On the way back, Jason said nonchalantly, âYou should have. seen everything you needed to see. Iâm not interested in knowing what youâre thinking right now, but I want you to be obedient and not have any funny ideas while youâre staying with the Reed family. Donât hurt Jasper and Mick!â
Even though William was only five years old, Jason spoke unsparingly and straightforwardly.
William looked up at Jason. âUncle Reed, when are you sending me away?â
Jason raised his eyebrows slightly, seemingly a little surprised by the childâs incisiveness. Indeed, he never intended to let the child stay with the Reed family for long since the very beginning.
âWhen Jasper gets tired of you, Iâll let you leave the Reed family. But until then, youâd better keep her company, got it? If sheâs happy, Iâll arrange for you to go somewhere better after you leave the Reed family.â
The little one fiddled with his hands, and a layer of cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
Although the little one seemed calm at the moment, his young age made it easy to see how nervous he was.
âIâm just⦠Jasperâs toy, arenât I?â the young voice asked.
Jason smiled, âWilliam, youâre smart. Youâre right. As far as Iâm concerned, youâre just Jasperâs toy. As long as you stay out of trouble, I wonât mistreat you when Jasper doesnât want you anymore.â
William felt the air getting colder. Being stared at by the man in front of him gave him a sense of dread.
Just like the other night when he pretended to be asleep and listened to Uncle Reed and Jasperâs conversation, Uncle Reed had said in a nonchalant voice that he could chop off his hand so that the handcuffs would not be an issue anymore.
âUncle Reedâs⦠a terrible man!â
Even though Uncle Reed was smiling at him, he was terrified!
âOkayâ¦â The word escaped his little mouth.
âA toy! Iâm just a toy!â
His mother had once said, âWilliam, you know what? Power and wealth determine everything in this world. Sadly, you can only let someone else control your destiny if you donât have them!â
âWhat about me? Am I just a toy because I donât have the power and wealth that Mommy said?
âUncle Reed has power and wealth. Is that why he can decide everything so easily?â
When he saw his mother lying in the coffin, he realized that he was all alone from now on. He no longer had a mother!
On this cold night, William snuggled in his covers that should have been warm. However, instead of feeling warm, he felt colder.
His mother was not usually very kind and gentle to him. She even used to pinch him in the face and say, âIf I had known how tiring raising a child would be, I wouldnât have given birth to you. Iâm just making myself miserable!â
However, he still wanted his mother to be alive.
Then he would not be alone.
Just then, a small hand reached its way into his covers. Startled, he yanked the covers back and exposed his head. His eyes were instantly met with a pair of bright ones.
âHuh? William, why are you crying?â Jasper was surprised to see that Williamâs beautiful eyes were red and wet.
Jasper had never seen William cry, not even when he was chastised by the maidsâ children.