Of the four kids, only Kyle was examining the figure carefully.
She is thin, but there’s something familiar about her. This height, and the way she stands… Kyle thought about Nicole and found more and more similarities between the two.
“Turn around and show us your face! How did you get our daddy head over heels over you?” commanded Nina.
Nicole took a deep breath. Her fingers gripped her shirt. She honestly didn’t dare to face her kids before she got better, and it wasn’t just because she was borderline skeletal and ugly… Wesley said that if I continue losing weight like this, my body will crumble and my organs will deteriorate. I might also have other complications.
Nicole wasn’t sure if she could recover. If I can’t recover, then my crumbling health… it’d just get the kids worried and sad. It’ll have a negative impact on their lives.
As a caring mother, Nicole wanted her kids to lead happy lives.
“If you don’t turn around on your own, we will make you,” warned Juan, before he walked to Nicole. He was about to reach out and forcefully turn her around when a loud howl boomed.
“What are you doing?”
That voice surprised the four troublemakers.
Nina turned around and glared right back into Evan’s sharp eyes. She replied with her head held high, “We found a homewrecker, daddy. We’re curious about the woman who got you to abandon our mommy.”
Evan didn’t speak for a moment there.
He frowned before shifting his gaze to Nicole’s back and seeing how her thin figure was slightly trembling. After that, he roared, “There is no home wrecker here. Get out!”
That roar was filled with intense fury and got the kids to turn to one another. We’ll be in trouble if we stay here. Daddy will blow up and punish us mercilessly.
Juan and Maya believed that it was dumb to act when the situation dictated that a fight was pointless. Hence, they were the first to leave. Kyle observed the way Nicole gripped her clothes, and revelation flashed past his eyes. He walked out soon after.
Nina was the only one who remained stubborn. She glared at Nicole’s back and walked forward to reach out and turn the woman around. She wanted to chase the home wrecker out.
Evan caught that and was quick to stop Nina in time. “Get out!” scolded Evan angrily.
Nina’s eyes were filled with tears, and she glared at Evan in disappointment. “Daddy, you betrayed Mommy, and I will tell her!” shouted Nina before she ran out crying.
Nicole’s heart gripped. Did I make the right choice? Maybe I should’ve let the kids see me.
Unfortunately, Nicole wasn’t brave enough to do that. She couldn’t face them with a sickly face, nor could she force them to accept the fact that her health might deteriorate. She certainly couldn’t bring herself to make them suffer from the knowledge that their mother might drop dead at any given moment.
Please forgive me, my children. Just give me some time. I promise I will work hard to become healthy again, so you don’t have to worry about my survival.
Evan’s gaze turned gloomy when he saw Nicole’s trembling figure. Nicole, when will you open your heart up to us? You refuse to let me fight your illness with you and stopped the kids from seeing you in your current condition. You kept your hardship and your sorrow from us because you don’t want to trouble us, but do you realize that is also a selfish act? I will respect your decision, Nicole. I believe that there will come a day when you can fully open up to me, trust me, and lean on me. I trust you will find the courage to face the kids.
“I was careless this time. I promise this won’t happen again,” said Evan, before he turned around and left the room. He closed the door after that.
Nicole’s tears rolled down her cheeks.
She blamed her ailing body.
Nina wiped her tears away as she stared at her siblings. She announced, “I will never come to the Imperial Garden again. I want to disown daddy.”
Maya cooed, “Don’t be like that, Nina. Daddy is just confused. We must believe that deep down, he still loves mommy.”
Juan sighed. “I’m disappointed in daddy, too. I never thought he’d protect that home wrecker to this extent.”
