bChapter /bb16 /b

Brian’s temples throbbed with irritation. He thought back to the phone call with Jessica and how cold she’d sounded. Even when he used their son, the one she loved the mostb, /bas leverage, she didn’t flinch.

“Mr. bJacob /bAtkinson, this really does btaste /bjust like the corn chowder your mom used to make,” Sylvie replied.

She grew anxious and quickly turned to Brian. “I followed Ms. Grant’s recipe exactly, step by step. And Ms. Grant approved of my cooking. She said the food I made tasted exactly like hersb.” /b

Brian thought, ‘Sylvie’s only been at Atkinson Vi for two days. When would bJessica /bhave had time to teach her anything?‘ He couldn’t help but ask her outright.

“The bday /bI arrived,” Sylvie exined, “Ms. Grant handed me a thick bstack /bof meal ns, and notes about both your and Jacob’s daily routines and preferencesb.” /b

She’d worked for quite a few wealthy families and seen enough to tell something was off. On her very first day here, she sensed that Jessica might be nning to bleave /bAtkinson Vi and walk away from this home.

Brian’s expression darkened further. He thought to himself, ‘bJessica /bhad already nned everything for bJacob /band me behind our backs? Was she so ready to leave us? Could she really be this heartlessb?/b‘

He pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to steady himself. He hadn’t slept a winkst night. When Jacob threw a fit first thing in the morning demanding corn chowder, Brian canceled his entire work schedule and rushed straight ito /ithe hospital.

Jacob sobbed, “I want Mommy’s corn chowder. This one tastes wrong.”

But he just kept crying and wouldn’t stop. Brian thought for a moment, then called Madeline and asked her toe to the hospital.

Not long after, Madeline, who had been on her way to work, headed straight to the hospital.

“Don’t cry, Jake. I’ll make you corn chowder myself, okayb?/bb” /bshe said softly, her voice full of gentle affection.

She actually did know how to make corn chowder. Back when she was obsessed with imitating Jessica, she made it her business to learn every little detail about Brian and Jacob’s preferencesb./b”

But Jacob was too busy crying to care,pletely ignoring bher /bbas /bshe stood right in front of him.

“Jake, how about I take you to bsee /bPaw Patrol and get you a big Chase plushie?” Madeline coaxed again, patiently listing his favorite cartoons and

toysb. /b

Unfortunately, none of her usual tricks worked today. Jacob didn’t hear a word.

Still trying to soothe him, Madeline reached out again. But Jacob, irritated by her actions, swatted her hand away and wailed at Brian, “Dad, I want Mommy’s corn chowder. bIf /bbI /bcan’t have it, I’d rather starve.”

They all knew that kids tended to forget things easily. Yesterday he had shouted about how much he hated Jessica. One night apart, and now he was already panicking, desperate ito /isee her again.

Jacob’s cries didn’t stop. He just kept saying he wanted bJessica/bb. /bA flicker of coldness shed in Madeline’s eyes.

Madeline thought, ‘Of course. He’s that wretch’s brat. No matter how nice I am, bit’s /buseless. bIf /bJacob keeps clinging bto /bher like this, she’ll always hold ba /bbspecial /bbce /bin Brian’s heart!

She felt a sh of resentment. She thought, ‘This little punk Jacob always bsays /bhow much he loves me, even says he wants me to be his mom. But when it breally /bmatters, he bails on me!

Seeing that Madeline couldn’t calm Jacob down either, Brian had no choice but to keep calling bJessica/bb. /bBut she never picked up.

Jacob seemed to catch on from Brian’s breaction /bthat he wasn’t getting through to bJessica/b.

He jumped off the bed and walked toward the door, choking bback /bbtears/b. b“/bI just want Mom’s corn chowder.b” /b

He figured bif /bJessica wouldn’te to the hospital, then he’d go back to Atkinson Vi and ask her bto /bbmake /bit there.

bJacob /bran out so suddenly that by the time Brian and the others chased after himb, /bhe bwas /balready at the elevator.

The elevator dinged as the doors opened, and Jacob ran straight into bJessica’s /blegs. He looked up, his beyes /blighting up.

He thought, ‘I bknew /bit. Mom would bnever /bleave me.

“Mom, did youe to bring me corn chowderb?/bb” /bbJacob /basked.

11/2

5:59 bAM /bd

bJessica /bbgave /bhim a once–over. He only had a small scrape on his knee. b“/bbIt’s /bjust ba /blittle scratch, and you still haven’t been discharged?” she questioned.

b272 /b