Am Back Ch 27
Chapter 27 You’ve Never Trusted Me
Just as Yakira had said, the surveillance in the entertainment
zone had 360–degree coverage, capturing every angle with
crystal clarity.
It was clear to see that Minnie was about to climb the slide
when Polly came over, ruthlessly shoving her aside. But in
doing so, Polly lost her balance and accidentally scraped her
hand on the slide.
Yakira let out a cold scoff and said, “Brayden, apologize.”
Brayden’s face darkened.
“Polly, how could you lie?” Patricia scolded sternly. “Apologize to
Minnie!”
Polly, on the verge of tears, whimpered, “I’m sorry.”
“Polly, you’ve really disappointed me. Since when did you learn
to lie?” Patricia scolded angrily.
Polly stood there, crying uncontrollably.
Patricia turned to Yakira, offering an apologetic smile. “Ms.
Wilkinson, I’m so sorry. It seems we misunderstood.””
Chapter 27 You’ve Never Trusted Me
“Ms. McDowell, children need proper guidance,” Yakira sneered.
“I’ll leave that statement to you.”
Patricia’s face shifted between pale and flushed, looking very
much embarrassed.
Yakira’s eyes turned to Brayden as she said, “Brayden, do you
know why I insisted on reviewing the surveillance footage?”
Brayden stared at her.
“Because you’ve never trusted me.” Yakira’s words dropped
coldly, and with that, she took Minnie’s hand and walked off.
Conrad followed quietly behind.
Brayden stood frozen, the echo of her words ringing in his
mind. “Because you’ve never trusted me.”
Memories from five years ago flashed in his mind.
“Brayden, I swear, I didn’t do it. I don’t even know whạt
happened.”
“Yakira, stop playing the innocent card! Who else could have
drugged my drink if not you? You really make me sick.”
That was the first time they slept together, and he condemned
her.
Chapter 27 You’ve Never Trusted Me
“Brayden, where are you? I feel terrible. Can you take me to the
hospital?”
“Yakira, what trick are you playing this time? Stop using these
tactics to get me to come back.”
Brayden hung up the phone abruptly.
But that time, Yakira did seem unwell.
“Bray, I’m sorry. I’ve failed to teach Polly well.” Patricia’s
apologetic voice snapped Brayden back to reality.
She added, “It’s all my fault. I’ve been too focused on work and
neglected Polly.”
“You need to delegate some tasks at work and spend more time
with Polly, Brayden said coldly, walking away briskly.
Patricia wanted to call out to him, but Brayden was walking too
fast, not giving her a chance.
The anger she felt from earlier today made her seethe.
On the way home, Minnie stayed silent, leaning against Yakira’s
chest.
She was completely different from her usual chattering self.
Chapter 27 You’ve Never Trusted Me
Yakira knew that Minnie had been hurt, and her heart ached
for her.
She gently patted Minnie’s back, offering comfort.
When they got home, Minnie went straight to her room, locking
herself inside.
Yakira, concerned, opened the door and found Minnie buried
under her blanket.
“Minnie, I bought fried chicken for your brother. Do you want
to come eat some?”
Minnie didn’t answer, staying completely silent.
Yakira said, “Minnie, I know you’re upset. You feel like you’ve
been wronged, but the truth is out now. That child has
apologized to you.”
Yakira gently tried to console her.
After a long pause, Minnie slowly pulled the blanket off and sat
up, her eyes still glistening with tears.
“Mommy… does nobody love me?” Minnie asked.
She thought, “Daddy would rather trust other people’s kids than
believe in me.”
Chapter 27 You’ve Never Trusted Me
Yakira’s heart was pierced with pain. She reached out to wipe
away Minnie’s tears. “How could that be? You’re so sweet. I love t be? You’re so sweet. I love
you, Minnie. Abel loves you. Conrad and Grandma love you,
too.”
“What about Daddy? Why doesn’t he love me?” Minnie blurted
out.
Yakira was stunned. “Minnie, what did you just say?”
Minnie realized she had let something slip.
“Minnie, what did you just say?” Yakira grabbed her arm and asked again.
Yakira thought, “So Minnie knows that Brayden was her
father?”
“Minnie, when did you find out?”
Yakira had never mentioned Brayden to Minnie or Abel.
Whenever they asked, she told them their father had passed
away.
She had wanted to keep Brayden out of their lives, not wanting
the children to be tied to him.
She thought she had done a good job hiding it, but Abel and
Chapter 27 You’ve Never Trusted Me
Minnie had known for a while.
Minnie, realizing she couldn’t hide it anymore, whispered, “Abel
and I have known for a long time.”
She added, “Last time, we didn’t get lost. We went to the law
firm to sue Daddy and ask for child support.”
Yakira was stunned again, thinking, “They have even sued
Brayden? No wonder Brayden knew about Abel and could find
my address.”
“Mommy, does Daddy not like me?” Minnie asked in a small,
hurt voice.
Last time, he only took Abel, completely ignoring her.
And now, he was hugging another child but still didn’t trust her.
Yakira’s heart ached for Minnie.
Every child wants their father’s love.
Although Minnie and Abel rarely mentioned their father in front of her, fearing it would upset her, Yakira knew that both of them longed for Brayden’s affection.
What Brayden had done today had undoubtedly caused Minnie
a great deal of pain.
ラ
Chapter 27 You’ve Never Trusted Me
Yakira thought, “How could I explain this to Minnie?”
“Minnie, that’s not what you thought,” Yakira said.
Minnie pressed, “Then why doesn’t he believe me? Why did I
have to apologize to that child?”
“Because…” Yakira paused, then softly added, “He doesn’t like
me.”
It was her fault, dragging Minnie and Abel into this.
“If he doesn’t like you, we won’t like him either,” Minnie said
angrily.
Yakira pulled her into a hug, saying nothing further.
She needed to finish her design and leave this place soon.
***
“Hello, is this Ms. Wilkinson? This is Retston Central Hospital.
Your mother’s bill is running low. Could you please come in to
settle it? Or we’ll have to stop her medication.”
“Alright, I understand. I’ll come right over.”
Early in the morning, Yakira received a call from the hospital
about the unpaid bills.
Chapter 27 You’ve Never Trusted Me
She looked at her bank balance, her brow furrowing.
The hospital bills were high, costing 150 dollars a day.
She only had less than 1,500 dollars left.
Even if she used it all for medical fees, it would only last ten
days.
And she still had to arrange for a transfer to another hospital,
which also cost money.
Plus, she still needed to cover Minnie’s and Abel’s living
expenses.
The only saving grace was that they didn’t have to pay for
where they were living.
Conrad had lent them a place.
She paid for five days‘ worth of medical fees at the hospital,
then went straight to the Blanchard Group to find Patricia.
“Ms. McDowell, I’ve already signed for two or three days, so
why hasn’t my relocation payment arrived?”
Patricia, calm and unhurried, replied, “Ms. Wilkinson, I was just
about to tell you. Your relocation payment won’t be arriving
anytime soon.”