Chapter 235 They Don't Want You
Madam Lancaster, recalling Colin’s advice, decided to regularly interact with Sam, even if he didn’t respond.
She picked up the remote and switched the TV to a cartoon channel.
“Sam, let’s watch cartoons together,” she said cheerfully.
Sam’s brow twitched.
“You see how silly that cat is? That mouse is quite clever, though mice are vermin, carrying lots of germs…”
A buzzing filled Sam's ears, which gradually faded as he became alert, understanding his great-grandmother’s words. He gestured with his hands, “Great-granny, can you tell me about my mommy?”
Madam paused mid-sentence, her mouth agape, surprised by the little one's interest.
If he wanted to listen, she would tell him.
“Your mommy was a kind, smart, and beautiful woman. Carrying you was especially tough for her. The first three months, she was so sick, whatever she ate, she threw up. She got skinnier and skinnier, nearly just skin and bones.”
Listening to these stories, a faint pain stirred in Sam’s heart.
‘Were they really so restless inside their mommy’s belly?’ Sam thought to himself.
"The morning sickness finally stopped, but the doctor warned her the trio was a tough load, said she had to consider reducing by one."
Sam mimicked a falling action with his hand, ‘So, 'reducing' means to kill, right?’
Madam Lancaster gave a small nod. "But your mother couldn't bear to part with any of you, clenching her teeth, she persevered, belly growing so immense."
She gestured to emphasize just how big.
A knot formed in Sam's stomach.
"She couldn't sleep well at night, always getting cramps in her legs, and then, at last, she brought you all into the world."
Sam realized then what a monumental struggle it had been for his mom. What greatness she embodied.
Would it have been him, he wondered, discarded if his mother had chosen herself, just for a moment, over them?
"Those little vests you wore until two, and those tiny baby clothes, your mom handcrafted each one. To prepare for your arrival, she made so many things by hand. Your grandma kept them for you."
Madam Lancaster quickly motioned for Betty to bring out those treasures.
After Sam outgrew them, Madam Lancaster had them carefully stored away.
The items were perfectly preserved, not a hint of mildew to be found.
Peering into the box, Sam picked up a small stuffed tiger. "This is from your mom, meant to make you as strong as tiger cubs."
Sam felt a tearful swelling in his eyes. He had never known his mother's love. Others said Tiffany would someday take that role. His father seemed to agree. Tiffany often took him out, teased him, but in front of his father, she was kind.
However, whether that was motherly love, he couldn’t tell, and he didn't like Tiffany.
That changed when Ethan and Emma arrived, telling him that Aunt Kelly had a mother's warmth. Aunt Kelly was kind to him, never scared him, always protected him.
They warned him Tiffany could lead him astray, saying she wasn't good for him.
"Crying, little guy?" Madam Lancaster took Sam into her arms with concern.
Wiping away tears, Sam gestured, "Thanks, Grandma. I want to see Dad now."
"Of course, sweetheart, let's go find your dad."
Madam Lancaster called David to take Sam to the office to see Gabriel.
Gabriel had just hung up the phone. No new leads on the kidnapping case, the arrested kidnappers had spilled what they could, further interrogation turned up nothing new, while the one on the run remained at large, skilled in evasion, cunning and elusive.
From the quiet of the weekend office, where only Gabriel and his associate Alex were working overtime, a knock sounded.
"Come in."
Tiffany pushed the door open and entered. Her hair was half-tied, her appearance haggard, betraying the rough days she had recently endured. Dark circles were heavy under her eyes, but a touch of light makeup offered a meager disguise.
"Gabriel."
Gabriel glanced up at her briefly without a word.
Understanding his silence better than anyone, Tiffany skipped any small talk and jumped to the heart of the matter, "Is there really no chance for us? We've been together for five years. We are each other's best match. I can keep trying to make Sam warm up to me..."
Her voice dwindled off as Gabriel's brows furrowed together, bringing a hush over the office so profound you could hear a pin drop.
"You've never really liked me, I know that. It's always been just me, loving you. You've stayed with me to give Sam a stable home, and because of a promise you made after I saved you that day," she confessed, her tears streaming down professionally, sorrowful yet without the accompanying sniffles, tugging at heartstrings deeply.
Gabriel's frown deepened even more.
"If we can't be lovers, can we at least be friends?" she pleaded.
Gabriel stood up and turned his back to her, staring out at the gloomy weather through the window.
"We can," he said in a heavy tone.
He owed Tiffany for saving his life. His gratitude wouldn't let him sever all ties completely.
A smile broke through her tears.
Then, his deep voice reached her again, "I've looked into two hospitals. I'll have Alex send you the details later. You should consider working there."
The idea of Tiffany reopening her practice was out of the question now. The mistake she'd made was too significant. Had it not been for her ignorance, her complicity in harboring a criminal could have put her behind bars.
"I don't want to be a therapist anymore," she said.
Gabriel turned in surprise.
"I've let down all the girls hurt by Andy. To atone, I've decided to never touch psychology again. I'm contemplating a career change," Tiffany said with a guilty expression.
"What do you want to do, then?"
"I haven't figured it out yet. Gabriel, I'm broke now. My counselling room has been sealed, and all my assets fined away. I desperately need a job to make ends meet," her face reflecting the embarrassment of her predicament.
Used to Gabriel's generosity and exploiting her status as his girlfriend for hidden benefits, she'd never had to worry about money before. It wasn't that she was penniless; she wanted...
"Could I perhaps start working at Lancaster Group. temporarily? Once I decide what I want to do, I'll move on," she proposed.
Gabriel pondered for a few seconds. "I'll have Alex take care of it for you tomorrow."
Tiffany looked at him, a hint of excitement in her eyes. "I have one small request."
"What's your request?"
"Can we keep our breakup quiet?"
The closure of her counseling room had already been a blow to her reputation. If word got out that Gabriel had dumped her too, she felt she'd never be able to show her face in public again.
She would become the laughingstock of everyone.
Gabriel had never been one to broadcast his personal life. If Tiffany hadn't been so flamboyant, it's likely that few would even know they had been an item.
However,...
"I'll inform our friends and family. As for everyone else, I'm not responsible."
This time, Gabriel didn't want any misunderstandings among the people close to him.
Tiffany didn't press her luck. She had achieved her aim. Indeed, as long as that "favor" existed between them, Gabriel wouldn't abandon her.
As she left, she caught sight of David and Sam stepping out of the elevator. Tiffany's eyes sparkled.
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