The Day I Kissed An Older Man
Chapter 1862

Anya was not pleased with the uncooperative Joey, who was in the cage. Her smile disappeared as she grew irritated. "I'm going to count to three. If you still won't look at me, I'm going to be very mad! One... Two..."

Before she could say 'three', Joey forced himself to raise his head and look at Anya timidly.

Anya was Joey's worst nightmare. She would always take out her anger on him whenever she felt unhappy. Although he could not remember every detail as he was a toddler back then, the mere sight of her could make his blood run cold. This horrible woman had instilled an instinctual fear in him.

When Joey finally looked at her, Anya put her friendly smile back on. She reached into the cage to stroke Joey's head. "Good boy. Who's the good boy? You are! Joey is Mommy's good boy!"

Her touch gave Joey the chills. He was downright terrified that she would suddenly strangle him to death.

"Joey, why are you looking at Mommy like that? Don't you miss me?" asked Anya with a smile.

Joey's reddened eyes welled up with tears of terror. He dared not say a word, let alone move an inch.

Apparently, his reaction enraged Anya again. She lost her temper and yanked Joey's hair. "Hey, I was talking to you! Did you miss me or not? Answer me!"

Her hoarse voice was a terror to the mind, and Joey began to silently cry. 'I'm scared! Mommy, where are you? Come quick... Save me!'

Joey kept thinking of Corinne. He tried his best not to cry, but being a child after all-he could not hold it any longer and started bawling uncontrollably. "Mommy... Mommy..."

It was only normal for a child to cry for his mother when he felt alarmed.

Even though he was calling for Corinne, Anya thought he was calling her, so she smiled satisfiedly.

"That's right! Mommy's here, my baby boy. Don't cry! Good boy..." Anya let go of Joey's hair, wiped off his tears, and said gently, "Joey dear, do you know how miserable Mommy has been all these years? You're Mommy's good boy, so you must always take Mommy's side and avenge me, okay?"

Joey had no idea what she was talking about. All he knew was that his dread was growing.

"Now, Joey, why don't you call me Mommy again? Just one more time, then Mommy will let you out of the cage, okay?" said Anya temptingly.

Joey's eyes were filled with nothing but fear. He whimpered and said, "I—I'm scared..."

Anya held his little face in her hands and said, "Oh, don't be scared, silly boy. Mommy's here. Mommy will protect you no matter what!"

Anya's shifting attitudes reminded Joey of what Corinne taught him and his siblings.

'When dealing with bad guys, we must learn to be tolerant and pretend to compromise. As long as we're alive, there's still a chance to escape.' Joey could hear Corinne's voice in his ears as if she was right there in front of him.

He calmed down a little and stopped crying after that. Sniffling, he said pitifully, "Mom... Mommy. I want to go out... Can you please let me out of here?"