His love

Willow questioned if she had indeed heard that woman call her son a “cripple“. 

Ever since Aaron had injured his leg, the last thing Willow wanted to hear was someone using that derogatory term to describe him. 

She whipped her head around and fixed a cold stare on the young woman standing before her, clad in designer attire and adorned with sparkling jewels. The woman was Mandy Fisher. 

Mandy’s appearance was passable, but her thin lips and prominent cheekbones lent her a sharp, unfriendly demeanor. She clearly wasn’t someone who made friends easily. 

Next to her was a young boy, about four years old, named Harlan Selwood. His face bore a faint scratch 

and was streaked with dried tears. 

Pointing at Aaron, he sobbed, “Mom, it was him! The cripple! He hit me! See this scratch? He did it! Mom, it really hurt. You must do something about him!” 

“Oh, my darling, don’t cry! It breaks my heart to see you upset!” Mandy exclaimed, gently cupping Harlan’s Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

face. 

“Don’t worry, darling. I’ll make sure the cripple learns his lesson! Let’s see if he ever thinks about bullying 

you again!” 

“You damn cripple, how dare you fight me! My mom is the best. You’re going to regret this!” 

Harlan wiped his nose and taunted Aaron with a bold arrogance. 

Willow knew Harlan was undoubtedly the one who caused Aaron’s injuries. The irony was palpable–the minor scratch on Harlan’s face was almost imperceptible, whereas Aaron had been seriously hurt. It was evident that Harlan owed Aaron an apology, not the other way around. 

“Did you hear me? Apologize to my son right now!” Mandy demanded, pulling Harlan forward and looking down at Willow with a haughty air. 

“I won’t ask again. Apologize!” 

“Apologize?” 

Willow tightened her grip on Aaron’s hand. 

“Are you joking? If anyone should be apologizing, it’s your son to Aaron!” 

“What did you just say?” 

Mandy’s face contorted with fury upon hearing Willow’s words. She pointed at Harlan’s face. 

“Look at my son’s face–all scratched up by this cripple! How dare you demand him to apologize to this 

cripple?” 

“Aaron is not what you called him! His leg will heal!” Willow retorted firmly, her expression resolute. 

“Both you and your son owe Aaron an apology!” 

“Mom, I won’t apologize to this cripple!” Harlan shouted back, pointing at Aaron. 

“You damn cripple, you walk so weird, and your mom is shameless. No wonder your dad left you! A 

cripple like you who struggles to walk will never have a dad, even in your next life!” 

Willow froze. She was shocked by the cruelty of such words coming from a young child. 

Before Aaron had started school, there had been a parent–teacher meeting at his kindergarten. During this meeting, the teacher had asked the parents to complete a card with their basic information. 

Aaron’s card had been left empty on the subject of his father. Typically, children that young wouldn’t notice such details unless pointed out by their parents. It was clear that a child raised by such unreasonable and mean–spirited parents would struggle with respect for others. 

Harlan continued to pull mocking faces at Aaron. 

“You’re shameless, you damn cripple! You have a shameless mom but no dad to love you! Shame, on you! You waddle like a penguin, you cripple-” 

Aaron usually shrugged off personal insults, but he couldn’t tolerate disrespect toward his beloved mother, Willow. He lifted his head, his eyes blazing with anger at Harlen. 

“Don’t talk about my mom like that! She’s the best mom in the world! Apologize to her now!”