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…”

hand to comfort her. “Is Nathaniel giving you less attention because he’s usually swamped at work? It’s normal since men

Christina interrupted, still wondering where

I go straight to the point? I mean, no mother would want their daughter, whom they raised for over twenty years, to ask if they’re related by blood.

yourself. Sharon grew more concerned the longer Christina kept her silence

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

on my

was … adopted?”

like worry and suspicion

was stunned by the unexpected question, and her pupils

subconsciously clenched her fists, her heart beating

roughly confirming the

intently. “Mom, no matter what happened in the past, you’re still the mom I love the most.”

Sharon could no longer hold back her tears. After all, she thought she could bring the secret. she had been hiding for many years to her

out about it so

tighten at her mother’s words. It was as if the blood in her vessels had solidified from all the anxiety she was feeling. “Mom, what

your parents after realizing what had happened, but they were nowhere to be found. At that

her lowered eyelids. It was taking her some time to process all the information that

did they give me a token and

by her emotions that she could not comfort her crying mother. All she could manage was,

for so many years because she feared

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

her phone

answered it. “Bailey, I feel horrible today. Can you spend some

great place

a text from Badley containing the address.

arrived at the club-the one Nathaniel had brought

building. Bailey leil

was rather crowded, and everyone was enjoying themselves.

music and loud laughter