My Dreamy Old Husband

Michael was holding Carmen’s hand as they were about to leave when he stopped dead in his tracks upon hearing it. He turned his head back and stared at Ashton, his eyes welled with raging fury.

He was still a gentle, loving father two seconds ago before his raw furor got the better of him.

“Ashton… what did you just say?”

Ashton was taken aback by the sudden outburst of Michael’s rage, but he hugged his father’s leg and summoned the courage to speak the truth. “Al had lifted Mel and Lulu’s skirts before, and this time, he tried to take off Carmen’s pants!”

Hope, who was in Harry’s arms, suddenly blurted out, “Judgey was right to bite Al. Mommy said those who lift girls’ skirts are bad people, and bad people deserve to be bitten!”

After both toddlers spoke their minds, the room was momentarily silent. A sudden realization hit Sophia as her face turned pale and tears streamed down her face beyond control.

Michael felt his body trembling before he quietly carried Carmen into the sports equipment room, leaving everyone outside. No one was allowed to enter except Sophia and Sarah.

In the equipment room, Sophia held Carmen softly and asked, “Baby, about what Ashton and Hope said earlier, was it true? Did Al try to take off your pants?”

Carmen was still in shock over what happened earlier today. With a face filled with pity, she looked at her mother and nodded as she answered, “He even took off other kids’ pants and skirts. He tried to do the same to me yesterday, but I didn’t let him, and then Hope and Ashton beat him up. Daddy said not to let others take off my skirt. Only bad people do that. I went home and told Judgey, so it brought its puppies to bite Al.”

Sophia listened to Carmen with sighs between her breaths. She felt as if her body had frozen from the disturbing realization of what had happened. Michael, who was standing next to her, grimaced in silence.

“Come, Carmen. Let me see,” whispered Sophia as she carefully lifted Carmen’s skirt with her pale, trembling hands and saw a white-colored shorts with bear prints.

Carmen then raised her skirt further and revealed her stomach. She pointed at two scratch marks on her tummy and thighs, which was thankfully not deep, and said, “Here, look at this, and this. Al and Daryl kept wanting me to take my pants off, but I wouldn’t let them. So they kept forcing me, and I got scratched. Judgey then came in and bit Al.”

Michael also observed the two scratch marks on Carmen’s tummy and thigh. They looked shallow and were probably made by children.

He kept gazing at them, not realizing that the veins on his forehead were popping out.

a trivial matter like this drove him to his

did not know better, but on

pain and trauma never left her until her adulthood. Such

this close to going back out to clobber that little monster there

and uttered, “Michael, please bring Carmen to

the door before he turned back abruptly and gave his wife a hug as he said, “Wait for me to come home.” After that, he continued his way out as his vision got blurred

father’s shoulders

a forced smile and replied, “I will see you in

strolled off as they

you still angry at Judgey

not at all. Next time, if someone ever bullies you again, don’t send Judgey—tell me instead. I will come and

she’s come back with another identity! She weaseled her way into the Mitchell Family and took over Old Master Mitchell’s fortune. She even tried to put her name into our family tree! After my father exposed both her

remained everyone’s concern was the fact that Sophia’s dog had injured Albert. This incident had made it worse for Cooper in

quietly outside the sports equipment room. He no longer paid attention to all the words that Sandra was spewing to the crowd for he had seen his fair share of pointless provocations in his life. All he cared about at that moment was his beloved

from the equipment room opened, whereupon Michael walked out

voice. He instantly turned in her direction and said, “Carmen, baby, how are you feeling? Do you feel pain anywhere? If you do, you have to tell

and replied, “I don’t

was still stone-cold, said to Cooper, “Hey, Cooper, I’ll leave this matter here to you. I’m bringing Carmen

never said another word and nodded before he

leaving and hurriedly caught up with him. “Stop right there. Hand me the

of the kindergarten to get into his car, which headed to the hospital without further delay. Sandra stomped her heels and cried out,

scratch marks on her poor baby’s tummy and thighs. She could feel the pain from

three years old. How could they