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.

trivial matter like

an innocent prank among children who did not know better, but on a

pain and trauma never left her until her adulthood. Such a painful experience sent her spiralling into a depressive episode, which took her a long

was this close to going back out to

turned to Michael and uttered, “Michael, please bring Carmen to get checked at the hospital. As for

seconds before moving over to carry Carmen from Sophia’s arms. He took a couple of steps toward 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

was leaning on her father’s shoulders when

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

strolled

are you still angry at Judgey for

if someone ever bullies you again, don’t send Judgey—tell

aloud to the crowd. “Scarlett Mitchell is Sophia Edwards! She faked her death three years ago to scam her insurance company, and now, 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 and her father’s

dog had injured Albert. This incident had made it worse for Cooper

that Sandra was spewing to the crowd for he had seen his fair share

door from the equipment room opened, whereupon Michael walked out with Carmen in his

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 feel pain anymore, but I’m

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

said another word and nodded before he ordered someone to escort

up with him.

his steps and headed right out of the kindergarten to get into his car, which headed to the hospital without further delay. Sandra stomped her heels and cried out, “Do you think you all can get away with this? You’ve hurt my

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

barely three years old.