“It’s better if they don’t meet.” Charlotte could not suppress her anger anymore.
“Why, Mommy?” Ellie looked at her nervously.
“Nothing.” Not wanting to mention these nasty incidences in front of the kids, Charlotte hugged Ellie and consoled her gently, “Sleep for a little while, Ellie. We’ll only reach the hospital half an hour later.”
“Okay.” Ellie drifted off to sleep in Charlotte’s arms. She gripped Charlotte’s shirt with one hand and Zachary’s hand with the other, afraid that they would leave her.
When Zachary and Charlotte saw that, they glanced at each other subconsciously.
There was a complicated look in Zachary’s eyes, but Charlotte turned her head around coldly and refused to look at him.
“Daddy, I want to sleep too.” Jamie snuggled into Zachary’s arms.
“Sleep, then.” Hugging him, Zachary coaxed him to sleep.
Jamie fell asleep quickly and even snored.
“Robbie, you should sleep too,” said Zachary.
“Mommy, Daddy, I’d like to talk to you.”
Seeing that his younger siblings were already asleep, Robbie finally mustered his courage and asked.
“What do you want to talk about, Robbie?”
Charlotte felt sorry for Robbie. Ever since he was young, he was more mature than his peers and more thoughtful. While he was very intelligent, it was extremely tiring for him too.
“Are both of you going to be separated completely?” asked Robbie softly. “Is there no chance of a reconciliation?”
Zachary did not know how to respond to his question. He wanted to deny it and express his reluctance, but he knew that Charlotte’s hatred for him could not be erased so quickly…
“Yes.” On the other hand, Charlotte’s reply was firm. “I know that my answer will make you sad, but I don’t want to lie to you. I’ll never reconcile with your father. However, regardless of our relationship, we’ll love you all the same!”
“I understand…”
Robbie nodded. He wanted to put up a strong front, but tears still streamed down his cheeks.
“I’m sorry, Robbie…” Charlotte hugged him, her heart aching terribly.
“Mommy, you shouldn’t feel sorry. Everyone has a right to choose the lives they wish to lead,” reassured Robbie as he wiped his tears.
“However, I hope that you can let Ellie and Jamie make their own choices. They’re not like me. As they’re still emotionally immature, they don’t understand a lot of things and can’t adapt that well…”
As Robbie spoke, he was crying so badly that he could not speak anymore. No matter how much he pretended to be strong and sensible, he was only a six-year-old child.
Looking at Robbie, Zachary felt miserable. Guilt and sorrow engulfed him. He hated himself for being unable to control the situation and allowing things to lead this way…
When Charlotte heard Robbie’s request, she hesitated. Actually, she knew that although Robbie would choose to follow her, Jamie and Ellie would most likely follow their father instead.
To both of them, Zachary was more interesting than her and knew how to interact with kids better. Furthermore, one would feel safer with him.
“Mommy, I’m begging you!” pleaded Robbie tearfully as he grabbed Charlotte’s hand.
Her heart ached terribly, for this was the first time she saw Robbie crying like that. She knew that he was the one who understood Jamie and Ellie the best, so he knew what they needed the most.
No matter how reluctant she was, Charlotte still nodded with tears in her eyes. “Okay, I promise you.”
Robbie threw himself into her arms and wailed. He knew that he would soon be separated from his father and siblings…
Perhaps because Jamie and Ellie could sense their brother’s sorrow, they woke up. When they saw Robbie sobbing, they immediately cried and asked, “What happened, Robbie?”
Wiping his tears away, he told them in a mature manner, “Jamie, Ellie, make your choices now. Do you want to be together with Mommy or Daddy? We need to choose now so we won’t have to be sad another time.”
