Chapter 654 Everyone Wants to Know If Ethan Is Dead
Connor glanced at the unconscious Jasmine. "Who took Justin?"
"The kindergarten teacher said Justin mentioned his uncle was picking him up. He also told Joe he wouldn't be back home tonight and to reassure Grandma not to fret. Then he left. I tried reaching Ian, but no luck," Ben said, clearly frustrated.
What was Ian up to? Taking Justin again, even after Jasmine had warned him.
"Ian." Connor frowned. "Justin's a smart kid. If Ian took him so openly, he probably isn't in immediate danger. Let's get Jasmine to the hospital first."
Connor handed Jasmine over to Ben. "I'll go find Ian."
Ben was momentarily stunned, taking Jasmine with a stiff posture.
To Ben, Jasmine was always out of reach. Even now, seeing her like this made his heart ache.
He felt Jasmine was barely holding on, pretending to be strong and tough.
When no one was around, she seemed almost broken.
"Pray that Ethan is safe and comes back soon," Ben whispered.
"Is she okay?" Tom, also worried, rushed over to help carry Jasmine to the car, but Connor pushed him away.
Tom, confused, looked at Connor. "Why'd you push me?"
Connor frowned, a bit disdainful. "Don't touch her. You're not good enough."
Tom got angry, pointing at himself. "Me, not good enough? And you are?"
Connor ignored Tom's outburst and instructed Ben. "Take good care of her. Don't tell her about Justin for now. I'll find Ian and bring him back safely."
Ben nodded.
Tom was furious. "That guy is nuts!"
Ben carried Jasmine into the car and looked at Tom. "Let's go to the hospital. Start the car."
Tom turned to Ben. "Am I better than him? Do I have longer legs than he does?"
Ben, a bit exasperated, nodded. "Yes, your legs are longer."
Only then did Tom get into the car, satisfied.
"Justin, is it good?" Ian had taken Justin to his place and even cooked dinner for him.
Justin nodded, eating happily. "Did my grandma agree?"
Ian nodded. "I called your grandma. She said to bring you back safely by eight o'clock."
Justin nodded. "Did you ask me to dinner because you want to take the things Great-Grandpa left me from Uncle Henry?"
Ian was taken aback, looking at Justin. "Why do you think that?"
Justin put down his knife and fork, looking at Ian. "I won't give you the things Great-Grandpa left me."
Ian smiled, wiping the black pepper sauce from Justin's mouth, and asked seriously, "Why?"
Even though Justin was just a five or six-year-old child, Ian saw determination in his eyes.
Justin had a limitless future.
"Great-Grandpa said he knew I wasn't Uncle Henry's child, but he still wanted me to have those things because he thought I could help him keep them safe," Justin said earnestly.
"My uncle always said a man's gotta be responsible. My great-grandpa trusted me, so he gave those things to me. It's up to me to look after them for him."
Ian was stunned for a moment, then laughed. "Your uncle, Richard?"
What an interesting person.
Parents were the first mentors of a child. It was clear that Richard had educated the child well.
"Please don't fight with Uncle Henry. It would make us a laughingstock," Justin said it so convincingly.
Ian ruffled Justin's hair. "You're still young. There's a bunch of stuff you don't understand yet. It's not that I want to fight; it's that I gotta."
Ian coughed, looking away. "If I don't fight, I might not make it."
"When I grow up, I can protect you. Can we not fight with Uncle Henry?" Justin asked seriously.
Ian was silent for a long time, then just smiled.
Sometimes, a child's innocence was truly healing.
But it was only a temporary healing because children were too innocent.
"Justin." Ian propped his chin and smiled at him. "If I gotta do something that might hurt you, can you not hold it against me? I ain't gonna let you get hurt. I just need you to play along with me."
Justin stopped eating and sat obediently in his chair.
Ian took Justin away time and again and treated him well because Justin had value.
Justin understood that Ian's kindness to him was related to the things Matthew had left.
"Justin, has Ethan been home recently?" Ian asked, testing Justin.
Justin shook his head. "Dad and Mom are really working on getting us a baby sister. Joe and I are staying at Grandma's house so we don't disturb them."
Ian laughed. "Then call Ethan and ask him to pick you up. Your mom is very busy."
Ian handed the phone to Justin, deliberately testing him.
Just as Justin took the phone, there was a knock on the door.
Ian looked at the time and smiled. "They came really fast."
He got up and walked to the door, glancing outside.
If Ethan hadn't been in trouble, the first person to come looking for Justin would have been Ethan. However, to his surprise, it was Henry and Connor who arrived simultaneously."Open up the door!" Henry kicked at it.
Ian knew that if Henry rushed in, he would definitely hit him. "Henry, don't be so impulsive. Calm down, and I'll open the door."
Henry kicked the door again. "Bring Justin out."
"I took Justin with the Cunninghams' okay. If you don't trust me, give them a ring and check," Ian said with a smile.
"Bring the child out!" Henry kicked the door again.
Connor glanced at Henry. "If you keep doing that, do you think he'll dare open the door?"
Henry stopped kicking the door.
Seeing Henry calm down, Ian opened the door.
But the moment it opened, Henry barged in, grabbed Ian by the collar, ready to throw a punch.
"He didn't hurt me." Justin rushed over and hugged Henry.
Henry's raised fist paused, and he gritted his teeth, lowering his hand.
"His cooking is good," Justin said again.
Ian tried to ruffle Justin's hair, but Henry slapped his hand away.
"Ian, don't just snatch the kid without asking. This ain't the first time." Connor warned Ian.
Ian said nothing, just smiled faintly at them. "I thought Ethan would come to pick up Justin."
He was testing Connor and Henry.
Whether Ethan was really in trouble was very important to the people behind Ian.
Ian taking Justin this time was to pressure Ethan to come out, just like Deborah and Mark.
"Ian, I'll transfer all of Justin's shares to my name. Don't target him," Henry said, picking up Justin again. "Justin is out of your league."
Ian said nothing.
He aimed at Justin for more than just the shares.
Plus, he wasn't the one really targeting Justin.
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