---- Chapter 7 Jasper was held hostage for three days and three nights before he was finally rescued and brought home by Felix. The first thing he did when he got home was to frantically destroy the award-winning work titled 'Mother'. The more he had longed for Maeve to be his mother, the more... he detested his old self! Jasper said, "Dad, where's Ms. Leighton? I have something to tell her! I'll never like her again! Only Naomi Shaw is my mom!" Felix patted Jasper's head, seemingly relieved by his change, but he soon gave a self-mocking smile because he knew I would not be back. Felix dared not mention me and only explained Maeve's situation. "You're my son. Maeve went to pick you up but asked you to come back by yourself. She even chose to run away when you were kidnapped. She violated the Reapers' rules. Fearing the Reapers' punishment, she ran away." ---- Jasper seemed to have suddenly matured. "She ran away? What a coward! When Mom broke the rules, she chose to endure the 30 lashes. Compared to Mom, she does nothing but run. She doesn't hold a candle to Mom." Felix choked up as he asked, "Jasper, are you missing your mom too?" Jasper bit his lip and was almost in tears. ''Does Mom... not want us anymore?" Felix sighed. "Maybe. Your mom thinks we don't want her. And we always ignored her contributions to our family. We always thought she was weak and ordinary. We were always the harshest toward her, hoping that she would change, but we forgot we should love her for who she was." Jasper threw himself into Felix's arms and finally burst into tears. Felix held him and coaxed him, his eyes reddening slightly. They finally accepted the fact that I had left. Felix continued to search for me, talking about his ---- wife to everyone he met. Jasper would paint for me every day, and everyone said that I looked alive in his paintings. They both missed me, but I had left the past behind and was heading for the future. I crossed the mountains and the sea and finally returned to Monhutton. I adopted a little girl on my way home. She was hit by acar and was lying on the road, waiting to die. When I passed by and got out of the car to check on her, she was so tired that she could barely open her eyes. However, she still asked me in a weak voice, " Mom, you're so warm and gentle. Are you here to take me to heaven?" Iwas a mother and also a doctor. I was heartbroken at that moment. I did my best to save her. Knowing I saved her, her eyes were filled with gratitude. "Ma'am, can you keep me? I'm smart. Ican take care of you, warm milk for you, do the dishes for you, and weed for you. I'll do my best to do whatever you ask me to do." ---- Listening to her childish voice, I gently touched her head. "You don't have to do these things. I'm your mom from now on." I thought, 'My dear, you'll become the daughter of a top surgeon and the granddaughter of Monhutton's financial tycoon. You'll grow up in happiness. I shall name you Nyla Shaw.'