"Just because my mommy doesn't hate you doesn't mean she has forgiven you. You can't make up for my mommy's misery with an apology. You can't make it go away with your remorse either. If you really want to get her forgiveness, you'd better start with learning about what she went through in the past."
The child sneered. This was the real reason why he had agreed to meet Leo. Justin wanted to let him know his mother's every struggle in the past because of him.
"I know. It's all my fault. So I'll keep trying to earn her forgiveness." Justin's sharp tone was way beyond his age that Leo couldn't regard him as a child anymore. Suddenly, he realized why Edward had let Justin come alone. The child simply thought like an adult and certainly didn't need another adult's company.
"It will be difficult. My mommy doesn't hate people easily. However, once she does, it will be forever. Plus, I'll always be on my mommy's side. I'm sorry. I think we shouldn't see each other again. I don't want to upset my mommy." Justin had gone through everything with Daisy so he totally understood why his mom did that.
"Justin, I understand that it won't be easy for you to forgive me. But I have gotten my punishment and I am old. Can't you help me to change your mom's mind?" Leo begged, regardless of his pride in a way that made it hard to even see his former glory. Right now, he was merely a miserable old man hoping for forgiveness.
"If you knew how my mommy had survived these years, you wouldn't have asked me that. Do you know what it was like to deliver a baby alone without a single soul at her side? Do you know what it was like when my mommy got hurt and had to swallow the pain silently alone? Can you imagine how afraid my mommy was when she was close to death? No. I don't think so. None of you understands how her life had been. So, when you see how successful she is right now, try to imagine how hard she has worked for it."
Tears streamed down Justin's cheeks. He had said the same thing to Edward before but the mere mention of it could still leave him overwhelmed with sadness.
"I'm so sorry. I really didn't know anything about all this. I do now. I'll make it up to you for everything. I promise." Leo had heard about Daisy's past from Edward. But hearing Justin open up about it made him feel worse. He felt greatly sorry for Daisy.
"Not everything can be amended. I am sorry. I have to go. Please don't bother my mommy again unless you really have something important to tell her. Right now, you can only leave everything to time." Justin wiped his eyes. He was not like a six-year-old kid at all. His grandpa even saw a little Edward in him, fearless and arrogant.
"Justin, can't you stay a little longer and have dinner with me?" Leo didn't expect the atmosphere to suddenly become this awkward. Anxiety instantly cruised his veins soon as he heard Justin wanting to leave.
"Sorry, I don't have the appetite. Goodbye." The little boy opened the door and left. Leo tried to stop him by holding his hand but lost his chance. Justin was already gone. His hand stopped frozen in mid-air.
Justin's words were like needles pricking Leo's heart. He was too powerless to come up with a retort. He couldn't believe how a small child was able to say words as profound as his grandchild had.
Luke walked towards him as soon as Justin stepped out of the restaurant. An automatic frown came to his face as soon as he saw the child's tears. "Justin, why did you come out so quickly?" he asked.
"Everything I can say has been said. There's nothing else we can talk about. Uncle Luke, I am hungry. Take me to my daddy, please." Justin sniffed and gave a sweet smile.
"Okay. We're going to FX International right away." Luke didn't know what had happened in the restaurant, but basing it from the tear stains on Justin's face, he could tell that things hadn't been pleasant.
"Uncle Luke, would you forgive someone who hurt you?" Justin asked with his head tilted as soon as he got in the car. He looked really puzzled by the issue.
"It depends on how bad it is and more importantly, who." Luke glanced at him, shared his opinion and started the car.
You think so, huh? Family hurts us the most. That's why my mommy has been put in such a dilemma." Justin was dejected as he looked at the view out of the car window. He seemed lost in his own thoughts.
"It happens. One harsh sentence from a family hurts more than a deadly weapon of an outsider. Keep your mind off it, Justin. You will feel better." Luke sighed. He felt lucky that he was an orphan and didn't have to worry about getting hurt by his own family.
I don't care. I just feel sorry for my mommy," Justin said with a wry smile. His mom had been busy training new recruits. He hadn't seen her much lately.
"Don't worry. Your mom knows how to deal with the situation. Don't be sad. What you need to do is listen to her and be a good son." Luke believed that Daisy was capable of dealing with the matter and that she had decided whether to forgive Leo or not.
Moments more and the car stopped at an intersection. Justin was still looking out of the window when a sudden scene came into his view and gave him a shock.
"Uncle Luke, look! A lot of men in black are going after a woman and they almost get her! Will she be beaten to death?" Justin asked hurriedly as his eyes followed the group.
"I guess she has offended somebody. It doesn't concern us. She can call the police," Luke answered in a flat tone. He had seen a lot of such things before. It wasn't new to him. He couldn't even care less when a figure abruptly stopped before the car and started tapping the windshield just before he turned the ignition back on.
"Uncle Luke, it's the woman being chased. Shall we let her in?" Justin was startled.
"Ignore her. Let's go." Luke wanted to stay away from trouble mainly because Justin was in the car. He was the apple of Edward's eye. He must protect him. That was his mindset until he looked outside and saw the pretty woman's face. Everything just came to his surprise when his body moved to unlock the car doors immediately.
"Thank you! Thank you very much!" Michelle said as she got in the car, without seeing clearly the face of the person who had saved her life. Luke started the car as soon as she hopped in and bolted out of that place even before the men could catch up.
"That's nothing. Don't mention it," Justin said politely as he gazed at Michelle. Luke was driving the car silently with his eyes fixed on the rear-view mirror, viewing those ranting men they had left behind.
Hello, little guy. You're cute." Michelle lightly pinched Justin's cheek. She was sweat-drenched from running that the cold wind from the air-conditioner sent her slight shivers.
"Thank you. By the way, why are those men chasing you?" Justin rubbed his face which was hurting from the pinch. Instantly he classified this innocent-looking woman into the same type as Leena. They were both sweet and beautiful on the outside but evil on the inside. He regretted that he had let Luke save her. She might have done something wrong to those men, which was why she was chased.