Bab 9: Someone To Rely On
Nidia then tried using humanity to convince him.
"I know I'd surely lose if I tried to bring this to court. No lawyer would help me out, anyway! But I really want to have my child's custody. He was a piece of my body and soul!"
The traffic light turned red, and the black Cayenne stopped right at the very front.
Jackson was still silent, his eyes black and cold. No one would know what was going on inside his head. It was impossible to even find his weakness.
He was invincible. He neither had a soft spot, nor would it be possible to threaten him.
'Huh. If getting custody was a dead topic, then maybe I should drop it?'
'I should take this slow. Maybe someday he'd have a change of heart and let the baby live with mama.'
"Well, let's just drop this topic. All I want now is to be able to see him once in a while!" Nidia insisted. This was her only wish, and she was desperate.
It had been two days since she had seen her baby.
She had thought she wouldn't get a response out of him, however, he spoke up. His expression was just as cold as the air conditioning in the car.
"As long as you don't pull any tricks again, you're free to see him anytime."
What did he mean by 'tricks'? Was it because she tried to contact lawyers to bring him to court?
"I won't. I don't think I'd be able to trick someone like you." Nidia said in a soft tone.
It was the truth, after all.
The light turned green, and the black car continued its way on the road.
Nidia turned to look out the window. She could feel her mind slowly calming down.
Suddenly, she felt pain in her lower abdomen. It was a familiar sense of pain...
'No way, is this really happening now?' She furrowed her eyebrows slightly and reached under her behind. Before she could determine if it was the air conditioning's fault or her period, she could feel a wet sensation coming from between her legs.
Her hand felt a damp area on her skirt as well...
She then looked at her fair fingers, now stained red.
'It took at least four months for others to have their periods after giving birth. How is it that it only took me a month?' Nidia could feel the awkwardness weighing down on her. She then turned to the man, blushing profusely, "Can you please let me off somewhere nearby?"
Jackson slowly and steadily turned the steering wheel. He was going to park at the front.
In front of them was a junction where they were allowed to park. However, it was fairly crowded. The place was bustling with people, but there weren't any supermarkets nearby. It was a small business street.
"Uhm... is it alright if... you let me down somewhere more quiet?" Nidia said, her voice trailing off.
Jackson then realized something was wrong. He turned to her, a confused expression on his face.
"I'm sorry, I stained your car..." Nidia apologized.
She didn't bring her purse with her when she went to get medicine yesterday. All she brought was her phone and her house keys, which was why she didn't have any tissues on her now.
Jackson stared at the slight hint of red on her fingers. Realizing that she was holding onto her stomach with her other arm, face pale, he immediately understood her situation He drove his car and parked it at the parking lot of a large supermarket.
Nidia decided to get off and clean up the bloody mess she made on his car seat.
"Wait for me in the car!" He said, exiting the car before her.
Jackson walked into the supermarket. Nidia could tell that he was inexperienced in shopping. He was a man of high status after all, he must be quite busy.
It would seem that he was speaking to the security guard at the parking lot entrance. The security guard then pointed in another direction and showed him where to enter the supermarket.
Jackson took a shopping cart with him. Most likely, he was following what others were doing. The security guard approached him with a smile and spoke to him briefly.
He then put the shopping cart back and entered the supermarket on his own. Nidia thought he had only gone in to get cleaning supplies for his car.
Nidia searched his car thoroughly and found a box of tissues and alcohol wipes in the storage space. All this was sufficient for her to clean up.
She had made a mess in such a clean and neat car. She couldn't help but feel embarrassed.
After cleaning up the seat, Nidia kept wiping it over and over again with the alcohol wipes. This was the first time in her life that she had dirtied someone's car because of her period.
When she was done, she stood outside the car. She didn't dare to get in again, worried she might make another mess.
Just then, Nidia noticed Jackson's tall figure at the cashier. He was paying for a pack of something in his hands.
The cashier couldn't help but sneak a few glances, but seemed slightly afraid to make eye contact with him.
...
Jackson's expression was still cold and calm as ever. He paid for the item and walked out of the supermarket.
Nidia stared at him as he walked towards her. When he walked nearer, she realized his big hands were holding a pack of pads...
Jackson seemed like he had just bought a random box of cigarettes. It was as if the pads weren't out of place in his hands.
There were many people on the way to the parking lot from the supermarket.
However, they did not notice what he was holding. On the contrary, they were only mesmerized by his defined features.
Jackson walked towards her and handed her the pads. He signalled the restroom to her with his thumb and said, "Go do what you need to do."
Nidia had not expected Jackson to buy this for her!
"Thanks!" Nidia said, taking the pads from his hands. She held it in her arms as she turned around to leave for the restroom.
"Hold on." Jackson's cold fingers grabbed her wrist again.
Nidia had no idea what he was trying to do.
Just as she turned around, Jackson took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders.
He checked her behind, making sure his coat covered the bright shade of red on her dress.
Nidia could feel his body warmth on her neck and her back...
Her dress and underwear were goners. It would be irrational to get new ones now.
Hence, she decided to deal with them after she got home.
Nidia came out from the restroom, intending to return his coat. Jackson, who was now in the driver's seat, immediately ordered her, "Get in, I'll send you home now."
Nidia hesitated for a while, but she still got in the car. She was finally on his good side, and he even agreed to let her see her baby again. She couldn't risk that over this small matter.
After getting in, Jackson handed her a plastic bag. Meanwhile, Nidia placed the wrapper for the pad under her bum. This was to prevent staining the car seat again.
Nidia opened the plastic bag Jackson had handed her. It was a bowl of hot porridge, filled with nutritious seafood.
"Thank you..." Nidia said gratefully, holding the bowl of porridge in her hands.
The car ride was significantly slower and steadier as she ate the porridge.
They didn't speak a word to each other until they reached her area. Nidia took off the coat and gave it back to him, getting ready to get out of the car.
"Wear it. You can hand it back to me when we get to your place." Jackson said, getting out of the car as well.
Nidia sealed her lips and put the coat back on. Going up a flight of stairs, an elderly woman and two young men stood in the hallway.
Jackson must've noticed them, which was why he decided to come with.
Wearing his coat, Nidia followed Jackson as they walked upstairs. As they reached her apartment, she took off the coat and handed it back to him, saying, "Thanks!"
Just as she spoke, Nidia could hear clashing sounds from her apartment.
"Call your granddaughter now, you old hag! If we can't accomplish our mission today, you're not going to hear the end of it!"
Who are these people?
Suddenly, Nidia remembered what Barend and Elizabeth had warned her about. She immediately threw the coat to Jackson and rushed to open the door.
The living room was a complete mess. Clothes and daily supplies were all over the floor.
"Call her! Don't you know how to dial a number? If your granddaughter doesn't come back within an hour, we'll chop one of your fingers off!" A man threatened.
Nidia rushed to the bedroom for her grandmother. The closet was broken, and everything was on the floor as well. All of her clothes were stuffed into a luggage.
Grandma, on the other hand, was sitting on a chair. She still seemed fine.
"Did Barend South send you? Get out of my house now!" Nidia yelled, rushing in front of Grandma. She glared at the two men, blood boiling with anger.
One of the men pointed at her and said, "Yo, so you're Miss South, huh? Good that you came back on your own. Mr. South ordered us to send you back to San Caj. He said if we fail to do so, we'll be fired. So do you want to pack your bags and get in the car, or do you want us to help you with that? I'll give you a minute!"
...
"I won't go with you. If you won't stop harassing us, I'll call the cops!" Nidia snapped.
She noticed that Grandma's phone was in the corner, broken.
Then, this man must've been forcing Grandma to call her with his own phone.
After waking up in the apartment, Nidia had tried to contact Grandma. Somehow, she couldn't reach Grandma at all. This was the main reason as to why she declined Theodore's invitation. She had wanted to stay with Grandma, and wait for what Barend had in mind for her.
Even back in the car, Nidia was worried that Barend would really have someone to force her back to San Caj.
She really thought Barend would be merciful and let her off so easily.
Not only did he order them to force her to leave, they also used such violent methods!
The whole apartment was trashed. Nidia saw that Grandma had been stressed out for the past two days. She looked horrible...
Seeing Grandma in such a state, Nidia hated Barend and Abby to the core. She hated them so much that she wanted to scream.
Just then, a deep and mesmerizing voice came from outside of the bedroom. "What happened?"
Nidia lifted her gaze and realized it was Jackson Cunningham. He hadn't left yet. He was standing there, observing the mess that was her apartment.
"Jackson?"
Grandma's face lit up. She had been worried about her granddaughter's safety.
"Jackson, thank god you're here! Take Niddie with you, don't let these bastards take her!"
"I won't go! They're here for me. This is a land with law and order. I'll make sure they end up in jail!"
The two men turned to Jackson, who was standing by the door.
Jackson was already quite menacing with his height of 187 cm. Paired with his defined features and cold expression, his aura was extremely powerful. There weren't many who didn't fear the man.
"Who are you?" One of the men pointed at him and continued, "You better mind your own business, or else there will be blood! This is a family matter!"
Suddenly, the man pulled out a swiss army knife.
"I won't butt in your business, but threatening an elderly? She'd just be more unwilling to listen to you." Jackson said, still expressionless. His cold demeanor somehow gave off a sense of security.
"Come out here and I'll teach you how to deal with them." Jackson said, leaving the room and walking out of the apartment.
Nidia had no idea what was up Jackson's sleeve.
The man with the knife shot Nidia and her grandmother a dirty look. He was only here under the orders of Barend South, as he and his brother were the only ones who knew about this secret within the South family.
Back then, Barend South had to move to the countryside due to bankruptcy. That was when he met the young and beautiful Hannah Miles. After getting the girl, Barend impregnated Hannah, and they registered their marriage in secret.
Hannah then gave birth to two baby daughters in the countryside.
After that, Barend moved into San Caj with Hannah. A few years later, they moved to Baile City. The only people who knew about their history were either still living in the countryside, or they were like the two brothers and did dirty work for Barend South. Their mouths were sealed tight.
Before bringing Hannah to Baile City, Barend already had a family of his own. He had been sleeping around with many women, after all.
Barend was a heartless beast. He would even go as far as to call his eldest daughter, Nidia, a b*tch. Hence, his underlings were just as heartless as he was.
A young lady like Nidia was now being disowned by her own father, who was rich.
Who wouldn't want to mess with her?
Heh, they weren't able to sleep with a woman with good looks and a sensual figure like Nidia. Insulting her was satisfying enough for them.
"Well, well... I was wondering why Miss South could talk big. So you found someone to rely on? That dressed up white-face guy?"
The man pointed his knife at Nidia's direction and stared at the blood stain on her behind. He then added, "Wow, Miss South. You're pretty desperate, huh? You lost your virginity to that guy? Tsk, you just slept with him, didn't you? Blood's still flowing out as we speak..."
Hadiah
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