It dawned on Joey how he was fooled, but there was nothing he could do aside from venting his anger on slamming the door close as he strode out.
After putting away his phone, Carson trailed behind him leisurely. They walked a good distance; Carson treaded closely after Joey.
âWhy are you following me?â Joey stopped in his tracks. He pivoted, frowned and looked up at Carson.
The latter made no effort in minimizing his presence as he followed Joey.
âIâm sending you to your mommy.â Carson said.
âThere are so many people here. What if you get lost? Now that I ran into you, Iâm obliged to send you back to your mommy safe and sound.â
âI know the way. Donât worry, I wonât get lost,â Joey said in a tough tone.
âI wouldnât be so sure about that. You remember last time,â
Before Carson could finish, Joeyâs face dimmed, cutting whatever words were about to slip off Carsonâs lips. Joey couldnât have made it more obvious that he had no intention of hearing what happened last time, so Carson changed the topic.
âAnyway, the hospital is not always safe. Did you watch the news? Many kids got lost in hospitals and were targeted by human traffickers. Then, they couldnât be found anymore. Do you want to be an addition to their collection? Look at you. Youâre only around three or four years old, and youâre so handsome. It wouldnât surprise me if youâve already been targeted by human traffickers.â
Carson tried to frighten him in hopes that Joey would give in and let Carson follow him.
Unfortunately, although Joey was a kid, he was more mature and intelligent than his peers. What Carson told him did not frighten him-not even an ounce.
âHey, look up,â Joey urged. Carson raised an eyebrow and looked at the ceiling.
Before he could see what Joey wanted him to look at on the ceiling, he heard the childâs voice, sounding like he was talking to a fool.
âA surveillance camera is over your head,â Joey said.
âYou know, thereâs a camera every one hundred meters all over the hospital, and itâs connected to the public security monitoring system.â
Carson tilted his head down to look at him and heard Joey say, âThe news you referred to is from more than ten years ago, am I right?â
Carson was dead silent.
âYou should read the latest news. But then again, I can understand why you donât since youâre busy.â
Joey didnât mention a word about what had happened to the Sullivan Group, but he urged Carson once more.
âIâm safe. You can go back to your work!â
After saying that, Joey turned on his heels and took a step forward.
But with one hand tucked in his pocket, Carson stayed where he stood, not fazed by the walking child.
He cracked a smile and uttered, âI thought you were so heartless that you didnât care for your father at all.â
Joey stopped and looked over his shoulder and at Carson. His tone as he denied Carsonâs observation wavered, signaling that even he wasnât sure about his answer.
âI donât care about him.â
âIf you didnât, then why would you waste your time keeping an eye on the Sullivan Group?â Carson asked sharply.
Joeyâs lips pursed into a thin line and he frowned.
âI saw the news on TV and changed the channel as soon as I read the headlines. I donât care!â
âAlright. If you say soâ¦â Carson took a calculated step forward and looked at the time his watch read.
âIf Iâm not mistaken, youâre here to have your arm checked. Yes?â Joey kept his mouth shut, relaying that he wanted to end his conversation with Carson.
âWell, your father is also having a check-up here. Do you want to see him?â
âNo.â
Carson looked into Joeyâs eyes and didnât say anything to him, no matter how cunning Joey was, a kid would always be a kid Joey felt uneasy under Carsonâs gaze, but he stood on his ground. He looked away and said, âI said I wouldnât go. I have to end our talk now, or Mommy will start worrying about me.â
Carson stretched out his arm to prevent Joey from escaping him.
âKid, I really donât understand one thing.â
âYouâre an adult, yet you donât even understand everything. Then do you think I, a three-year-old child, can understand what is even beyond your comprehension?â , Joey walked away from Carsonâs extended arm.
But this time, Carson didnât intend to let him go so easily.
âJoey, even if you donât like your father, you must know that he saved you.â Carson creased his brows.
âItâs not too much to ask you to visit him, isnât it? I really donât understand why you hate him so much.
Where is your loathe coming from? Why donât you make an effort and go see him now? He put his life on the line-and almost lost it just to save you, kid. Do you know what he looked like when he knew youâre his son and the expression he wore when he found out something had happened to you?â Carson touched Joeyâs forehead.
âHow can you be so heartless? You donât even acknowledge him as your own father.â Hearing this, Joey shook off Carsonâs hand and his eyes suddenly turned red.
âItâs not that I donât recognize him. Itâs because he doesnât want me!â Joeyâs revelation stunned Carson.
âWhat? He doesnât want you? Are you kidding me? You have no idea how happy he is to know that youâre his son! Why would you ever think that he doesnât want you?â
âHe abandoned me.â The grief Joey had been suppressing the past few days had riled up inside him and was released under the guise of tears welling up in his eyes. He was a kid, after all.
Panic overwhelmed Carson as he saw little Joey starting to cry. He reached out his hand and tried to wipe the little guyâs tears, but Joey turned his head sideways, avoiding his hand.
âJoey, is there some kind of misunderstanding betweenâ¦â
A thought crossed Carsonâs mind before he could finish his sentence.
âOf course, that must be it. A misunderstanding!â Joey wiped his tears with the back of his hand.
âThereâs nothing like that.â âNo, Joey, listen to me. Your father didnât mean to deny you. â
âIâm going abroad.â Joey interrupted him with red eyes. Carson was taken by surprise.
âYouâre going abroad?â
âYes.â Joey nodded.
âMommy has made up her mind. We will leave Apliaria after the cast is removed next week. She plans on leaving for good. With me, of course.â
The news sent Carsonâs brows knitted together. He looked serious.
Joey took a deep breath and continued, âAnd I donât care if I have a father or not. My mommy and Mr.
Jimenez are going to be together.â
âWhat? I donât think weâre on the same page here.â
âMr. Jimenez will leave Apliaria with me and my mommy. Although Mommy hasnât completely accepted him, the two of them will eventually get along with each other. They will definitely be happy together.â
As soon as Joey finished his words, his watch vibrated. Joey understood that Rachel was worried about him being out for too long and was looking for him. When she was about two hundred meters away, his watch would vibrate to remind him that they were close to each other.
âMy mommy is looking for me. Iâm leaving. Goodbyeâ
After saying that, Joey scurried towards where Rachel was. Standing still and looking at Joeyâs back, Carson narrowed his eyes. He didnât come to his senses until he got a call from Ivan. He turned around and left, heading towards the opposite direction. He went into the elevator and headed for the ward where Victor was.