Chapter 397

Chapter 397 A True Connection

That woman wrote that she would despise Jude forever. This message was aimed at his conscience and made it so that he would surely comply with her demands and meet her.

Vania sneered. Every single detail is so carefully crafted.

Jude began blaming himself again. “Mommy, I’m sorry. I just wanted to see her one last time.”

In his barest of memories, he recalled that his adopted mother was someone who did give him a little bit of warmth and care in that violent family of his. She was the only light in the darkness of that period of his life, and he still clung to it now.

Therefore, when he heard that she was on her deathbed and wanted to see him one last time, he did not hesitate at all.

He did as she said and ran out in secret to meet her, but he never thought that it would lead to this instead. Not only did he hurt himself, but he also hurt those around him.

Jude could not forgive himself for this. He added bitterly, “I’m sorry, Mommy. I caused you all to worry about me and get injured because of me. It’s all my fault. You should punish me for this.”

Ever since Jude returned to Vania’s side, everyone showered him with care and affection, but these people who loved him the most were hurt today because of him. At this moment, he felt like a demon who brought calamity to them.

Seeing how Jude was wallowing in self-blame, Vania threw her arms around him at once and said gently, “We understand how you feel, but you don’t need to blame yourself and you don’t need to apologize either. We’re a family. We’ll always be together.”

Vania held Jude by the shoulders and got him to look her in the eyes as she said, “I want to tell you something.”

When Jude saw the love in Vania’s eyes, he was moved beyond words and he nodded repeatedly. “I’ll listen to whatever you say, Mommy.”

Vania gave him a warm smile and stroked his little face. “I want you to remember that I will always be someone you can rely on. No matter what happens in the future, you can always come to me and I will support you, no questions asked.”

Jude was shaken to the core. It took five years for him to meet Vania, and it was only natural that there was still some distance between them. However, once he heard her staunch declaration, all of that distance vanished into thin air.

He finally forged a true connection with her. It felt like their hearts had become one at last.

Vania did not want to pressure him right now, so she smiled and said, “Okay, let’s not think about these things anymore. The most important thing right now is to focus on your recovery.”

Jude nodded along, but his eyes were still glued to Vania. He did not want her to leave.

She smiled and said to Hanson, “As long as Susan Ledger gives her confession, we’ll be able to know who the real mastermind behind all this is.”

Hanson nodded, but he warned, “I fear that someone might have already tipped them off, though.”

They were most likely not going to get anything useful from Susan.

Melanie agreed with his point. “You’re probably right, but we’ll still be one step closer to the truth.”

A lot more people were dragged into the most recent events, so the more people involved, the easier it would be for them to get to the bottom of things.

Hanson nodded. “That’s true. Right now—”

He was just about to begin his analysis of the whole affair when Jude, who seemed perfectly fine just moments ago, fell back down onto the bed with no warning at all.

Jude’s eyes were closed and his limbs were limp. He had fallen unconscious once again.

“Jude!” Both Vania and Hanson exclaimed at once.

He rushed to call the doctor whereas she was worried that she might do something wrong if she touched him, so she could only call out to him over and over again. “Jude, wake up! Please wake up…”