Chapter 872
Lillian could only watch as Jeffrey stood in front of the sofa, his face filled with regret as he lowered his head.
Lillian walked over and patted Jeffrey on the shoulder, sighing.
Jeffrey quickly shook his head. "Lillian, if you don't want to see me again, I'll have Jackson send me abroad, and I won't come back home!"
Before Jeffrey could finish, Lillian flicked his forehead, making him wince in pain, tears welling up in his eyes.
Lillian showed no sympathy, continuing to poke his forehead angrily. "Did I say I didn't want to see you? Did I say I wouldn't forgive you? You little rascal, now that you're better, you want to run off abroad and live it up? Who said they would grow up quickly to protect me and never let me be bullied again? Who said they were a little man and feared nothing? It's not a big deal, and I haven't even said anything, yet you gave yourself depression?"
Lillian's questions came one after another as she poked Jeffrey's forehead, making him step back until he was cornered against the wall. The red mark on his forehead became more pronounced, and tears filled his eyes, but his gaze grew brighter.
Cornered, Jeffrey finally reacted when his head lightly bumped against the wall. "Lillian, you don't blame me? You don't hate me? Do you really still like me?"
Jeffrey stood straight against the wall, staring at Lillian without daring to blink. He was only nine years old, still a child. He had always been closest to Lillian at home, hoping she would give him a little nephew so he could be an uncle.
But suddenly, because of him, his mother hurt Lillian, causing her to have a difficult childbirth and nearly die. The baby was lost, and the umbilical cord blood was used to save his life. Little Jeffrey didn't know how to face such a heavy burden.
Overnight, he transformed from a lively troublemaker into a silent, gloomy little prince. Lyra, Martin, and Jackson had all tried to provide psychological counseling for Jeffrey, but it was to no avail. Lyra was worried and heartbroken.
Seeing Lillian's few words bring light and vitality back to Jeffrey's eyes, Lyra felt relieved and moved. She finally let out a long breath and quietly left the room, giving them some space to talk.
As Lyra stepped out of the room, she saw Jackson striding over. Jackson was about to speak, but Lyra quickly put a finger to her lips, signaling him to be quiet. Jackson closed his mouth, thinking Lillian was asleep and Lyra didn't want him to disturb her.
As Jackson got closer, he heard crying from the room. His expression changed, and he raised his hand to push the door open. Lyra grabbed him, whispering, "It's Jeffrey crying, not Lillian. Let them talk; they haven't seen each other in a while."
Hearing it was Jeffrey crying, Jackson's tense expression didn't relax. He looked at Lyra, who closed the door and pulled Jackson aside.
Lyra nodded. "Yes, Lillian knows about your mother."
Jackson's brows furrowed, and he felt a wave of panic. "Grandma! I was just making progress. Do you really not want to hold a great-grandchild? Do you think your grandson has it too easy?"
Lillian had just acknowledged him as her boyfriend, and now, learning about this, she might be angry with him again. Lyra felt a bit guilty. "Jeffrey overheard Ruby's words and found out Lillian was in trouble. He was so worried he didn't sleep last night and snuck into Peggy's car to come to the hospital. He insisted on seeing Lillian. You know how sensitive Jeffrey has been these past six months. He's your brother; you should care for him. How could I stop him from coming up?"
"Then you should have hidden him better, not caused more trouble for me," Jackson said, lips pressed tightly together.
Lyra slapped his arm. "What are you saying? You can't comfort your wife and blame Jeffrey? Besides, you can't hide this from Lillian forever. Your mother is still in the psychiatric hospital. Lillian would find out sooner or later."
Jackson sighed. He hadn't planned to hide it from Lillian forever. He intended to tell her in a few days. "Confessing and her finding out on her own are different, Grandma."
Jackson felt a crisis, fearing Lillian might leave again. Lyra saw his anxious, frustrated look and thought Jackson wouldn't be this worried even if he lost billions in business. She couldn't help but laugh.
Jackson was speechless.
Seeing his grim face, Lyra forced a serious expression. "You neglected Lillian for two years after marriage. I don't think she's very angry; she's comforting Jeffrey. Only Lillian can help Jeffrey now. If he doesn't resolve this, he'll become a depressed child. Let them talk."
Jackson frowned. "Grandma, what are you saying? Lillian is the one who suffered the most."
He turned and couldn't hold back, striding towards the room. Lyra watched him, shaking her head with a smile, feeling a bit relieved.
She thought to herself, 'The brat finally knows how to care for his wife.'
In the room, Lillian smiled warmly at Jeffrey's question. She patted his head, comforting him. "Even without your mom's actions, I would have done everything to save you. Unless you knew in advance your mom would hurt me, I wouldn't forgive..."
Before Lillian could finish, Jeffrey shook his head and waved his hands anxiously. "No, no, Lillian, I didn't know anything beforehand. If I had known, I would have stopped my mom, even if it meant not getting treated! I don't want to use Taylor's life to save mine!"
Jeffrey's tears streamed down his face as he spoke.
Seeing him cry so hard and lose control, Lillian felt a pang of sadness. She patted his back and said, "You didn't know, so there's nothing to blame you for. But now that Taylor is gone and you were saved by him, you have to live well and grow up in his place. Protect me, and stop crying like a baby. Otherwise, how can I rely on you?"
Jeffrey nodded repeatedly at Lillian's words. He tried to stop crying but couldn't hold back, eventually producing a snot bubble.
Seeing Lillian's amused expression, Jeffrey's face turned red with embarrassment. He raised his hand to cover his face with his sleeve, but Lillian grabbed his hand, laughing.
"When you were little, I changed your diapers and wiped your butt. What haven't I seen? Are you really embarrassed now?"
Jeffrey's embarrassment deepened. He broke free from Lillian's hand and stepped forward, hugging her tightly.
"Lillian, I missed you so much."
Hearing Jeffrey's muffled sobs, Lillian felt a lump in her throat. She sighed and was about to pat Jeffrey when the door suddenly swung open.
Lillian turned her head, barely catching a glimpse of a tall figure quickly approaching. Jackson grabbed Jeffrey, who was burying his face in Lillian's chest, and pulled him away.
"Jeffrey! Aren't you ashamed? You're a big boy now, crying like this in Lillian's arms!"
Jackson said, shaking Jeffrey off with disdain.
Jeffrey's eyes were red from crying, but he seemed to have lifted the heavy burden that had been suffocating him. He wiped his tears forcefully and glared at Jackson.
"I'll cry! I'll hug! When I cry, Lillian feels sorry for me. You're just jealous!"
Jackson was glad to see Jeffrey acting more normal, but he found this version less endearing.
"Jealous of you? With snot all over your face? Jealous of your ugly crying?" Jackson said, waving his hand for Jeffrey to leave.
Jeffrey huffed, "You're jealous because Lillian cares more about me, is gentler with me, and hugged me!"
Jackson's face fell. "Yes, yes, Lillian cares about you the most. So you cover her in snot?"
Jeffrey looked at Lillian's hospital gown, which was indeed a mess.
"Lillian doesn't mind."
His face turned red again, and he ran out after giving Jackson a defiant look.
The door closed behind Jeffrey, leaving Lillian and Jackson alone. The room fell silent, the previous commotion replaced by an awkward tension.
Jackson felt a bit nervous and somewhat regretted kicking Jeffrey out.
He looked at Lillian and tentatively reached out his hand.
"Let's get you out of that gown. I'll help you clean it."
Jackson started to unbutton Lillian's gown, worried she might push him away. But she stood still, letting him unbutton one button. He looked up at her, meeting her gaze.
Her expression was calm, making Jackson's heart race with uncertainty. It felt like a knife hanging over his neck, ready to fall but never doing so.
If someone had told him he'd fear a woman's silence one day, Jackson would have laughed it off. But now, he was genuinely anxious.
He pressed his lips together and spoke first. "Lillian, I didn't mean to hide it from you. I planned to tell you everything once you were discharged. I didn't expect you to..."
Lillian interrupted him. "I don't want to talk about it now. I'll handle it myself."
She pushed Jackson's hand away and walked towards the bathroom, unbuttoning her gown.
Jackson's heart tightened. She was still angry. He turned and grabbed her arm, pulling her back and hugging her tightly from behind.
"You're angry, aren't you? Do you regret agreeing to be my girlfriend? No matter what I say, you won't listen or forgive me?"
Jackson pressed his head against her shoulder, his voice trembling with fear.
Lillian felt a mix of emotions, her heart aching and sweet at the same time. She stayed silent, amplifying Jackson's anxiety.
His arms tightened around her waist, his voice hoarse. "I won't agree to break up! I absolutely won't."
Lillian was speechless. She hadn't expected Jackson to be like this. She hadn't said anything, yet he had imagined their entire breakup.
She struggled to turn around, but Jackson misunderstood, holding her tighter. "Baby, don't leave me. I can't lose you again."
Lillian had been angry, but now she found his behavior somewhat amusing. She turned her head and pushed Jackson's head off her shoulder.
Jackson seemed to need physical closeness to reassure himself that she wouldn't leave. He bent down and lifted Lillian, carrying her to the nearby sofa and sitting down with her.
"Don't be mad. You didn't get mad at Jeffrey, so don't only get mad at me.
Lillian was both annoyed and amused. She glared at him. "You think you and Jeffrey are the same? Fine, call me 'sister,' and I won't hold it against you."
Before she finished, Jackson's lips parted. "Sister, don't be mad at me?"
Lillian was speechless. She wanted to stay angry and have a serious talk, but she couldn't help but laugh at Jackson's shamelessness.
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