Chapter 488

Madeline dropped to her knees while her trembling fingers began to caress Jackson’s brow.

They went from his eyes to his nose to his adorably small mouth…

“What’s wrong, Mommy? Why are you crying?” Jackson blinked confusedly as he reached out to wipe Madeline’s tears away.

Madeline lovingly clasped Jackson’s fair and small hands in her larger ones.

“Jack… Mommy’s precious little boy. Mommy finally gets to see you!”

Unable to hold back, Madeline pulled Jackson’s small frame into her chest.

Holding Jackson tightly, the storm of joy and sorrow within her intertwined and came out in the form of wet scalding tears that streamed down her face.

She knew she should be elated, but her heart felt like it was going to shatter.

Meredith was just too wicked. How could she come up with such a way to torture her and her child?

Madeline felt her chest tighten as she imagined the wicked things Meredith had done to Jackson in the past five years.

She did not even dare to recall the scene of Meredith cutting Jackson’s face. It hurt too much.

It made sense that Meredith could do such ruthless things.

For the child Meredith had been torturing was Madeline’s!

While Jackson did not understand the reason behind Madeline’s distress, he loved the feeling of Madeline’s hugs for they were filled with adoration.

Eloise leaned against Sean’s shoulder as happy and hurt tears trickled out her eyes at the scene before her.

The gods were hardly fair.

Why did they force their daughter to go through so much pain?

The corners of Jeremy’s eyes burned as he quietly watched the mother and child hug and recognize each other by the sidelines.

Oh, how he wished that he could redo the past six years.

He would never self-opinionatedly push away the woman he loved again.

Madeline choked and sobbed for a while as her onslaught of emotions did not seem to calm, at least not until Jackson patted her back and comforted her. “Don’t cry, Mommy. Jack and Daddy will go beat up the bad people who bullied you!”

Madeline shook her head with tears in her eyes, feeling her heart clench and warm at his attempt.

“Nobody bullied Mommy. These are happy tears. Mommy’s very happy…”

She pecked Jackson’s cheek with a teary laugh before holding him in her arms lovingly again.

“Mommy’s never going to leave you again, okay, Jack? Mommy’s going to take good care of you and give you happiness.”

Her eyes bloomed with motherly love as she promised.

Jeremy, too, leaned down to ruffle Jeremy’s cute head. “Dad’s going to take good care of you too, alright? Your family won’t be apart again.”

At that, Madeline snapped out of her joy and sorrow.

Wiping her tears decisively, she gave Jackson a small smile before turning to face Jeremy indifferently.

“Come out for a bit. There’s something I’d like to talk to you about.”

Madeline stood up before turning around to look at Eloise and Sean. Hesitating, she spoke, “Please help me look after Jack for a while. I’ll be back soon.”

“Eveline…” Eloise watched sadly as Madeline turned to leave.

Giving Jackson’s head one last pat, Jeremy quickly stood up and followed Madeline out as well.

The frosty wind sunk into the bones of those who stood outside in that mid-winter night.

Silently waiting under the lamppost, Madeline turned around when she heard Jeremy’s footsteps draw close. There was no sign of warmth in her eyes.

Jeremy remained kind and gentle. “What did you want to talk to me about, Madeline?”