Graceâs face grew more and more serious. After all, William telling lies was the last thing she wanted to see.
âBut nothing is absolute. Iâll have someone check the house to see if there was anything that could have made the sound. Perhaps we missed it,â said Lina.
âThe three of us and Nelson missed it?â Grace thought the odds were slim.
Lina laughed drily. âAlright, I know you donât want William to be involved in this. But what if he did push Nelson on purpose? Maybe he wasnât trying to push Nelson down the stairs but was just trying to scare Nelson? After all, most of the time, children pull pranks without thinking of the consequences!â
Grace sighed. If William did it and the âsoundâ was just a lie he made up, maybe it was better to give William back to Philip Barlow as Jay had said.
At night, William lay curled up in bed. Jasper had not talked to him for two days. Even though he ate at the same table as her as usual, Jasper did not give him any attention.
All the servants in the house saw this, of course. They gave him the cold shoulder. They used to scold and stop their children when they saw them bullying him.
However, they now pretended not to see it.
There had been a lot of talk about him pushing Nelson Corbyn down the stairs in the residence.
The servantsâ children began calling him names behind his back, telling him to get out of the residence.
âJasper, has she⦠Has she given me up too? She doesnât want me anymore?â
William hid under the covers, feeling so cold!
He missed Jasper sharing a bed with him and telling him stories.
He had been practicing the piano these days, only wanting to get better and play more complicated songs so she could like him even more. He would feel satisfied as long as she smiled at him.
However, all she did now was glare at him.
It was as if she was looking at a naughty kid!
She must think he was naughty!
Williamâs tiny body kept curling up.
The next day in kindergarten, William plucked up his courage and asked Jasper Reed, âJasper, can you⦠please not ignore me?â He sounded like an abandoned puppy.
Jasper looked at William. âWhy did you push Nelson down the stairs?â
âI wasnât trying to push him down the stairs. I⦠I heard a sound heading toward him and I was⦠I was just trying to push him away. I⦠I wasnât trying to push him down the stairs,â he struggled to explain.
âYou liar! Nelson said he didnât hear anything!â Jasper gol even angrier.
Williamâs little face turned utterly pale. âI⦠Iâm not lying. There really⦠was a sound⦠By the way, doesnât⦠Doesnât Nelson Corbyn have hearing problems and canât hearâ¦â
Jasper retorted, âNelson was wearing his hearing aids that day. He could hear! William, you refuse to admit your mistake and are even telling lies. I hate you!â
With that said, she turned around and ran away, leaving William still standing there alone.
âDoes she⦠hate me?â
He felt so upset all of a sudden.
âWhat do I have left if even she hates me?â
Mick Reed was standing nearby, with his peach blossom eyes that were similar to Jasonâs staring at William. He seemed to be thinking about something.
The entire day at kindergarten, Williamâs mind was in a mess as he kept recalling Jasper saying, âI hate you!â