Chapter 194

The last thing Madeline could ever have expected was Jackson running into her arms, calling her his mom.

Jackson must have been feeling terrified and insecure.

He buried his tiny physique deep into her arms. It was as if the only way to lessen his fear was to hold her tight with both his hands while his eyes remained shut.

Madeline felt her heart clench at the signs of distress on his small cheeks. It had been a long while since she had felt such an intrusive stab of pain eating its way out of her chest.

She lifted a hand to lightly pat the back of Jackson’s head, her voice soft.

“It’s alright now, Jack. It’s alright.”

With her comforting words, Madeline saw Jackson relax and calm from his previous upset state.

“Is Jackie okay, Mommy?” Lily walked over and asked innocently.

“He’ll be alright. Don’t worry.” Madeline smiled. “Mommy made you some snacks. How about you share some with him?”

“Okay!” Lillian reached out a hand to Jackson. “Come on, Jackie, let’s go eat some snacks together!

Mommy’s cake is the best!”

At her words, Jackson seemed to finally pull himself out of that mindset.

He blinked open his round eyes, his long eyelashes fluttering as he looked up to stare at Madeline Crawford. Slowly but surely, a red blush of what looked like embarrassment tinted his handsome little cheeks.

“Sorry.” He suddenly apologized.

The words echoed with familiarity in Madeline’s ears.

She smiled warmly and gently caressed Jackson’s small cheeks. “What are you apologizing for, silly?

You didn’t do anything wrong.”

A quick flash of envy left as fast as it came in Jackson’s eyes as he took in Madeline’s gentle, kind smile. He envied Lillian for having such a warm and familiar mother figure.

Madeline found herself sighing an inexplicable breath of relief when she saw that the state of Jackson’s emotions was back to normal.

Mirth washed over her chest as she watched the two children sitting next to each other while eating the snacks she made.

Especially when she watched Jackson caringly wipe off the butter smudged on the corners of Lillian’s mouth.

Her heart clenched again, this time reminding her of the child she lost.

Right then, Lily got up to use the bathroom. Only when she was conveniently out of earshot did Madeline dare to ask, “Hey, Jack. How does your mother normally treat you?”

Jackson hesitated as he drank his orange juice, the light in his eyes slowly dimming.

The answer to the question was clear as day.

Three years ago, she had watched Meredith heartlessly slash Jackson’s cheek with a fruit knife.

Meredith scared her more than any demon for being able to remain aloof in the face of her son’s tears.

How could such a woman who preyed on her own son for status and wealth exist in this world?

To the point that Jackson would act in such a weird manner. What had she done that warranted so much fear in him that he ran into her arms and called her his mom?

Had Jeremy never paid Jackson any attention? Had Jeremy left Jackson to deal with Meredith’s torture alone?

Jackson’s silence had Madeline putting a hold on her questions. Ruffling his adorable head, she changed the subject.

“You think that I look a lot like someone you know who’s named Maddie, right?”

At her words, Jackson’s gaze bore heavily into her before he nodded. “I thought you were Maddie in the beginning.”

Madeline smiled. “What if I am this Maddie? I’m sure your mother told you that Maddie was a horrible woman, didn’t she? That this Maddie had hurt you before, Jack.”

Jackson’s expression grew solemn when he heard her words. Then, he started to shake his head vigorously.

“Maddie definitely isn’t a horrible woman. She would never hurt me.”

His words were certain, and his eyes were exceptionally determined.

Madeline was stunned as an indescribable feeling started to bubble in her heart.