Chapter 19
After Rose's dad divorced her mother, he married the woman who was Sydney's mother.
Even though it looked like a typical remarriage, Sydney was only two years younger than Rose.
When Rose's dad divorced his ex-wife, Rose was five years old. From that perspective, it seemed more likely that Rose's dad cheated on her mom while they were married.
At that time, Rose's mother lived in a remote rural area and did not know how to defend herself in the divorce court.
When Rose was fifteen, her mother worked so hard to the point where she fell ill. Her worst fear was that no one would take care of her daughter if she died. Out of options, she had her daughter embark on a long journey to the city to search for her relatives.
However, her father introduced Rose, his own flesh and blood, to everyone as an illegitimate daughter.
From that day, although Rose moved in with the Foyle Family, she lived a miserable, lowly life.
Both Sydney and her mother would often humiliate Rose for coming from a lower background. It was common for them to scold and beat Rose when her dad was not at home. Once, Rose could not stop herself and talked back. As a result, her stepmother and half-sister stripped off her clothes and shut her in the bathroom all night.
That day caused Rose to suffer severe depression.
The only thing that made her pull through in life was when Rose found out that her biological mother, Harper, was suffering from uremia. Harper went to the city searching for Rose to borrow money to see a doctor.
Rose had no money to lend her.
When Harper saw her daughter dressed in fancy clothes, she thought Rose had assimilated well with her new family and home. Harper assumed Rose had also received the mindset of the city folk who loved wealth and hated the poor. At that moment, Harper was furious and she berated Rose, telling her that she was an ungrateful and vicious person.
Following that, Rose plucked up the courage to ask her father for money. Her request was refused.
His father's unkind words became the last straw that broke the camel's back.
"Rose, I've already done more than enough for you. Don't be greedy. Don't try to exploit any more from me. People must learn to be content."
That day, when Rose was abandoned by her own parents, she felt suicidal for the first time.
She walked aimlessly on the street and saw a red car approaching. She suddenly lost control and threw
herself at the car.
When she woke up, she was Angeline.
"Mommy!"
The child in her arms squealed softly.
Rose pulled herself back from her erratic thoughts and walked toward Sydney with Zetty in her arms.
There were only a few patients in the emergency department at that late hour.
Sydney saw Rose as well, but when she observed the child in her arms, Sydney was taken by surprise and said mockingly, "Rose, whose child is this?"
Sydney had a calculated look in her eyes that made Rose frown. Rose replied coolly, "I didn't know doctors asked their patients so many questions nowadays. Do patients need to register their entire household before getting treatment?"
Sydney choked a little and was speechless.
She was secretly surprised. 'I haven't seen her for five years and she's now got a sharp tongue?' 1
Sydney patted the table in front of her, pompously gesturing for Rose to sit down. She slowly took out her stethoscope and auscultated the child's heart and lungs.
Sydney noted the concern in Rose's eyes and felt sure that the child was Rose's.
"Rose, who's the father of the child?" "Dead," Rose said shortly.
"Your kid's cute, how old is she?"
"Four years old."
Rose knew that Sydney had no good intentions so she did not tell the truth.
After the examination, Sydney diagnosed Zetty with tonsillitis and stated that she would need infusion treatment.
Rose had to carry Zetty into the infusion room.
Time ticked away...
Soon, the sky in the east turned as white as a fish's belly.
Rose checked the time on her phone. The long infusion tube dropped little by little like an hourglass, making Rose anxious.
She sorely wished that she could break her body into three parts. One for Zetty, one for Robbie, and one for Jenson.
Despite the tormenting process, Rose maintained her optimism. She did not want to give up her hope to visit Jenson in Horizon Colors until the last minute.
At seven-thirty, Rose whipped out her cell phone and was prepared to inform Jay that she might be late. However, her phone was out of battery.
Rose borrowed the nurse's cell phone and dialed his number but Jay adamantly refused to pick up.
Horizon Colors.
Jay watched Jenson from the sofa with his arms crossed and Jenson's small kindergarten backpack next to him.
Jay asked uncertainly, "Are you really sure you want to go to kindergarten?"
Jenson nodded.
Jay raised his wrist and looked at his limited edition diamond watch. He furrowed his brows. He had a very urgent meeting today but Rose had not reached his house even though it was nearing eight o'clock. He called her but the line indicated that her phone was turned off. 1
Jay's handsome and sculpted face was layered in ice. 'I f that woman wanted to quit, she should've let me know in advance.
'What's this supposed to mean?
'Spend a day with Jenson and leave?'
He now felt sure that she had no consciousness of being a mother.
"Jenson, Daddy has an urgent meeting soon. I'll get Miss Nancy to send you to kindergarten. Is that okay?"
Jenson noted Daddy's frown and nodded reluctantly.
Jay was relieved.
After an hour.
Nancy Bell arrived at their house. As usual, she had that otherworldly beauty that could make an entire city swoon over her.
She had skin as white as snow, jet black hair that was straight and long, as well as delicate facial features. She looked gentle, charming, and dainty.
She took the key from her pink limited edition handbag and gently twisted the door handle. The door opened. She stood by the door and called out sweetly to Jenson, "Jenson, Miss Nancy is here to pick you up for school. Let's go!"
Jenson looked at her indifferently, grabbed his schoolbag, and reluctantly walked toward her.
Nancy opened the rear seat door for Jenson. After Jenson entered the car, she sat in the passenger seat and instructed the female driver, "Let's go!"
Jenson's gaze fell on the sidewalk through the car window.
"Jenson, you have to behave when you're in kindergarten," Nancy advised him, as though she was his mother. "You can't fight with your classmates, alright?"
Jenson ignored her and his face looked even more detached. He was not a troublemaker. If it were not for those classmates that provoked him first, he would not have fought with them.
"Why are you so rude? Miss Nancy is talking to you," Nancy said angrily when Jenson did not respond.
Jenson remained silent.
"I'll be your mommy soon. Jenson, you have to be more polite to me," Nancy said sullenly.
At that moment, Jenson flew into a rage. 1
He thumped his fist on the window glass and said angrily, "I want to get off."
Nancy panicked, "Jenson, why are you acting like this? Your daddy told me to send you to kindergarten."
"I'm not going," Jenson said bluntly. 1
Nancy chose to ignore Jenson's emotional outbreak and said to the driver, "Ignore him, continue heading to the school." When they arrived at the school gate, Jenson jumped down with his school bag as soon as the car stopped.
At that moment, the irate Jenson raging around the crowded entrance looked like a small, ferocious wolfhound.
When one of his classmates saw him, he shouted to his mother, "Mom, look! That's the troublesome kid in our class!"