Eight Years Gone

That evening, I attended a gala at the request of the person in charge, Evan Watson. He knew I was worried about Charlie, so he deliberately reminded me to bring Charlie along.

At the gala, Evan had arranged an assistant to help me look after Charlie.

"Thank you for getting Mr. Larson to help us the last time. When he arrives later, I'll properly thank him in person…"

Halfway through, Evan had a call to attend to, so he left. I was about to look for Charlie when I bumped into Howard and his gang.

"My, my. Isn't this the cleaner, Ms. Jerome?"

"This isn't a gala for common folk. How could someone like you enter?"

Howard's gaze darkened.

"You shouldn't be here! Leave at once!"

Howard used to think that I embarrassed him, so he never brought me to any formal social events. His friends naturally looked down on me as well.

"I saw her coming in with an older man. Do you think she slept with him to get a ticket in?"

I furrowed my brows. Just when I was about to retort, we heard children fighting from the other side of the hall.

I waded through the crowd to see a fat kid pinning Charlie down on the floor, glaring at him while Charlie clutched his head.

I was so terrified that I began to tremble. I instantly ran over and pulled the fat kid away from him.

Charlie's face was scratched and his shoulder was dislocated, but he was insistent on not shedding a single tear.

The fat kid spotted Howard and immediately ran to him, burying in his arms sobbing.

"Daddy, he called me a fatherless child. He also called me a liar…" Jason Smalls sobbed.

Howard consoled him before turning to Charlie with a darkened expression. "Apologize at once!"

He kept insisting that Charlie was his son, but when his son was being bullied, he immediately sided with the enemy instead.

Charlie pouted as his body trembled. "Mommy, I didn't do it. He was the one who called me a liar. He said I stole his Daddy. I ignored him, but he hit me…"

Tears welled up in his eyes.

I knew my son best. If he had not been pushed, he would not be forced to such a state.

Howard bellowed, his face flushed. "Enough! You're already lying at such a young age! You've followed in your mother's footsteps. I'll have to teach you a lesson!"

He snatched Charlie over. I tried to get Charlie back, but Howard kicked me in the chest.

He then forced Charlie to apologize to Jason in front of everyone.

Cheryl tried to stop him. "Why don't we forget about it? It's only normal that children lie once in a while. Charlie doesn't have his father to guide him all these years, so of course, he would be led astray. You don't have to be so angry at him."

Howard's gaze gleamed furiously. "Don't interfere in this! He's only eight, yet he's already a liar. If I don't discipline him now, it'll be harder in the future!"

Then, he started smacking Charlie's bottom.

Charlie shuddered and bawled out sobbing. Howard reprimanded him, "Apologize to your older brother at once!"

Charlie was crying, but he refused to apologize.

Howard got even more furious. He was about to punch Charlie when the doors to the hall opened.

A tall figure entered with a little girl in his hand, walking past the crowd.