Chapter 1453
Julien added, "You guys had no idea who I was dating back then, and you guys have no idea now
that the woman I want to marry is the person I liked. And because I''ve never done anything to worry
you all these years, so I am only known as the sensible and filial child who cannot do anything you
disapprove of."
Karen began, "Julien, no...."
Julien was not having it and immediately cut Karen off, "Mom, please let me finish. Have you guys
ever thought about how I would also want the same kind of attention and care that you show
Jayden and Karen Joy? Please ask yourselves, have you ever loved me the way you loved them?"
As Karen listened to Julien''s pained exnation, she realised finally that she had indeed been
biased with the affection she showed Jayden and Karen Joy, aspared to Julien.
As a young boy, Julien had exhibited calmness and maturity that were different from that of his
peers. He was always at the top of his ss, having even skipped a few grades . As he never
worried his parents in any way, the consistency he showed started giving them the impression that
naturally, he had always meant to be a golden child. Slowly, they started taking for granted and
neglecting his great effort to be a thoughtful child who did not worry his parents.
"Julien... I''m so sorry!" Karen''s eyes welled up with tears. She wiped them off the edges of her eyes
as she apologised again, "I''m sorry! We''re so, so sorry! We''ve neglected you all these years, but
this won''t happen again."
"Mom, you don''t have to apologize. I''m only sharing this with you to let you know that I''m just like
everybody else. I also need love and attention, and I also really want a woman who would love me
the way Aunt Mia loves Uncle Neil, the way Karen Joy loves Lionel... and how you love Dad. And
this girl that I want, her name''s Vanessa Love. She''s the woman I''ve been waiting for. So, whatever
it is, I will marry her and I hope that you and will not try to stop me." As soon as he finished his
speech, Julien gave his parents a bow and then turned to leave.
Watching Julien''s silhouette as he left the room, a word suddenly came to Karen''s mind - loneliness.
All these years, she had always thought that she had cared for her family well. She thought that she
had been wonderfully considerate of every family member''s feelings. Little did she know, she had
taken her youngest son for granted.
Jayden, her eldest son, lived in Madison City where she would visit him at least twice a year.
Whenever he was free, Jayden would return to Chatterton Town as well, to visit his parents. So,
Karen knew that his family was doing very well.
As for her daughter, Karen Joy... She lived in Chatterton Town with Lionel and their son, Larry, and
woulde home for a get-together every weekend. Karen made sure that her daughter''s family
was well taken care of in every possible way.
It was the same for Mia. She had been married for years now, and had an adult son. Still, Karen
treated Mia like a child as Mia was Kevin''s younger sister.
However, the son who was always sensible and filial in Karen''s eyes had been horribly neglected by
her. She never worried about Julien when he was in school, and she was so proud when he joined
Rovio and performed exceedingly well.
Even when Kevin abruptly entrusted Julien with the great responsibility of heading Rovio, she had
thought nothing of it, thinking that it was only natural for her son to be doing this. Thus, the thought
of attending the appointment ceremony did not even cross her mind, and she and Kevin opted for a
trip around the world instead.
"My son, I''m sorry! I''m so, so sorry!" Tears flowed from Karen''s eyes and rolled off her face. The
guilt she felt was unquantifiable as she continued crying, ming herself for what had happened.
Kevin walked to her and sat down beside her. He gently held her in his arms. "Karen, I''m the one
who should apologise."
Karen shook her head, "This isn''t your fault, it''s ours. How can we make such a big mistake? He''s
the child that we raised together."
Kevin gently patted her back andforted her, "Yes, we''ve been wrong all these years."
The couple had been especially worried about their eldest son, Jayden, due to the hardships he
experienced as a child. When he joined the Kyle family at the age of 11, they worked tirelessly to be
good parents to him, not wanting him to feel like an outsider within the family.
They both treated Karen Joy well because she was their first child. They had almost lost Karen Joy
during childbirth, as the baby had been snatched from Karen''s womb. As a toddler, Karen Joy had
been devoid of Karen''s love, so Kevin''s love for his daughter doubled in amount. When Karen finally
returned, she too did everything she could topensate for the love she owed her daughter in her
absence.
Julien was the only child who had been by his parents'' side since birth. He had hardly experienced
any difficulties in the first 20 years of his life, and everything always felt smooth- sailing for him.
Thus, he was neglected.
After this incident, however, they finally understood that they had no right taking him for granted just
because he was an excellent child.
Knock, knock...
Julien had juste out of the bathroom when he heard someone knocking on the door.
Thinking that it was his mother, he opened the door right away. He did not expect to see a little boy
at his door. Upon seeing his freshly showered uncle, Larry was scared at first and began to retreat
away, but ultimately decided against it and pushed himself to stretch his arms open. In a childlike
voice, he proimed, "I want uncle to carry me!
Julien asked, "Aren''t you afraid I''ll eat you up?" Larry was so scared that he almost cried, but he still
shook his head and said, "I''m not afraid!"
Julien then scooped him up and asked, "Who asked you toe?"
Larry was so nervous that his little body was stiff." I came by myself."
"Tell me," Julien did not have to pretend to be fierce. He had only slightly raised his voice, but it was
enough to scare Larry into giving him an honest answer. "Mom said you were in a bad mood, so she
asked me toe chat with you to cheer you up."
Julien asked, "Would you like to keep mepany?"
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Larry pouted and replied honestly, "No."
With Larry in one arm, Julien locked the door with his other hand. "Since you don''t want to keep me
company, you''d have to sleep in here with me tonight. You''re not allowed to leave."
Larry was so scared that he was on the verge of crying. "I can''t sleep with you because Dad isn''t
home, so I''d have to protect Mom."
Julien said, "There are no bad guys at home."
Larry said, "Grandpa and Uncle Julien are bad!"
Julien had nothing to offer in reply. As Larry was not used to being carried by Julien, he kept moving
and kicking around. "Uncle Julien, Mom is calling for me."
Julien patiently exined, "You don''t have to be scared, Larry. Both Grandpa and I really like you."
Larry questioned, "So, why don''t you and Grandpa ever smile at me?"
Julien did not know what to say.
How was he supposed to answer this question?
Larry blinked his eyes, hoping that his Uncle would give him a satisfactory answer.
Julien yfully pinched his face and said, "Why does a three year- old have so many questions?"
Larry did not say anything in reply.
In the end, Grandpa and Uncle Julien just did not like him.
Knowing that Larry was unwilling to be around him, Julien decided not to make things difficult for
him. He opened his room door and put the little fellow down. "Go to your mother."
Freedom in hand, Larry immediately turned towards the door and ran. But because he was still so
young, he was not a stable walker just yet, and at the speed he was running, he could not help but
stumble and fall to the ground.
The ground was made of bare wood; falling on it was a painful ordeal. But Larry remembered that
his father had said that men should not cry easily. Thus, he picked himself up from the ground,
dusted his backside and then ran off to look for his mother.