Meeting Jay Jay at the banquet

After all the drama, we went to the banquet officially as a new family.

As I expected, there were more gossipers than there were supporters, at least for my mom and I.

When we all walked down the open space, my mother, hand in hand with the marquess and I and the siblings walking behind them.

When we passed, some women used their fans hide so that they could murmur and issue their unwanted opinions.

" Oh! She looks so dark, but it's no wonder she was a widow after all."

"Such a shame that the marquess chose such a woman."

"Her daughter looks skinny."

"I had that she has no manners at all."

"Yes, I heard she is unreasonably spoiled." At this comment, I almost stopped to let them know that I was sure that their children were worse than what they would have heard about me.

Anyway, I did not stop because I did not want to prove them right, especially after I saw the siblings smug expressions.

I fought so hard not to roll my eYes at the childish tactics. In any case, my little performance earlier would be spreading soon, and these other fabricated rumors would soon be buried and forgotten.

We walked towards the stage that was set in the middle for my mom and the marquess to share their first dance, but before that, the marquess was set to give a speech.

"Good evening to all my good friends and other important guests." the marquess started, and I thought that the 'other' guests he called out were the gossipers, but well, I suppose that was only in my mind.

" Today, you are all gathered here to share this special day with me and my family as I have worked had to expand my family welcoming two lovely souls." He wiggled his eyebrows at "expand, "making the guests laugh.

" I would love for you all to welcome my wife, Catherine Smith (changed surname from Carson) and my daughter, Charlotte Smith." he paused, waiting for the guests to applaud.

" Now, We are not holding a grand wedding because we are too old for that, we would rather leave it to our children, right dear wife?" the marquess joked, making the crowd laugh again.

"So without wasting any more of our precious time, I would like to ask my wife to dance with me." he concluded as he gave the mic to Carlos.

We left the stage to give them space and watched from the bottom of the stage.

My mother looked so regal and, most importantly, happy.

The proceedings were pretty much boring. I was ready to leave, but I was determined to watch till the end of their dance then would disappear because I did not have many friends to begin with, so I did not have any guests to entertain unlike my step-siblings who were social butterflies.

After their last dance, as promised, I disappeared.

I did not have a destination in mind, so I went to the only place people always go to when they want to be alone, the balcony.

"Leave me 'lone!" a childish voice shouted. I recognized that voice! I froze, could it be?

"little child, I'm only offering desserts, I mean that's what kids your age like right?" a high pitched voice said

I walked faster because it sounded like someone was troubling him. The sliding door was open, but the curtains were closed.

I got there and opened them with force. The woman paused and said, "Who are you?"

Glaring at her, I said, "Jay Jay does not like anything chocolate flavored." Oops, that slipped. Jack looked at me with his big cute eyes shocked at the information i had just shared about him.

"What? desserts are desserts. I like chocolate and since I am a potential suitor for his father, it means he must like what I like." the woman said smugly.

I snickered, " I can't believe that there are still people out there proud of being stupid and showing it off to the world. Furthermore, In what world are you living in? Do you still think that if you become the wife of a man with a child you would do as you please with the child and mistreat him?"

" What? Did you call me stupid? Do you know who I am? And how did I mistreat the boy?!" the lady with a high-pitched voice said

" I do not care who you are, you must not use a child to assert your dominance in a relationship you probably won't get. Ry- I mean the father of this child would be very dumb as well to accept a wife like you. Mistreating comes in many forms and forcing him to like what you like is a form of mistreatment." I said. I almost slipped and called Ryan by his name in front of Jay Jay. I got to be careful.

"You-"

"get lost." I said a little to aggressive, I was out of patience for the woman because I wanted to be left alone with Jay Jay.

"This is not over." the woman said as she ran back to the party. Whatever.

"T-thank you." Jay Jay said trying to sound cold, but I know that when he shouted earlier he was close to crying.

"Wha' do you want, I know that you wan' a reward from my father right? Well, I am sorry to dis'point you but he is in a meeting with i'portant people right now in there." He said as pointed at the venue of the banquet. He is just too cute!

I looked at him, and for some reason I felt my chest welling up with so many emotions. It felt like it was only yesterday where I went to the garden with him and he drew a picture of me for my birthday. He was a sweet young boy and I was lucky to have been his mother when I got married to Ryan.

At first, he was very cold because he thought that I had a hidden agenda, but gradually we got closer and closer so much that we were inseparable. It felt like he was my own child.

Looking at him I thought about how the 5 year old him in my past life would have handled my death.

Tears started rolling down my cheeks uncontrollably.

"Miss, you cryin" he said looking very scared.

"Did I say somethin wrong?" he asked again with his big bunny eyes.

I sniffed and shook my head then smiled at him, " I am sorry, I did not mean to scare you, I am just a little sad." I said to him.

It was a habit of mine, I would always be honest with Jay Jay even though he wouldn't be able to understand somethings.

I found his reaction amusing especially when he would try to act like adult.

"Thwn d-do you w-want a h-hug?" he said shyly, and I froze. He knows that? Or is it just a coincidence? He used to offer me hugs each time I fought with Ryan, or I was down.

When I did not say anything he immediately retracted his little arms looking a little sad and I felt bad for spacing out.

" Of course, I would love a hug but first what's your name?" I asked pretending to not know him.

" It's Jack." he said

"Okay, Jack, I would love a hug from you." he nodded and slowly came to me with his tiny arms open.

When he got close, I couldn't resist it and scooped him up and hugged him.

He tensed at first then loosened up afterwards.

I did not mind staying like that forever with my little Jay Jay, who would have thought I would meet him here!

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