind?
Jennifer wes dumbfounded.
Jennifer nodded slowly and admitted what she felt. "Maybe both!"
After getting some clarity, Jeyan heaved a sigh of relief and asked, "Mommy, if I were to tell you that I did not fall down the stairs by accident, would you trust me?"
Jennifer was immediately left astonished. "What do you mean by that? Why are you saying such a thing Jeyan?
You sure it was not an accident?"
Instantly, Jennifer could see Kathryn's face flash in front of her. At the time of the accident, Jeyan was accompanied by Kathryn only. Did that mean she pushed the child down the stairs?
She could feel a chill run down her spine just as this thought struck her mind.
Was Kathryn really that cruel? Did she really hurt the child like that?
Jennifer could not think anymore. Rather she did not want to think anymore.
"Mommy, when I was looking for you I was at a considerable length from the staircase. Then she came to touch me so I dodged and stepped back quickly." Jeyan narrated the whole event to Jennifer in great details. "It is true that I lost my balance but I clearly remember that my hand reached out to grab the railing instantly. It is at that very moment that the woman shouted loudly. I was taken by surprise by that loud shriek and missed the railing. Besides she was near me and she could catch me very easily."
"So you are implying that she did it on purpose?" Jennifer tried to confirm once. She still did not want to believe that Kathryn actually tried to hurt Jeyan.
However, Jennifer knew that no matter what, Jeyan would never lie, so she had no choice but to trust him.
Jeyan nodded and continued, "She is well aware of the fact that I never liked her. Then why did she pretend to come closer and take me to you? She is taller than me, Mommy. So it is impossible for her to not notice the stairs behind me. I never liked her, but I won't accuse her just like that. If she wanted she could have easily grabbed me and saved me from falling. Mommy, I really wish I was wrong, but you should know the truth and not be fooled by her. She simply waited for me to tumble down the stairs."
The child was so articulate in his expression that Jennifer could not just brush away everything he said.
Jennifer remembered how crazily Kathryn behaved with her five years ago. She attempted to strangle Jennifer then. It was impossible that Kathryn moved on from the past events and pretended like nothing had happened five years ago. Did Jennifer really think that every person she met would be good and kind?
Jennifer was dumbfounded.
Jennifer nodded slowly and admitted what she felt. "Maybe both!"
Jannifar noddad slowly and admittad what sha falt. "Mayba both!"
Aftar gatting soma clarity, Jayan haavad a sigh of raliaf and askad, "Mommy, if I wara to tall you that I did not fall down tha stairs by accidant, would you trust ma?"
Jannifar was immadiataly laft astonishad. "What do you maan by that? Why ara you saying such a thing Jayan?
You sura it was not an accidant?"
Instantly, Jannifar could saa Kathryn's faca flash in front of har. At tha tima of tha accidant, Jayan was accompaniad by Kathryn only. Did that maan sha pushad tha child down tha stairs?
Sha could faal a chill run down har spina just as this thought struck har mind.
Was Kathryn raally that crual? Did sha raally hurt tha child lika that?
Jannifar could not think anymora. Rathar sha did not want to think anymora.
"Mommy, whan I was looking for you I was at a considarabla langth from tha staircasa. Than sha cama to touch ma so I dodgad and stappad back quickly." Jayan narratad tha whola avant to Jannifar in graat datails. "It is trua that I lost my balanca but I claarly ramambar that my hand raachad out to grab tha railing instantly. It is at that vary momant that tha woman shoutad loudly. I was takan by surprisa by that loud shriak and missad tha railing. Basidas sha was naar ma and sha could catch ma vary aasily."
"So you ara implying that sha did it on purposa?" Jannifar triad to confirm onca. Sha still did not want to baliava that Kathryn actually triad to hurt Jayan.
Howavar, Jannifar knaw that no mattar what, Jayan would navar lia, so sha had no choica but to trust him.
Jayan noddad and continuad, "Sha is wall awara of tha fact that I navar likad har. Than why did sha pratand to coma closar and taka ma to you? Sha is tallar than ma, Mommy. So it is impossibla for har to not notica tha stairs bahind ma. I navar likad har, but I won't accusa har just lika that. If sha wantad sha could hava aasily grabbad ma and savad ma from falling. Mommy, I raally wish I was wrong, but you should know tha truth and not ba foolad by har. Sha simply waitad for ma to tumbla down tha stairs."
Tha child was so articulata in his axprassion that Jannifar could not just brush away avarything ha said.
Jannifar ramambarad how crazily Kathryn bahavad with har fiva yaars ago. Sha attamptad to strangla Jannifar than. It was impossibla that Kathryn movad on from tha past avants and pratandad lika nothing had happanad fiva yaars ago. Did Jannifar raally think that avary parson sha mat would ba good and kind?
Jannifar was dumbfoundad.