Chapter 703: SHIFTING THE BLAMES

Chapter 703: SHIFTING THE BLAMES

"If I explain things to you, then that means you have to explain more about the dynamics in this family, how about it? Then I will tell you why that child is in my house."

As Apple had expected, Derek had absolutely no clue about Jack's exact whereabouts. He didn't even know that the little boy was in her house right now.

Apple couldn't understand that, even to their nephew, she could still lie like this. What kind of life did her mother and Jack actually live all this time?

However, Apple was quite grateful that she didn't have to be in this place and Pyro took her away when she was only a little older than Jack now.

But, on the other hand, hearing the offer that Apple made made Derek frown, because it shouldn't be like that, it looked like the initial agreement wasn't like this, then why did their barter make Apple the most profited here?

"No, the agreement shouldn't be like this, I don't need to know what the child is in your place for." It wasn't important to Derek, although he was actually a little curious about it, but it didn't really compare to the information about Gladys.

"If you don't want to, that's fine too," Apple said nonchalantly and then returned to focus on her phone.

"I don't need to know about that kid's whereabouts, all I need is to talk to Gladys, just five minutes, can't you do that? I'll do whatever you ask," Derek said earnestly.

Briefly, Apple lifted her head from the screen of the phone she was holding and then looked at Derek with a frown.

"I already have a man who will do anything for me, so I don't need another man," Apple replied in a tone as if to say; what can someone like you really offer?

Luckily, this conversation didn't last long because two people entered the house right at that moment and their attention was drawn to each other.

"Apple?" Nadia said in a surprised voice, then she rushed toward Apple and tried to hug her daughter. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming today?" her mother asked in a more cheerful voice. She was still hugging Apple as if she missed her daughter so much.

Forgetting that she had neglected her for years.

"Of course, I came after you sent the little kid to my house," Apple replied in an even tone of voice. She didn't even return the hug, which made things a little awkward, but Apple didn't want to lighten the mood at all.

Meanwhile, James, her mother's husband, was staring at Apple with a frown. This man hadn't changed at all even though they hadn't seen each other in years.

And oddly enough, even though they were married, James didn't mind her mother using another man's last name at all.

She didn't know, their relationship was too complicated to think about.

While Nadia hugged her tightly and slowly let go of her embrace because of what Apple said, James didn't take his eyes off Apple at all.

The man continued to stare at her intently and made Apple uncomfortable.

"I did that because you don't want to meet mother," said Nadia, while wiping her face, as if drying the tears that fell from her eyes. "But, look… even though my methods aren't very good, here you are now with your mother, right? And mother is very grateful for that," Nadia said in a slightly hoarse voice.

"Can we talk somewhere more private?" asked Apple. This was a problem between the two and since James was not Jack's real father, there was no reason for him to know this.

But, sadly, James didn't think so, he thought he deserved to know why Apple came to this place.

"No need to talk anywhere else, you can talk here," James said as he sat down in the empty spot beside Derek. "Sooner or later I'll find out about that too."

And as usual, her mother would agree with the man's opinion. "Yes, Apple, you can speak in front of them, they are family too, they will know about this."

Great. Now Derek too was a family that would know how bad his mother's behavior was.

"Okay, then," replied Apple casually, if they really wanted to discuss it openly, then let them do as they wanted. "But Derek doesn't seem to know that Jack is at my house."

And Nadia came up with a thousand reasons why Derek didn't know, but now it was fine for him to know.

Fine, if that was what they wanted.

"I'm only here to tell you that my father and I have called the child welfare service. They will come here and check on you, because you have abandoned a minor just like that."

Apple came here to discuss with her mother what she meant by doing such a thing, thinking nothing about Jack's wellbeing. He was her son after all.

What Apple wanted to do was have a heart-to-heart talk with her mother, but since that wasn't going to happen, Apple decided to do this instead.

"What?!" James immediately stood up angrily. He already had several criminal records and if the authorities were involved, he had to deal with them and there was a good chance he'd get in trouble.

"Why did you have to do that?" asked Nadia in shock. She covered her mouth in disbelief at what Apple had done. "You shouldn't have done that."

"You shouldn't have done that in the first place, how could you leave your child alone in a foreign place?" Apple ignored James' angry look.

"I didn't leave him in a foreign place, I told him to meet his sister who he never met," Nadia tried to shift the blame on Apple, because it was clear that she was afraid that the authorities would get involved in this.

====================

*Read my new book: KISSED BY THE DARK ALPHA*

Alpha Micah Donovan's second chance mate.