Chapter 1373

Chapter 1373:

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Vicki knelt down and said softly, “Austin, can you repeat to your dad what you just said, please?”

Austin looked at Vicki, then at Jarrod, pursed his lips, and repeated, “Are you feeling better, Dad?” This time, his voice was stronger and more confident.

Jarrod sat up abruptly, aggravating his wound and winning in pain, but he endured it desperately. He stroked Austin's head, his voice shaking as he said, "I'm okay, Austin. Dad's okay."

That gentle pat on the head was Jarrod's deepest expression of affection. He remembered how his own father would pat him on the head in encouragement and approval.

After his parents died, Jarrod became retired. He became relentless in his pursuits, driven by bitterness and devoid of any sense of family, until this moment, when the very word “Dad” struck a deep chord within him. He felt as if it washed away the guilt that had been weighing him down.

His eyes reddened, and Jarrod managed a weak cough, saying, “Vicki, this is no place for children. Please take Austin home.”

“Okay, Jarrod, take care of yourself. I brought you some soup,” Vicki replied, pointing to a thermos on the table. She smiled. “It's good for your recovery. It’s filling but not too rich, and Austin likes it a lot.”

As Vicki leaned toward Austin, she smiled and said, “Tell your dad, do you want him to try it?”

Austin agreed and said, “Dad, you should try it. Vicki put a lot of time into it and I really like it.”

A softness appeared in Jarrod's gaze as he looked at Vicki. “Thanks for the effort. “I’ll have some.”

Vicki's smile widened. “It's not bother at all. I'm happiest when I'm cooking and preparing meals for Austin. Luckily, he likes it and always compliments the food.”

Jarrod's gaze deepened even further. He noticed Austin wearing a slight smile, clearly in a good mood. It was obvious that Vicki excelled at childcare.

Vicki crouched down again and turned to Austin. “Austin, say goodbye to your dad so he can get some rest. We need to let him take good care of himself, okay?”

Austin agreed and said, “Dad, please take care of yourself and get a good rest. Can you teach me chess when you feel better?”

A smile appeared on Jarrod's face and he replied, "Of course. Dad will come back and teach you."

After Vicki and Austin walked away hand in hand, Alec expressed his admiration: “Sir, Miss Hampton has a real gift for guiding children. How did she transform a shy boy into such a polite and sweet young man?”

When Jarrod first brought Austin home, he was as prickly as a hedgehog and wouldn't let anyone near him except his nanny. He looked at everyone with a suspicious look in his eyes.

The change in Austin's behavior was so remarkable that it would astonish anyone who witnessed it.

Jarrod watched Austin intently, but remained silent.

Alec then filled Jarrod in on everything Vicki had been up to in the villa.

Since Austin's regular nanny, arranged by Nicole, had fallen ill and was still recovering, Vicki volunteered to take care of Austin and from then on took care of him late into the night every day. Over time, they seemed to become close.

Jarrod hired two other nannies to care for Austin, so the concern that Vicki would mistreat Austin became meaningless.

"I can say that Miss Hampton is very good at getting along with children. The counselor was pleased with Austin's progress after his therapy sessions," Alec commented.

Jarrod looked down at the text messages Vicki had sent him over the past few days. She hadn't sent him many, just two a day, asking if he was taking care of himself.

Instead of asking about her whereabouts, she shared photos of Austin, playing with clay, reading books, doing crafts, and eating… It seemed like he had put in a lot of effort.

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