Let Me Stay The Night

Perturbation brimmed in Lucas’ doe-like eyes.

It’s all my fault. I caused Mommy to be scolded.

Dabbing off the sweat on the child’s head with a handkerchief, Nathaniel reminded the former, “Don’t do it again. It’s fine if you had just broken the shelf, but what if the books had hit your head?”

“I’m sorry, Daddy,” said Lucas with a pout.

“You’re all sweaty. Come on. I’ll give you a shower.” Christina got to her feet and pulled Lucas along to the bathroom.

After the door closed, Nathaniel’s gaze moved up until it found the shelf’s topmost level.

The books were arranged neatly, but the sequence was incorrect.

Christina did not sleep well because of what she learned. Hence, she drove to the hospital early the next day.

Sharon looked much better compared to the last time Christina saw her. Clearly, the former had rested well.

“Mom, I’m here. Do you want some grapes?” Christina approached the hospital bed and opened up the container filled with cleaned fruits.

Sharon was delighted to see her daughter, and a smile tugged at her lips. “Okay.”

Hearing Sharon’s response, Christina peeled the fruit’s skin and popped them into the former’s mouth. The bond between the two was strong after having to depend on each other for so many years. Hence, the news that the woman in front of her was not her biological mother put Christina at a loss.

She had no idea how to handle it.

“Christina, you dropped a grape. What are you thinking so deeply about?” asked Sharon with concern..

Only then did Christina realize the grape had slipped from her fingers.

“My hands slipped,” explained Christina awkwardly. She then picked up the grape with a piece of tissue and tossed it into the bin.

Christina’s strange behavior worried Sharon. “What’s wrong? Did you and Nathaniel get into a fight?”

Christina’s eyelids drooped to avoid her mother’s gaze. For a moment, she did not know how to answer the latter’s question. “No…”

the former’s hand to comfort her. “Is Nathaniel giving you less attention because he’s usually swamped

interrupted, still wondering where she

if I go straight to the point? I mean, no mother would want their daughter,

Don’t keep it to yourself. Sharon grew more concerned the longer

her fingers and took in a deep breath. Maybe I should just ask her instead of making

on my

…

locked a nervous gaze on her mother as complex feelings like worry and

by the unexpected question, and

subconsciously clenched her

her mind, roughly confirming the

of silence, Christina took Sharon’s hand and stared at the latter intently. “Mom, no matter what happened in the past, you’re still

she could bring the secret. she had

been so many years. I can’t believe you found out about it so soon. I didn’t mean to

in her vessels had solidified

to be found. At that time, all you had was a necklace. I was sure it was from your family, so I kept it, thinking you’ll have a token when you decide to look for your real parents one day. I’m sorry, Christina. I was too heartbroken at that time, so I

partially concealed by her lowered eyelids. It was taking her some time to process all the information that was dumped

did they give me a token and leave just like that?

crying mother. All she could manage was, “Rest well, Mom. I don’t blame you

for so many years because she feared I might get angry when I found out about

as though. her mind was going to explode from all the thoughts

then, her phone

caller ID and answered it. “Bailey,

to find a great place today to have some fun. Let’s

a text from Badley containing the

entered the information into the navigation system and soon arrived at the club-the

stepped into the building. Bailey

was enjoying themselves. No

combo of blasting music and