Chapter 43 Retribution
As she stood up, Jasmine spoke again, "In prison, they'd contaminate my water. I knew, and every time I resisted, they'd just ante up. So, I stopped fighting it and drank it down, nausea and all... I figured if I endured, eventually they'd get bored and stop terrorizing me."
Depression had rendered Jasmine mute for a long while, speaking had become an ordeal.
But in front of Ethan, she felt compelled to explain.
"The moment they were about to tire of their cruel game, an inmate, in front of everyone, pointed out what they were doing to me. Their brief leniency turned into relentless vengeance. After that inmate was released the following year, she couldn't protect me anymore."
Her laugh held a tinge of bitterness.
What Jasmine went through after her protective fellow inmate was released, Ethan could imagine without her having to say more.
Ethan was stunned.
Today, Jasmine had put him in his place twice.
He realized she was hinting at his current stance—if he couldn't protect her indefinitely, he shouldn't intervene carelessly.
"Think about what I've told you before you respond. Given Daniel's disdain for you and Justin, he wouldn't lift a finger to help with Justin's education, but I can," Ethan pressed, knowing this was her weak spot.
A shadow of disappointment flitted across Jasmine's eyes.
She couldn't afford to think too highly of a businessman like Ethan.
Over the years, she'd totally shut herself off, vowing never to let her heart be swayed or to place her trust in anyone ever again.
"Mom!" Justin's voice interrupted her thoughts as he ran up to her, brimming with joy. "Mom, look at the toy Uncle got for me!"
Jasmine wrapped her arms around Justin and shook her head gently. "Justin, we don't just take things from others. Can you give it back to Uncle, please?"
Justin looked down, his little heart sinking. He loved the toy, but he knew his mom was right—he had forgotten his manners. "I'm sorry, Mom."
With that, he handed the toys back to Liam. "I'm sorry, Uncle, can we take it back?"
Liam was taken aback. "Jasmine, don't be ridiculous. It's just a kid's toy. You don't have to make a big deal out of it as if Mr. Douglas will somehow think more highly of you for it."
Liam never had much regard for Jasmine—it seemed to run deep.
Yet Jasmine, saying nothing in her defense, just took Justin and started to leave.
"Jasmine," Ethan interjected as he picked up the toy Justin had dropped and handed it back to the boy. "This was part of a fair trade. Justin exchanged his stuffed toy for it, so he doesn't owe anything to anyone."
Jasmine's hand froze as she held Justin, then she bowed her head in gratitude. "Thank you, Mr. Douglas."
Justin accepted the toy, his gaze fixed on Ethan.
It wasn't until Jasmine carried him away that Justin finally looked away.
Ethan massaged his temples and spoke in a stern voice, "Let the Wilson Family and Daniel know the police call today was on me. Tell them to stop hassling Jasmine."
Liam nodded. "Will do."
...
After escaping into the subway station, Jasmine didn't take Justin home.
If Daniel and Evan showed up, it would only cause trouble for Richard.
"Mom, this is Iron Man," Justin said, sitting in Jasmine's lap earnestly playing with his toy. He clearly treasured it.
"Why do you like Iron Man?" Jasmine whispered.
"You said Dad's out there fighting the bad guys, so isn't he like Iron Man? My dad is a hero," Justin replied with serious little eyes.
Tears welled up in Jasmine's eyes as she hugged Justin tightly and smiled. "If Dad is as awesome as Iron Man, then he's definitely a hero fighting the villains."
Justin's eyes sparkled. "I love Iron Man."
Jasmine held Justin close, her breath warm with emotion. "How about I tell you another story, would you like that?"
"Yes!" Justin exclaimed, hugging Jasmine happily.
Children find joy so easily.
Wrapped in a protective embrace, Jasmine spent the night in the subway station with Justin snuggled up in her arms. Weary, she leaned against the wall, gazing down at her slumbering son.
He was so precociously considerate that it ached her heart.
Not once through the night had he asked, "Mom, why aren't we going home?"
He simply stayed by her side.
And with each passing moment, Jasmine felt an increasing gratitude for the decision she had made years ago to keep him.
"Jasmine, you have a congenital heart defect, a weak constitution, and an underdeveloped uterus. Terminating the pregnancy...you might not save your uterus. But continuing it puts you at significant risk."
When Jasmine discovered she was pregnant, she was distraught, not even knowing who the man was from that night.
But she kept Justin.
"Justin, it's dawn. Let's go home."
At 6:40 AM, Jasmine woke Justin and took him home. By now, Daniel and Evan's men had probably given up searching for her.
Yet, as Jasmine approached their rental house with Justin in tow, she broke down in tears.
Their home had been set ablaze and had burned down to nothing overnight.
"Bro..." A surge of panic sent Jasmine racing towards what remained of their home.
"Uncle!" Tears streamed down Justin's face as well. His uncle was still in there!
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