Let Me Stay The Night

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.

pain, but he pointed

illness is this? It

Lucas. I’ll take you

as well. She trotted over. “Don’t be

by Camila’s innocent words. “You can’t share your medicine,

“I understand,

personalities differed wildly. Lucas was witty and outspoken, while Camila was delicate and

He’s coming to examine you and

the needle. At the prospect of getting jabbed, he gave a

infinitely

up. “It doesn’t

he got to his feet, looking good

looking much better

you don’t want to attend school, but you must never lie to me again,

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

the family doctor turned up.

well-behaved. She remained in her mother’s arms while she held onto her father’s

not take long for the doctor to finish his examination. “She’s doing much better, but she needs to continue taking her medication until her coughing stops. Remember to have plenty of

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

to put her to sleep. Christina glanced at

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

waited until the children were sound asleep before leaving

her phone upon arriving home, she found that Lina had called her many times and left multiple

entered the study and addressed them one at a time. She asked Lina to send the documents to

via a series of

had never changed the password even after all those years. She keyed in the login credentials, and

photograph greeted her

photograph of all of us together when we visited the amusement park? I can’t