A Heaven-sent Sweet Child Falls Asking for Hugs-Chapter 29: He Even Dares to Hit a Child

Jasper Ford hadn’t expected Beanie Quincy to be such a pushover. He pulled the boy back with a fair, slender hand.

Jasper Ford placed the small boy on the edge of the bed. Beanie Quincy sat there steadily, his large, round eyes fixed on Jasper, filled with fear.

"Who were you on the phone with just now?" Jasper Ford asked, lowering his head.

Beanie Quincy’s small face stiffened. ’Did that mean man hear me? No, he couldn’t have. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be asking.’

Beanie Quincy immediately shook his head. "I wasn’t talking. What are you talking about, Ford?"

"Listen, little guy, your Miss Ford is already asleep. It’s no fun if you’re going to keep up the act in front of me," Jasper Ford reminded him with a half-smile, his voice, sexy and languid, a mix of temptation and warning.

Beanie drooped his head, looking innocent and confused. "Are you mad because I bumped into you today, mister? I’m sorry, I know I was wrong. A big person like you shouldn’t hold a grudge against a little kid."

"So young, yet you’re a compulsive liar. Who taught you that?" Jasper Ford’s interest was piqued.

Beanie blinked his big, sad eyes, a look of complete incomprehension written all over his face.

No matter what Jasper Ford asked, he refused to answer, just shaking his head and feigning ignorance. If Jasper’s expression turned even the slightest bit stern, the boy looked ready to burst into tears. He was a total drama king.

Unable to get anything out of Beanie, Jasper simply placed the child back on the bed. "Get some rest. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to find your mommy. You can think about how you’re going to answer me then."

The man turned and left.

Beanie, however, didn’t sleep a wink that night because of Jasper’s words. He knew Jasper was planning to take him to see Wanda Quincy. ’Once that evil woman gets her hands on me, she’ll definitely use me to threaten Mommy,’ he thought. ’Then Mommy and I will be kicked out of Crestfall and never be able to come back.’

He still hadn’t found his daddy, and he didn’t want to be known as the boy without a father. So, early the next morning, well before dawn, he went to wait outside Madam Ford’s door. He squatted in the corner, a pitiful little ball, looking for all the world like an abandoned child.

The butler, who was also an early riser, rushed over. "Beanie, why are you up so early?"

"I miss Miss Ford," Beanie said, pitifully rubbing his small hands, which were red from the cold. His voice was as heart-wrenching as he could make it.

Seeing it was still so early, the butler was troubled. "Madam Ford isn’t awake yet. Come back to your room with me and rest for a bit. It won’t be too late to see her when she wakes up."

"No, I’ll wait right here." Beanie refused to budge, determined to stay at Madam Ford’s door. He was just a tiny, chubby figure huddled in the corner, looking utterly pathetic.

The butler’s heart ached for the boy, but since he couldn’t convince him to leave, he had no choice but to wait with him outside the door.

Jasper Ford saw this scene the moment he stepped out of his room. His face darkened. "What’s going on?"

"Young Master, Beanie says he misses Madam Ford. I can’t convince him to leave," the butler explained, looking helpless.

Jasper Ford’s eyes narrowed dangerously. His sharp, terrifying gaze, which seemed to see through everything, landed on Beanie.

Beanie flinched, curling into himself even more. He tucked his little hands, red from the cold, into his chest. His chubby cheeks were pale, and he let out a few sneezes.

"Have you caught a cold?" Jasper Ford asked in surprise.

The little guy shook his head, insisting he hadn’t, even as his nose was running.

With a complicated expression, the man walked over and scooped Beanie up from the floor.

"Not a peep. Don’t disturb your Miss Ford," Jasper Ford warned in a low voice. He carried Beanie back to his own room and said to the butler, "Make some ginger soup to warm him up. And turn up the heat in the house."

"Right away, sir." The butler quickly left.

Jasper Ford set Beanie down on the sofa and looked down at him, scrutinizing him. "Are you afraid of me?"

"No," Beanie said, shaking his head, his big eyes blinking and sparkling.

’He doesn’t even blink when he lies!’

Jasper smiled, pinching the boy’s chin. "Afraid I’ll take you to see that deranged mother of yours?"

"Ford, Mommy doesn’t want me anymore. Please don’t bring her up again, okay? It makes me really sad." Beanie looked like he was on the verge of tears, his little voice thick with grievance.

"But the butler told me you and your mommy are incredibly close. Or does that mean you have two mommies, and Wanda Quincy is just one of them?" Jasper exposed the lie without mercy.

Feeling guilty, Beanie spotted the butler arriving with the ginger soup and quickly changed the subject. "Ford, can I drink that? I feel awful."

"You may. But first, answer my question. Who is your other mother?" Jasper pressed him.

Beanie decided to play dumb, acting as if he hadn’t heard a thing. He scrambled off the sofa and ran barefoot to the butler’s side.

Jasper frowned and barked, "Put your shoes on!"

Beanie’s eyes welled up with tears.

The sight pained the butler, who couldn’t help but plead, "Young Master, he’s only a child. Please don’t be so harsh with him."

Later, after Madam Ford woke up, Jasper announced he was taking Beanie out.

"Where are you taking him?" Madam Ford asked, her tone wary.

Jasper said, "He’s been here for several days. I’m sure he misses his mommy. As it happens, I’m free this morning, so I can take Beanie to see her."

Beanie, who was sitting in the dining room eating breakfast, let out two loud coughs.

Madam Ford hurried over. "What’s wrong, Beanie? Did you choke on something?"

"I’m fine. I just caught a cold from waiting outside Miss Ford’s door all night," Beanie said, his usually sweet voice now hoarse.

His words stunned Madam Ford. She sternly summoned the butler. "Why was Beanie waiting outside my door all night? Explain yourself!"

Terrified by the angry Madam Ford, the butler broke out in a cold sweat and had no choice but to recount the morning’s events truthfully.

When Madam Ford heard how Beanie had been squatting at her door, refusing to leave, her fierce gaze snapped to Jasper. "Did you scare him?!"

"I..."

"Don’t bother explaining. It was definitely you! The boy has a cold; why on earth would you take him out?" Madam Ford cut Jasper off. She shot him a ferocious glare before turning back to Beanie, her voice softening. "Hurry and finish eating. Miss Ford will take you upstairs to rest."

Beanie obediently put down his chopsticks and hopped off the chair. He rubbed his pale face, feigning exhaustion, and trotted obediently after Madam Ford.

Once they were in the room, Madam Ford asked, "Was it Ford who scared you?"

Beanie shook his head. "No. Ford only threw me around until I rolled over a few times last night. He didn’t scare me."

"That scoundrel! How dare he lay a hand on a child!" After getting Beanie settled, Madam Ford went downstairs for what seemed to be her daily ritual: scolding her grandson.

Jasper, who had intended to take Beanie to the office for a reunion with Wanda Quincy, could guess what the boy had told his grandmother. He wasn’t angry. In fact, his interest in Beanie only grew. He was now more determined than ever to find out who the boy’s real mother was.

He would let Beanie stay for the time being. There would be plenty of opportunities to pry the truth from the little rascal later.

Jasper drove to the office and attended a meeting with senior management. When he came out, he saw Hayden Kaye standing next to Vivian Quincy. Hayden was holding several takeout bags, having apparently just brought them breakfast, which drew envious glances from their office colleagues.