Chapter 308


    The image of Evan, looking up at me with those wide, innocent eyes, shed across my mind again. I


    turned to Hannah and sighed, "You know, the first time I saw him, he was far away,ughing and


    ying. His chubby face of his was so darn likable. I remember thinking, if he wasn''t Marissa''s child, I


    might actually like him."


    I chuckled, sharing my secret thoughts with Hannah. It felt good to unload.


    Hannah listened in silence, ncing at me from time to time as she drove.


    "The second time I saw him was at the mall. He spotted Jan from a distance and came running over,


    shouting "Dad" with arms wide open. But Marissa pulled him back before he could reach us. I


    remember his confused eyes, looking at all the adults around him," I continued, looking at Hannah,


    "Marissa was hiding behind him, pinching him to keep him quiet. He was trying so hard not to cry, and I


    could see the tears glistening in his eyes. He stood there, trying to look brave."


    "Marissa is so mean." Hannah pped the steering wheel, visibly angry.


    "It''s clear Marissa wasn''t always kind to him," I said, with a bitter smile, "But he was still so innocent. I


    remember thinking again if only he wasn''t Marissa''s child, I''m sure I would love him."


    Hannah reached over and patted my handfortingly.


    "The third time I saw him, was after the incident that Marissa hooked up with a toy boy. She had been


    beaten up, and no one was there to pick him up from school. I tried to get close to him, to talk to him, to


    find out his name. He was so guarded and scared, but he held my hand. His little hand was chubby and


    soft, and it fit so perfectly in mine. I really liked him then. I wanted to keep holding his hand. But he was


    Marissa''s child, and I couldn''t let myself get too close."


    Tears trickled down my face as I admitted, "I''m so selfish. Why did I have to be so hard on a child?"


    Hannah scoffed, "I don''t understand why Jerome didn''t just do a DNA test instead of believing all the


    lies."


    "I''m sure there must have been something that made him believe the report was real," I said quietly,


    "Thest time I saw Evan was when he was with Jerome."


    "With Jerome?" Hannah asked, sounding curious.


    "Yes, it was after Marissa was beaten up. Jerome had gone to pick him up from school."


    "Really?"


    "Yes, it was a beautiful sight. Jerome obviously adored him. He had Evan sitting on his shoulders, and


    they were both smiling. But who would have thought that Evan''s life would be cut short by his father?"


    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    Why would Jerome just push Evan personally? That was what went through my head.


    Only Zora would know the solution to this question.


    When we reached home, Hannah said, "You must be hungry. Let me make you something to eat."


    As she headed towards the kitchen, I copsed onto the sofa, still lost in my thoughts. I prayed that the


    police would find his body soon. The thought of him lying in some dark, damp, dirty ce was


    unbearable.


    Just then, Jan walked in, looking cheerful and carrying a file in his hand.