Nathanâs jaw clenched as he said awkwardly, âThereâs an urgent task I need to handle here, so I canât leave.
I have to work extra hours in the office.
But by tomorrow, or maybe the day after, I promise Iâll go and bring your mommy back myself.
â
Sonny and Kyson wore serious looks; they realized Nathan wasnât telling the truth, but they chose not to expose his lie in front of the children.
Colby sadly dropped his gaze and murmured, âDaddy, it feels wrong without Mommy here.
â
He placed his small hand over his chest and stared blankly at Nathan.
Nathan felt a stab of pain in his heart, his complexion grew pale, and he found himself at a loss for words.
Destinee squirmed in Kysonâs arms, eager to be set down.
She ran over to Nathan with her little legs and clung to his knees, looking up at him pitifully.
âDaddy, I miss Mommy.
I canât sleep without her.
â
Encircled and unsettled by the two children, Nathan, though troubled deep inside, bore his distress without letting it show.
He knitted his brows, feigning anger, and began to lower Colby, who he held in his arms, to the floor.
âIâve already said Lucinda is busy.
You are both five years old, yet you still cling to her.
If you keep holding onto me and saying you miss Mommy, maybe you should just go find her yourselves.
â
Worried that Nathan might set him down, Colby tightened his little arms around Nathanâs neck, resting his weary head on Nathanâs strong shoulder.
âDaddy, please donât be mad.
I just had an IV drip.
Iâm really tired.
â
When Lucinda was present, the two children often showed little regard for Nathan, preferring to monopolize their motherâs attention.
Tonight, with their mommy absent, they clung to Nathan desperately.
At this moment, they trusted him more than anyone, even more than Sonny and Kyson.
Colby spoke softly and uneasily from Nathanâs arms, whispering, âDaddy, tonight, Destinee and I both dreamed that Mommy was hurt and didnât want us anymore.
Thatâs not true, is it?â
Nathanâs face grew paler as he stifled the ache in his chest and said, âOf course, thatâs not true.
â
He brushed off the unsettling question, bent down to pick up Destinee who was beside his leg, and held both children close.
Tears welled in his eyes as he gently touched their foreheads to soothe their fears.
âSonny, please get two small blankets from the cabinet over there.
â
âOkay.
â Sonny nodded.
Nathan walked to the sofa, sat down, and positioned the children on either side of his legs, covering them with the blankets.
Destinee and Colby lay on his legs and soon fell asleep.
They seemed truly exhausted.
With their father nearby, they behaved impeccably.
Nathan looked at them tenderly, occasionally stroking their heads and gently patting their backs to help them sleep more soundly.
After a restless night, the scent of their father quickly lulled the children into a deep sleep.