"James, donât be so hard on yourself." Gwendolyn Youngâs heart ached not just for the girl named Mandy Forest but even more so for her own son, "Back then, you thought you might become paralyzed and didnât want to drag her down, so you decided to break up; mother understands. But now that youâve returned, why not go and bring her back?"
"Jillian doesnât like her." James Carter gave a bitter smile, "Mom, Jillian is my sister, sheâs always bullied when sheâs with me. Jillian isnât happy, and neither is she. I love Jillian as my sister, but I also feel sorry for her as my girlfriend. So, since weâve already separated, letâs just leave it at that. Without me, sheâll eventually find someone better who will cherish her."
"Jillian has been spoiled by us," Gwendolyn Young was filled with self-reproach.
When James Carter first brought his girlfriend Mandy Forest home, Jillian Carter wasnât pleased. Later on, she would often cause Mandy Forest distress, both overtly and covertly. Mandy Forest, for the sake of James Carter, always endured it.
James Carter felt apologetic; after all, Mandy Forest was always proud. If it were not for her boyfriend, she wouldnât have put up with anyone elseâs mistreatment.
James Carter tried to discipline Jillian, but it was useless, he couldnât control her.
Even if he and Mandy Forest didnât return to the Carter Family home, Jillian had plenty of ways to torment Mandy Forest.
"If you really like that girl, then go find her," Gwendolyn Young said, "Jillian should grow up. In this world, no one is born to accommodate her. Youâve both grown up and will eventually leave your parents to start your own lives. Your father and I are open-minded; we donât insist on the children staying by our side to care for and accompany us. After you get married and move out, just come home for meals and spend holidays with us that would be enough. With your dad and me here, Jillian wouldnât dare to bully her sister-in-law."
James Carter didnât respond, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
In fact, he was well aware that some feelings, even if not yet released, do not necessarily mean they can be picked back up.
James Carter knew in his heart that Mandy Forest must hate him.
After all, even he hated himself, so Mandy Forest had no reason not to hate him.
Gwendolyn Young didnât continue on the topic of feelings, but shifted her attention to the live streaming. Watching Jane Sampson take small cookies out of the oven, she smiled, "The cookies look just like her dolls; this little lass is so clever and skilled with her hands."
"Indeed, seems like she can do anything, knows everything," James Carter followed with a compliment.
While they were watching Jane Sampson decide how to distribute the small cookies, the live broadcast studio suddenly froze.
Coming back to their senses, James Carter and Gwendolyn Young found that both of their mobile phones had automatically exited Jane Sampsonâs live broadcast studio. Gwendolyn muttered, "This girl is too popular, so popular that itâs causing lag."
While muttering, Gwendolyn tried to re-enter Jane Sampsonâs live broadcast channel.
Unable to enter after more than a minute of trying, Gwendolyn turned to James Carter and asked, "Canât get into the live broadcast studio?"
"Yes," James Carter responded with a nod.
"Looks like itâs really lagging badly," Gwendolyn said with a laugh as she put down her phone.
"Itâs not that," James Carter, scrolling through twitter, shook his head, "A lot of people on twitter are saying they canât get into Jane Sampsonâs live stream. The live broadcast company says theyâre actively looking for the cause."
"What does that mean?" asked Gwendolyn.