During his ti in Crestfall, Beanie had constantly been imagining the mont he would finally et his daddy. He was terrified his daddy wouldn’t like him. That’s why he’d been trying to get closer to Ford, fantasizing that he was his father to prepare himself for the eventual eting.
Beanie had imagined many possibilities. He’d considered that his daddy might have all sorts of different jobs or even be difficult to get along with. He had thought of everything. But the one thing he had never imagined was that his daddy could be soone like Jeremy King.
Beanie had heard of him and had even looked him up. He was a man so vile he defied description.
Beanie was ashad to have such a father!
The little guy couldn’t sleep all night. He couldn’t help but glance at Vivian Quincy, who was sleeping soundly beside him. Beanie grabbed his phone, tiptoed into the bathroom, and, not knowing what else to do, ended up calling Jasper Ford.
It was eleven o’clock at night, already very late.
Jasper Ford was just about to go to sleep and was very surprised to get a call from Beanie.
"Did you need sothing?" the man asked as he answered the phone.
Hearing Jasper’s steady, strong, yet gentle voice, Beanie suddenly couldn’t hold back his tears. He crouched in the bathroom, his small hand frantically wiping away the tears welling up in his eyes.
On the other end of the line, Jasper Ford heard faint sobs and asked, "Why are you crying?"
Beanie opened his mouth, wanting to answer but not knowing what to say. The poor little guy wiped his tears and said, trying to sound normal, "I’m fine. I just suddenly got hungry."
"Where’s your mommy? Won’t she make you anything to eat?" Jasper Ford frowned.
Beanie said, "Mommy’s asleep, so I ca out on my own."
"Out?" Jasper Ford’s tone suddenly turned serious. "Where did you run off to so late at night?"
Beanie said, "I’m just in the bathroom."
Hearing this, the man breathed a sigh of relief. He glanced at the ti. It wasn’t too late, so he settled in to chat with Beanie. "Your mommy’s asleep, so why aren’t you?"
"I can’t sleep," Beanie said in a small voice.
Jasper Ford chuckled. "You always sleep so well when you’re at my place. Want to co over? I can pick you up right now."
"No, it’s okay." Beanie shook his head, declining the offer.
Jasper Ford’s stern, handso face fell slightly. He was clearly a little unhappy about being rejected, but he didn’t take it out on Beanie. "It’s late," he said. "If you’re not coming over, I’m not bringing food to you. You should just go to bed. You won’t feel hungry once you’re asleep."
"I’m not hungry." Beanie shook his little head and added, "I just wanted soone to talk to."
His voice was soft and quiet, as if he were deliberately keeping it low. He seed to be afraid of sothing.
It was the first ti Jasper Ford had ever heard such fear in Beanie’s voice. His expression hardened. "What happened to you today?"
Beanie clutched his phone, biting his lip as he thought for a long mont before saying, "I’m just unhappy."
"Who made you unhappy?" Jasper Ford asked with a chuckle. He’d noticed that Beanie, just like Vivian Quincy, hadn’t been happy all day. ’To stay unhappy for an entire day... this mother-son duo really has a knack for it,’ he thought.
Beanie thought for a mont and said very seriously, "No one made unhappy."
"Then why are you sad?" Jasper Ford countered.
Beanie gently scratched his knee, his eyes on the damp floor as he whispered, "Ford, if I told you my daddy isn’t dead, would you be mad?"
The man’s heart skipped a beat. A peculiar glint flashed in his eyes before disappearing. He feigned composure as he asked, "Who is your daddy?"
For so reason, Jasper Ford felt a sliver of anticipation. He was, in fact, extrely curious about Beanie’s past and wanted to know more.
Beanie said, "My daddy is a villain through and through."
Jasper Ford’s brow furrowed. "Didn’t you tell before that your daddy was a really amazing person?"
"He’s amazing at being evil," Beanie said, a hint of ferocity in his voice.
Jasper Ford leaned against his headboard and asked softly, "For example?"
"He’s super ugly, and he loves to bully people. He specifically preys on the weak and harasses innocent won. It’s absolutely disgusting!" Beanie said, filled with righteous indignation.
Jasper Ford pressed a hand to his temple, feeling inexplicably unwell. He chalked it up to being tired and forced himself to listen attentively to Beanie. After hearing the little guy’s description, he nodded in complete agreent. "That kind of person is truly disgusting."
Feeling like he had found a kindred spirit and an outlet for his emotions, Beanie continued, "Ford, every ti I think about my daddy, I feel like I’m going to puke. Do you ever feel that way when you think about your daddy?"
Jasper Ford, who had been listening quietly with his eyes closed, suddenly fell silent. He sensed that Beanie must have suffered a major shock, or he wouldn’t be saying such things. He grew curious about who Beanie’s father was and couldn’t help but ask, "Who is your daddy?"
"You answer first, Ford," Beanie said, refusing to tell him.
Jasper Ford replied, "No, I don’t. My father is a very good man."
"Is that so..." The little guy’s voice was tinged with disappointnt. He lowered his head, pitifully staring at the water pooled in the cracks of the floor tiles, where he could see his own blurry reflection. His voice was filled with sorrow. "My daddy isn’t good at all. I hate him. I don’t like him one bit."
His voice was laced with unmistakable hatred!
An imperceptible, complex emotion flickered in the depths of Jasper Ford’s dark eyes. He sat up and said, "Maybe you don’t know him. There’s no such thing as a purely evil person in this world. Most fathers are very good to their children."
"My daddy doesn’t want ," Beanie replied with a laugh, his clear voice crisp and matter-of-fact.
Jasper Ford’s heart clenched painfully. It was as if he could hear a heart shattering—not his own, but the heart of the poor, brave little boy on the other end of the line, who was trying so hard to be strong.
"Where are you? I’m coming to get you." The man got up and started changing.
Beanie said, "No, you don’t have to. It’s late. You should go to sleep, Ford. You have work tomorrow."
"Send the address," Jasper Ford commanded, his tone leaving no room for refusal.
After a long hesitation, Beanie couldn’t help but send him the address.
Jasper Ford glanced at it. "What do you want to eat? I’ll bring sothing for you."
"Anything is fine, I just don’t want to wait too long." Beanie wasn’t picky; he’d eat anything that could fill his stomach.
Jasper Ford turned and went downstairs.
The butler asked, puzzled, "Young Master, where are you headed?"
Jasper Ford said, "Sothing ca up."
He got in his car and left. On the way to Vivian Quincy’s place, he passed by a night market and bought so crawfish, so fresh barbecue, and a drink for the little guy.
Beanie had snuck out of bed in the dead of night to make the call. He had assud Jasper Ford would just buy sothing simple, but he never expected him to show up with a huge bag of food.
The mont Beanie opened the door, he froze!
The little guy tilted his head back, his big, round eyes so wide with shock they looked like they might pop out. "Ford, how much did you buy?"
Jasper Ford said, "Eleven pounds. Is that enough for you?"
Beanie was even more shocked. Eleven pounds!
’Ford actually bought so much!’
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