Chapter 21: Hitting Means Caring
Alijah froze.
His fever–flushed face was filled with shock.
Then here came a sharp, ear–piercing scream.
“You hit me!
“How dare you hit me?”
Even though he was sick, he pushed Mabel hard enough to make her stumble, drawing attention from people nearby.
Mabel’s anger surged, but she forced it down.
“Ali, I didn’t hit you
I was just trying to help you. You’re sick; you can’t keep acting out.”
Alijah yanked his hand away. “You did hit me! You’re bad! You’re horrible!”
His mom never hit him.
She always talked things through with him, patiently telling him stories to explain everything.
Mabel, on the verge of losing it, wanted to just leave him there.
But with Marcus still not fully divorced, she had to keep playing her role carefully.
Taking a deep breath, she softened her expression
“Ali, sweetie, how could I ever hit you? That was just my way of showing I care.
“You’ve heard it before, right? ‘Hitting means caring. I just love you so much and feel so bad that you’re sick. It’s the only way I could express my feelings.”
Alijah’s sobbing eased as he wavered. His fevered body was too weak to stay standing.
“Really?”
His wide, teary eyes blinked at her, dazed and confused.
“Of course,” Mabel said quickly, guiding him to the doctor.
It turned out he had pneumonia and needed to be hospitalized.
Mabel hoped for some peace, but the first thing they needed to do was draw blood.
The moment Alijah saw the nurse with the needle, he screamed bloody murder and refused to let her come near.
When they finally managed to pin his arm down, he kicked the nurse hard.
The things on her tray crashed to the floor.
“Can’t you control a child?”
The nurse snapped, glaring at Mabel with open irritation.
This was a private hospital, used to high–profile patients, so they didn’t care who Mabel was.
“Hold him properly! This is wasting everyone’s time!”
Biting back her rage, Mabel noted the nurse’s name, promising herself she’d deal with her later.
“Stop standing there! Hug the child tight and hold his legs down!”
The nurse, clearly fed up, gave Mabel an impatient demonstration.
Grinding her teeth, Mabel obeyed, pulling Alijah into her arms while her assistant and other nurses helped restrain him.
Finally, the nurse let out a sigh of relief and began the procedure.
Alijah’s fear peaked, his little forehead veins bulging as his cries reached a deafening pitch.
“Nol”
“It hurts!”
Chapter 21: Hitting Means Caring
“Stop!”
When the needle pierced his skin, his eyes widened in silent shock.
That’s when Mabel felt a warm trickle down her leg.
Stunned, she froze for a moment before the nurse complained.
“He wet himself? Didn’t I say to have him use the bathroom first?”
Urine dripped onto the floor, staining the nurse’s shoes
Her expression turned stormy.
Mabel felt like she’d been struck by lightning.
What just happened?
Did Alijah pee on her?
AHHHH!
Her mind reeled as horror and fury flooded through her.
She jumped up, ready to storm off and clean herself.
But her sudden movement caused the needle to shift, jabbing deeper into Alijah’s vein. He screamed in pain, blood dripping. freely.
“Waaah!”
Alijah landed on the floor with a thud and began wailing again.
“Where are you going?” The nurse barked, grabbing Mabel’s arm.
“Take the child to his room and wait for the doctor’s orders. And clean up this mess!”
Pointing to the puddle on the floor, the nurse looked like she was at the end of her rope.
Mabel’s temper flared, but before she could snap back, Hector, Marcus’s assistant, intervened.
“Ms. Johnson, please take young master Alijah to his room. I’ll handle this.”
Reality hit her like a bucket of cold water.
Hector was here. Anything she did would
back to Marcus.
The more pitiful she looked, the guiltier Marcus would feel.
Putting on her usual calm, gentle mask, she nodded.
“Thank you so much,”
She picked up Alijah, who was now quiet but trembling. The smell and dampness made people step back in disgust. They hadn’t brought spare clothes, and even if they had, Mabel never imagined needing them for something like this. Alijah realized he’d wet himself and looked guilty.
Once in Mabel’s arms, he stopped crying and kept glancing at her face for signs of anger.
But Mabel stayed composed, so Alijah relaxed.
His mom never got mad at him. Instead, she would comfort him, and worried he might feel upset about such things. Mabel must be thinking the same way.
Feeling bolder, he whined, “I want new clothes. I feel gross. I want new clothes now!”
Mabel, still determined to play the doting stepmom, quickly ordered her assistant to buy some.
When the clothes arrived, she helped Alijah change, cooing softly.
“Ali, I know you’re uncomfortable. Once you’re dressed, how about I get you some snacks?”
Alijah nodded eagerly.
With clean, dry clothes and his fever temporarily ensed, his mood lifted.
“Okay! I want pizza, fried chicken, and steak!”
Chapter 211 Hitting Means Caring
All the forbidden foods Gemma would never allow,
“Of course, anything you want. You’re my favorite little guy, and I love you so much.”
Happily, Alijah beamed.
“Mabel, you’re the best! I wish you could stay with me forever.”
“Mabel, can you live with us? Please?”
“Ali, your daddy’s still waiting for your mommy to come back. We shouldn’t talk like that. It might hurt her feelings.”
Alijah frowned in confusion.
“Why? Mom coming back doesn’t mean you can’t live with us.”
Mabel sighed.
“Ah, sweetie, there are some things kids just don’t understand ”
Alijah didn’t like being treated as an ignorant kid.
“I’m not a little kid!” Alijah puffed up, determined to prove himself. “I want you, not Mom! She doesn’t even visit me. Hmph!”
Mabel smiled sweetly. “Okay, okay, you’re my clever boy. Stay here with my assistant while I go get your snacks, alright?”
“Alright!”
Alijah cheered
Relieved, Mabel hurried out of the hospital and back to her hotel.
She was exhausted.
Let the assistant handle it for today. She needed sleep.
