A Crazy Night Novel

As soon as Christina spoke, she heard footsteps behind her.

Turning around, she found herself gazing into Nathaniel’s eyes.

What a coincidence! Nathaniel shows up every time we say something about him. Did he put a wiretap in this house?

Nathaniel lifted Lucas and slung his schoolbag onto his shoulder. “It’s time to go to school, Lucas.”

“But Camila is sick. I want to stay and take care of her.” Lucas pursed his lips and blinked, trying to appeal to his father.

“There are plenty of people at home to look after her. You need to get to school on time.” As he spoke, Nathaniel marched toward the door with Lucas in his arms.

Having not seen his mother for a long time, Lucas was reluctant to attend kindergarten. Besides, he could recite the syllabus with his eyes closed.

He was determined to remain by his mother’s side. To that end, he clutched his stomach and yelled, “Ow! My stomach hurts! I don’t think I can go to school.”

Nathaniel scowled. He was fine earlier, and now he’s having a stomachache at the prospect of going to school. Nice try.

“I don’t care what hurts. You will go to school,” he insisted, his voice becoming dangerously soft.

Lucas’ panic grew when his father was about to leave the house with him. “Help, Mommy! It hurts so bad!”

Watching him gnash his teeth in agony, Christina became convinced that he was telling the truth. Concerned, she ran after the pair and stopped them.

“Didn’t you hear him say that he’s not feeling well?” Christina strode over and snatched Lucas out of Nathaniel’s arms.

Like a koala, Lucas clung to his mother. Thank God for Mommy. She loves me more than Daddy does.

Nuzzling against Christina’s bosom, he did not dare meet his father’s gaze for fear of being discovered.

“Where does it hurt? Show me.” Christina carried Lucas in and sat him down on the couch.

not in pain, but he pointed arbitrarily nonetheless. “Here,

illness is this? It

Lucas anxiously. “Don’t worry, Lucas. I’ll take you to the doctor.”

over. “Don’t be scared, Lucas. I’ll bring you some medicine.”

amused by Camila’s innocent words. “You can’t share your medicine, Camila. Stomachaches require a different kind of

nodded blankly. “I

Lucas was witty and outspoken, while Camila was delicate and

summoned the doctor. He’s coming

most children, Lucas feared the needle. At the prospect of

infinitely preferable

“It doesn’t hurt anymore, Mommy. I’d

another word, he got to his feet, looking

so sickly earlier, he’s looking much better within a

if you don’t

“I understand, Mommy. I won’t do it again.”

the family doctor turned

The girl was well-behaved. She remained in her mother’s arms while she held onto her father’s hand. “I’m not afraid with Daddy and Mommy here. with me.”

but she needs to continue taking her

left, Christina coaxed Camila to take her medicine and sketched while she stayed with

after, Camila began to feel drowsy and asked her mother to put her to sleep. Christina glanced at the clock and, upon realizing it was their

the trio lay in bed together. Amid the soft lull of nursery rhymes Christina crooned, the children soon fell asleep in her arms.

were sound asleep before leaving their room.

arriving home, she found that Lina had called her

at a time. She asked Lina to

via a series of questions that it was nothing serious, she

the password even after all those years. She keyed in the login credentials,

brightly lit photograph greeted her

when we visited the amusement park? I can’t believe Nathaniel is using it as