“What is it?”
Nicole organized her thoughts and feelings before looking at the kids. She explained how they would be living with their grandparents.
“Mommy, seriously?”
Juan blinked his eyes in shock. He couldn’t believe what Nicole had just told them.
Kyle was stunned, too because Nicole’s suggestion came too suddenly.
“As you did something wrong, this is your punishment. Do you have the courage to accept it?” Nicole was holding back her tears as she asked them casually.
Kyle and Juan looked at each other again. Kyle was obviously displeased, while Juan sighed sadly.
I’ve never been apart from Mommy, ever! He thought sadly.
Nicole noticed how discouraged the boys seemed and assured them, “I’ll visit you at your grandparents’ home, so don’t worry. On weekends, we’ll get to play together. You’ll be able to see me often.”
“Then, how long will we be staying with them?”
How long?
I don’t have an answer to that.
Nicole felt her heart ached as if needles were stabbing at it.
The only thing she could do for now was to work hard and become stronger. She’d only get to bring them back when she could afford to give them the life they deserved.
“That depends on how well you behave. If you behave well, I’ll bring you back soon. But you have to continue staying with your grandparents if I hear any complaints from them.”
She knew the kids wouldn’t get bullied if Evan’s parents liked them.
That was why she told the kids to behave well so their grandparents would protect them. She believed they would grow up happily and healthily there.
Both Jonathan and Sophia were reasonable. She was certain they’d adore the kids.
Juan recalled how his Grandma gave him a card with five hundred thousand saved in it, and how Grandpa allowed him to take away his favorite dishes by ordering everyone to stop eating when Davin returned to the country.
Grandpa and Grandma love me! Perhaps I can help Mommy if I stay with them.
Mommy doesn’t have to take care of us and her clinic. She must be tired. I can also ask for their help to pair Daddy and Mommy up!
At that thought, Juan’s despair faded into thin air. He immediately nodded at Nicole.
“Mommy, I’ll behave so Grandpa and Grandma will like me.”
Kyle turned to look at Juan in confusion. He didn’t understand why his brother changed abruptly.
Juan leaned closer to him and whispered in his ear, “We can help bring Mommy and Daddy together!”
Kyle pondered for a while before nodding at him coolly.
“Mommy, you must visit us often.”
A flash of reluctance appeared in Nicole’s gaze as she petted their heads helplessly. “Mommy will visit you every week. You can call me anytime, alright?”
The boys nodded enthusiastically.
When Nicole finally left their bedroom, she bumped into Evan, who was glaring at her from distance away.
Nicole felt her heart sank at his disdainful gaze.
After pausing for a second, she pretended nothing happened and walked out. When she brushed past his shoulders, the man snorted suddenly, “You even lied to the kids to get what you want! How far can you go?”
Get what I want?
Leaving the kids isn’t what I want!
If I had a choice, I wouldn’t leave them!
Nicole felt a lump in his throat. She turned around and scanned the man from top to bottom. Her gaze seemed to be insinuating something, but she said nothing.
