Let Me Stay The Night

Christina smiled awkwardly. I didn’t forget, but it was never my plan to contact him, okay?

After formulating her response, she explained, “Daddy needs to work, so he can’t go with us!”

The children crossed their arms and stared at her in unison with suspicion.

Camila pouted. “You never planned to bring Daddy along at all!”

“You shouldn’t lie to kids, Mommy!” added Lucas.

Christina’s acting was clumsier when she was in front of her children. “Of course not. It’s not like we’re staying there for a long time. It’s just a vacation.”

Her reasoning convinced the children.

They nodded, despite not fully understanding the situation. “We’ll return after summer vacation is over?”

“Of course! When did I ever lie to you before?” Christina gently patted their heads.

Before the kids replied, she carried them into their room. “Rest well, okay? We’ll take the plane there tomorrow!”

Camila and Lucas nodded obediently. “Goodnight, Mommy!”

“Goodnight.” Christina kissed their foreheads before leaving the room.

After closing the door, she continued to pack her things, though there wasn’t much for her to pack.

Once she was done busying about, she plopped down on the couch and quietly scanned the renovations in the condominium. Even though Nathaniel isn’t here, I can still see traces of him everywhere.

Meanwhile, Nathaniel hadn’t slept well for the past two days because his insomnia had returned. After he swallowed a sleeping pill, he slumbered.

his bedside table vibrated for a moment as it had just

next morning, sunlight landed on Christina, waking her up. She didn’t realize

simple breakfast, changed into a pink dress, and tied up her hair, making her fair countenance

three of them finished breakfast, Christina pulled out

the entrance and opened the door, she saw a towering figure

terrifyingly intense scowl. Her blood froze instantly, and she was rooted to the spot.

here?”

her the message Camila had sent him. “Are you trying to hurt the kids?”

read the text message, her eyelids twitched. I didn’t expect the kids to snitch

did you

explained seriously, “Aren’t we spending the summer vacation at Hallsbay, Mommy? Summer vacation lasts for a long–time, and my teacher said ‘a long time‘ can be expressed as

words rendered Christina

and lifted the children. “How about you two buy presents with my assistant at

they were immediately delighted. “Yes! I want presents!”

the children downstairs, Nathaniel closed the door.

closer to Christina, driving her into a corner. “Where are you planning

made her feel as if the air

lifted her chin and uttered in a resolute tone, “I’m not kidnapping the kids. I’m bringing them to a fun place for summer

her as though she was prey he would swallow whole. “Do you think you can hide the truth from me, Christina? You’re eager to divorce me, so you can return to the Gibson family. Am I

her effortful attempts, she couldn’t push him away as his

powerless doll, she was clutched tightly within Nathaniel’s

restraint and knitted her eyebrows. “Release me. I always am a member of the Gibson family. Besides, why should I ask for your permission to go

looking as if

domineering and suffocating tone plunged the room into the darkness of a black hole. She couldn’t feel her heartbeat