Chapter 792 - 800: I’m Holding It

"I’ve held on," Jane Sampson’s voice still carried a raspiness from crying, her tone brimming with grievance as she asked, "James, can I have ice cream tomorrow then?"

The corners of James Black’s mouth twitched almost imperceptibly. It’s true...

Give her an inch, and she’ll open a dyeing workshop right away.

"Hold on a bit longer then go to sleep," James Black huffed, "Ice cream, don’t even think about it."

A person who hasn’t even finished her period is dreaming of delicacies.

"Okay, alright then." The voice that answered was still in a pitiful tone, but finally, she compromised.

They said they would hold each other a bit longer before sleeping. in reality, they maintained that position for a long time, until James sensed the person on his back dozing off, and then he made sure Jane lay down beside him to sleep.

The one who had cried and held on to him without letting go had persisted for quite a while. As soon as she laid down, she fell asleep in no time.

On the other hand, James Black couldn’t sleep.

In his heart, there was only pity.

And regret.

Actually, he should have started treating her better after they got engaged.

That way, her childhood might have been a bit happier, a little less hard.

After Julie Sampton had taken away the family’s affection from her, she must have been very scared, scared of one day having no home to return to, scared that one day, she would have nothing.

If he had just been nicer to her then, accompanied her when she was sad, perhaps the present Jane Sampson would be a little bit happier?

Looking at the usually carefree and jolly Jane Sampson, who, in fact, is more sensitive and fragile than anyone.

James Black had heard some things about the Sampton family from Old Master Black and also from Peter Gingery.

When Julie Sampton was first recognized by the family, it was truly a miserable time.

And it was precisely because of Julie’s difficult times that Granny Sampton and Grandpa Sampton, who initially adored Jane immensely, became conflicted about their feelings for her in the beginning.

When Julie first arrived at the Sampton family, everyone in the family revolved around her.

Peter Gingery said that perhaps because she had a tough upbringing, Julie was mature beyond her years, deeply calculating, and quite scheming.

Though they were of the same age, Jane Sampson, who from childhood was pampered and treated like a little princess, truly stood no chance against Julie’s tactics. At any time, it was Julie who pretended to be good sisters with Jane in front of the adults while secretly plotting and suppressing Jane behind their backs.

From the moment Julie returned to the Sampton family, she saw Jane as an enemy.

And Jane, who had been that imperious little demon queen, suddenly changed into a different person in a very short time.

She no longer made a fuss, no longer caused trouble.

She started to study like she was possessed, attending classes at school during the day and even practicing the piano all night long.

The baby fat she had never managed to shed from childhood disappeared rapidly in just two or three months, leaving Jane with a drastically slimmer figure.

When she was rushed to the hospital after fainting from the strain of studying too hard and suffering from a heavy heart, the only person by her side at the hospital was Peter Gingery, her classmate at that time.

As she waited in vain for someone in the hospital, the people she longed for were enjoying themselves at the playground with Julie.

Peter said that after Jane was discharged, she asked him not to tell anyone about her hospitalization.

At that time, Jane told Peter that nobody cared, and if the word got out, it would just be a joke for Julie anyway.

After that, Jane began to grow quieter, and even at school, she started to talk less and less with her classmates.

Later, Peter mentioned in a conversation with Bright Sampton that at that time, Jane probably suffered from depression.

It’s just that, apart from him, no one noticed.

James now agonized over the thought that she must have been incredibly sad back then, but if he had been by her side then, perhaps as she grew up, she wouldn’t have had to be as strong, yet as vulnerable, as she is now.

Even though he knew Jane was already asleep and couldn’t hear him, James still spoke softly, gazing at her sleeping face, and very earnestly, word by word, he said, "Jane Sampson, you will always have me."