Give Up, Mr. Lawyer! This is Not Your Child-Chapter 154: Visiting Relatives

Jesse came home from school, bouncing and skipping as she opened the door.

She had made lots of new friends in kindergarten today and was in a particularly good mood.

As soon as she entered, she noticed a strange man sitting on the sofa.

Jesse immediately stopped in her tracks and curiously sized up the stranger.

Jean Ellison was helping in the kitchen and came out upon hearing the commotion.

Seeing Jesse standing there, she went over and took her daughter’s hand.

"Jesse, this is Uncle Sawyer," Jean gently introduced, "He’s Grandma Mason’s son."

Jesse looked up, her big round eyes focusing on Diana Sawyer.

She obediently gave a bow and said in her childish voice, "Hello, Uncle Sawyer."

Diana Sawyer was initially looking at his phone but raised his head upon hearing her.

His gaze fell on Jesse’s face, and his eyes suddenly turned somewhat complex.

He stared at Jesse for a few seconds before lightly responding with, "Hmm."

His tone betrayed no emotion.

Jean noticed Diana Sawyer’s indifference and felt a bit puzzled.

She gently patted Jesse’s back, "Go play for now."

Jesse nodded and walked toward her bedroom with her backpack.

At the doorway, she stealthily glanced back at Diana Sawyer.

Diana Sawyer had already lowered his head again, seemingly immersed in his phone as if the earlier incident had never occurred.

At six in the evening, Aunt Mason had prepared dinner.

The four of them sat around the dining table, and the atmosphere was slightly quiet.

"Dylan, try this braised pork," Aunt Mason enthusiastically put food on her son’s plate, "I remember it’s your favorite."

Diana Sawyer nodded, "Thanks, Mom."

Yet his gaze unintentionally drifted to Jesse sitting across from him.

Jesse was intently eating with a spoon, a grain of rice stuck on her small face.

Jean attentively helped her wipe it off.

Watching this scene, Diana Sawyer’s gaze gradually deepened.

His chopsticks paused, as if lost in thought.

Jean noticed his stare and frowned slightly.

She discreetly shifted closer to Jesse’s side, partially blocking the view.

"Mr. Sawyer, are the dishes to your liking?"

Jean asked, attempting to divert his attention.

Diana Sawyer snapped back, nodding, "Very good."

Yet his gaze quickly returned to Jesse.

This time his eyes were more focused, his brow slightly furrowed, almost as if he were looking beyond Jesse at something else.

Jesse seemed to feel the gaze and shifted restlessly.

Jean’s expression gradually darkened.

"Jesse, eat more vegetables,"

Jean deliberately raised her voice, fully blocking Diana Sawyer’s line of sight with her body.

Only then did Diana Sawyer realize his impropriety, and he lowered his head to start eating. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

But his peripheral vision still occasionally glanced at Jesse.

Dinner ended under a slightly awkward atmosphere. Jean was the first to stand up, "Let me help with the cleaning."

Aunt Mason quickly waved her hands, "No, no, you all rest."

But Jean had already started gathering the dishes.

She followed Aunt Mason into the kitchen, closing the door behind her.

"Aunt Mason," Jean whispered, "Is there something on Mr. Sawyer’s mind?"

Aunt Mason paused in her dishwashing, "Why?"

"He kept staring at Jesse during dinner," Jean said with dissatisfaction, "Jesse got uncomfortable from being looked at."

Aunt Mason sighed, "Dylan is thoughtful, but he means no harm."

Jean was still uneasy, "But he’s never met Jesse before, why..."

"He might have been reminded of some old memories," Aunt Mason interrupted her, "Miss, don’t overthink it."

Jean pressed her lips together, uttering no further word.

But she had already decided to keep a closer eye on Diana Sawyer’s actions.

When she came out of the kitchen, Jean saw Diana Sawyer standing by the window making a phone call.

His back was straight, yet it exuded an inexplicable sense of loneliness.

Jesse was playing with puzzles in the living room. Seeing her mom come out, she immediately ran over to hug her leg.

Jean crouched down and softly asked, "Jesse, during dinner, when Uncle Sawyer kept looking at you, were you scared?"

Jesse shook her head, "No, but Uncle Sawyer seemed a little sad."

Jean was taken aback.

She hadn’t expected her daughter to say that.

While putting Jesse to sleep at night, Jean paid special attention to the sounds outside.

She heard Diana Sawyer and Aunt Mason speaking softly in the living room.

"Mom, I’m heading back to the office early tomorrow."

It was Diana Sawyer’s voice.

"So soon? Won’t you stay a few more days?"

Aunt Mason’s tone carried disappointment.

"Work is still waiting," Diana Sawyer paused, "Are you planning to let Miss Ellison stay longer?"

Jean’s heart tensed.

She held her breath, listening carefully.

"Miss Ellison is in a difficult situation right now, and we need to help her."

Aunt Mason’s voice was firm.

Diana Sawyer was silent for a moment, "I understand, let me know if there’s anything you need."

Jean Ellison gently closed the door, her emotions a complex mix.

The next morning when Jean got up, Diana Sawyer was already gone.

Aunt Mason was preparing breakfast, her expression somewhat forlorn.

"Has Mr. Sawyer left?" Jean asked.

Aunt Mason nodded, "He’s always so busy."

On the dining table lay an envelope.

Aunt Mason picked it up, glanced at it, and handed it to Jean, "He left this for you."

Jean opened the envelope with curiosity and found a check and a note inside.

The note read, "Contact me anytime if you need anything."

She stared at the numbers on the check, stunned.

This amount of money was enough for her and her daughter to live on for a long time.

"This is too much, I can’t accept it."

Jean tried to return the check to Aunt Mason.

Aunt Mason held her hand down, "Take it, Mr. Caldwell has been a great help to him."

Jean held the check, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

She began to wonder if she had misunderstood Diana Sawyer.

On the way to drop Jesse off at kindergarten, Jean kept thinking about this matter.

Diana’s attitude was indeed strange, but his kindness was genuine.

"Mom, look!" Jesse suddenly pointed to the roadside.

Jean followed her finger and saw a toy store.

In the window were beautiful dolls.

"Uncle Sawyer said he’d bring me a gift next time he visits," Jesse said happily.

Jean asked in surprise, "When did Uncle Sawyer tell you that?"

"Last night," Jesse blinked, "He said his daughter is the same age as me."

Jean’s heart sank sharply.

She finally understood why Diana Sawyer was always staring at Jesse.

His daughter... wasn’t by his side, and strangely, Aunt Mason never mentioned her.

After returning home, Jean hesitated for a long time before texting Diana Sawyer.

"Thank you for the check, but it’s too much."

A few minutes later, Diana replied, "You’re welcome, take good care of yourself and the child."

Jean looked at the message and sighed gently.

Perhaps some people express concern in unconventional ways, but kindness is still kindness.

She decided not to dwell on Diana Sawyer’s attitude and focus on her present life.

After all, being able to meet someone willing to extend a helping hand in a foreign country was already a stroke of luck.

Back home, Aunt Mason came to Jean holding a neatly ironed dark gray men’s coat.

"Miss, could I trouble you with a favor?" Aunt Mason asked somewhat embarrassed, "Dylan rushed out this morning and left this coat at home. It’s chilly in New York at night, and his office air conditioning is strong. I’m tied up with preparing dinner..."

Jean took the coat, the fabric felt great.

"Okay, Aunt Mason, I’ll take it to him right away. What’s his office address?"

Aunt Mason gave an address and floor number in a well-known office building in Midtown Manhattan.

"When you get to the front desk, just say you’re looking for Diana Sawyer, and they’ll take you up."

Jean entrusted Jesse to Aunt Mason’s care and left with the coat.

She took the subway to the skyscraper with glass curtain walls.

After explaining her purpose at the front desk, a polite white female assistant guided her to a high-floor office.

The assistant lightly knocked on the door, and Diana’s low voice came from inside: "Come in."

The assistant opened the door and said to those inside, "Mr. Sawyer, Miss Ellison is here to see you," then stepped aside to let Jean in.

The office was spacious and bright, offering a great view overlooking the New York cityscape.

Diana stood with his back to the door, at the wall, seemingly engrossed in looking at something.

"Mr. Sawyer?" Jean called softly.

Diana didn’t respond immediately, remaining quietly there.

Jean took a few steps closer and saw a finely framed photo hanging on the wall in front of him.

It was a young Asian woman with a neat short haircut, wearing a simple white shirt and a self-assured, serene smile at the corners of her mouth.

Her eyes were bright, exuding intelligence and resilience, her whole presence emitting an intellectual and capable aura.

"She’s beautiful," Jean couldn’t help but compliment softly, gesturing with the coat in her hand, "Aunt Mason asked me to bring this to you."

Diana seemed to come out of his reverie then, slowly turning around.

He took the coat and casually draped it over the back of a chair, but his gaze involuntarily returned to the photo.

"Yes," his voice was soft, carrying an imperceptible tenderness, "She is beautiful."

Jean looked at the vibrant woman in the photo and couldn’t help but ask curiously, "The person in the photo is..."

Diana was silent for a few seconds before answering, his voice steady but weighty, "My wife."

Jean was momentarily stunned, then showed a gentle smile, "I hope to have the chance to meet her."

She assumed Diana’s wife might be working in another city in the United States.

Diana didn’t immediately respond.

The office fell silent, with only the faint noise from the city outside.

His deep gaze remained fixed on the photo, as if in a silent conversation with the person in it.

After a long while, he spoke again, his voice deeper than before, "She passed away."

Jean’s smile froze instantly, realizing she had misspoken, quickly apologizing, "I’m sorry, Mr. Sawyer, I didn’t know..."

Diana gently shook his head, indicating there was no need to apologize.

His gaze finally shifted from the photo to the gray sky outside the window, as if recalling a past he preferred not to touch.

"Five years ago," he continued, his tone calm as if recounting something unrelated to himself, "because of a car accident."

He paused, seemingly needing to gather strength to say what came next.

"She was visiting family in Pullen City and had a traffic accident deep in the mountains."