Even though she bknew /bit was something Madeline had nted in his head, it still broke her heart.

Gabri couldn’t tell bif /bJessica breally /bmeant it or if she was bjust /btoo upsetb, /bbso /bshe tried to console her, bsaying/bb, /bb“/bbHe’s /bbstill /bthe child you carried for nine monthsb, /bthe one you raised with everything byou /bhad for six byears/bb. /b

“Don’t let it bget /bto the point where you can’t bgo /bbback/b. What if one bday /byou regret it—”

b“/bYeah, bI /braised him for bsix /bbyears /bwith my bwhole /bbheart/b.” Jessica’s bvoice /bcaught in her throatb. /bbSix /bbyears /bbof /bmemories flooded her mind like a reel on fast–forward.

From the bdays /bJacob first babbled to when he called her “Momb“/bb, /bnestled in bher /barms, nting kisses on her cheek and dering she was his favorite person in the worldb–/bit ball /byed out clearly in her mind.

A btear /bslid from the bcorner /bbof /bJessica’s eye, disappearing quickly into the cor of her shirt. “I raised him bfor /bbsix /byearsb, /bonly for him to want someone belse /bto be his mom. I balready /bbregret /bit.”

bNot /bwanting her best friend to see bher /bin bsuch /ba messb, /bbJessica /bturned to look out the window. The bond she once had with Jacob, mother and son, bwas /bfinally bsevered /bin that moment.

….

At Atkinson Vi, Jacob bwas /bdragged all the way bback /bto the house by Brian, a little roughly.

It finally sank in for Jacob. “Dad, is Mom really mad at me this timeb?/bb” /b

Brian didn’t say a word, his cold expression carrying beven /bmore bpressure /bbthan /bwords could.

the deep love bof /bba /b

Jacob didn’t know if it was fear or worry that bJessica /breally didn’t want him anymoreb, /bbut bas /bhe wiped his tears, more kept falling. No matter how much he wiped, he couldn’t stop crying.

b“/bDid Mom stop loving meb?/bb” /bbJacob /bsobbed,pletely bout /bof breath. b“/bI’m sorry, Mommy. I didn’t mean to.”

Jacob wanted to bsay /bhe was just too angry and upset. That bwas /bwhy he lost control and threw all that stuff–he bnever /bmeant to hurt her. But facing

Brian, he didn’t dare exin.

Jacob thought, ‘Dad definitely thinks I’m a bad boy. Mom told me to get out and asked Dad to take me away. bIt’s /bobvious she doesn’t want me anymore. I threw something at her just to throw a tantrum.‘

“Dad, can byou /bgo make here back? bPlease/bb? /bI’ll be good from now on, I promise. I’ll do my math drills too, no more cking,” bJacob /bcried, tugging hard at Brian’s sleeve, begging him to bring bJessica /bhome.

Brian’s brows furrowed. He crouched down and said, “I’m calling your mom right now. From this moment on, stop crying.”

Jacob had cried so long that his voice was hoarseb, /band he bwas /bstill sick.

“Okayb, /bthen call her now. Tell Mom toe home.” Jacob choked out.

Brian stepped a bfew /bfeet baway/b, turned to the side, and kept one eye on Jacob as he dialed bJessica’s /bnumber.

bJessica /bwas still in the car on the bway /bto the hospital. When she bsaw /bBrian calling, she hesitated, then picked up.

Brian said, “Jessib, /bJake bsays /bhe knows he was wrong. He didn’t mean to-”

“I don’t want to hear it. bIs /bthere anything else?” Jessica cut him off coldly.

“Jake really misses you. Can you pleasee bback/b?” Brian spoke quickly. “His bfever /bonly just broke today, and now he’s cried himself hoarse. Can you-”

“No,” Jessica scoffed. “Why would I bgo /bback? To take care of him? I’m not a doctor. If he’s bsick/b, take him to the hospitalb. /bIf he needs someone to look after him, go ask Madeline. Aren’t you and Jacob both so fond of her?”

b“/bYou’re still jealous? Even now?” Brian snapped icily, thinking bJessica /bwas still bitter about Madeline.

bJessica /bhad no energy left to reason with him. Exhausted, she said, “bGo /bfind Madelineb. /bJacob loves her the most anywayb. /b

“Back when he got upset and hated me for making him study all those things, she balways /bknew how to cheer him up. I’m sure she still can. Just leave me alone, both you and Jacob. I’m begging you.”