Chapter 475 Stomachache
As soon as Christina spoke, she heard footsteps behind her.
Turning around, she found herself gazing into Nathaniel’s eyes.
What a coincidence! Nathaniel shows up every time we say something about him. Did he put a wiretap in this house?
Nathaniel lifted Lucas and slung his schoolbag onto his shoulder. “It’s time to go to school, Lucas.”
“But Camila is sick. I want to stay and take care of her.” Lucas pursed his lips and blinked, trying to appeal to his father.
“There are plenty of people at home to look after her. You need to get to school on time.” As he spoke, Nathaniel marched toward the door with Lucas in his arms.
Having not seen his mother for a long time, Lucas was reluctant to attend kindergarten. Besides, he could recite the syllabus with his eyes closed.
He was determined to remain by his mother’s side. To that end, he clutched his stomach and yelled, “Ow! My stomach hurts! I don’t think I can go to school.”
Nathaniel scowled. He was fine earlier, and now he’s having a stomachache at the prospect of going to school. Nice
try.
“I don’t care what hurts. You will go to school,” he insisted, his voice becoming dangerously soft.
Lucas’ panic grew when his father was about to leave the house with him. “Help, Mommy! It hurts so bad!”
Watching him gnash his teeth in agony, Christina became convinced that he was telling the truth. Concerned, she ran after the pair and stopped them.
“Didn’t you hear him say that he’s not feeling well?” Christina strode over and snatched Lucas out of Nathaniel’s arms.
Like a koala, Lucas clung to his mother. Thank God for Mommy. She loves me more than Daddy does.
Nuzzling against Christina’s bosom, he did not dare meet his father’s gaze for fear of being discovered.
“Where does it hurt? Show me.” Christina carried Lucas in and sat him down on the couch.
Lucas was not in pain, but he pointed arbitrarily nonetheless. “Here, and here.”
What kind of illness is this? It looks serious.
Christina examined Lucas anxiously. “Don’t worry, Lucas. I’ll take you to the doctor.”
Camila grew anxious as well. She trotted over. “Don’t be scared, Lucas. I’ll bring you some medicine.”
Christina was deeply amused by Camila’s innocent words. “You can’t share your medicine, Camila. Stomachaches require a different kind of medication, do you understand?”
Camila nodded blankly. “I understand, Mommy.”
The children’s personalities differed wildly. Lucas was witty and outspoken, while Camila was delicate and
emotional.
Nathaniel stepped closer and studied Lucas’ expression intently. “I summoned the doctor. He’s coming to examine you and give you a jab if you’re unwell.”
Like most children, Lucas feared the needle. At the prospect of getting jabbed, he gave a violent start.
Going to school is infinitely preferable to getting jabbed!
With a sudden flash of inspiration, Lucas jumped up. “It doesn’t hurt anymore, Mommy. I’d better get going to school.”
Without another word, he got to his feet, looking good as new.
Despite looking so sickly earlier, he’s looking much better within a few short seconds.
Guessing his motives, Christina held his hand tenderly. “I’ll call in sick for you if you don’t want to attend school, but you must never lie to me again, all right?”
Lucas nodded earnestly. “I understand, Mommy. I won’t do it again.”
Just then, the family doctor turned up.
Christina accompanied Camila to her follow-up with the doctor. The girl was well-behaved. She remained in her mother’s arms while she held onto her father’s hand. “I’m not afraid with Daddy and Mommy here. with me.”
It did not take long for the doctor to finish his examination. “She’s doing much better, but she needs to continue taking her medication until her coughing stops. Remember to have plenty of rest.”
After the doctor left, Christina coaxed Camila to take her medicine and sketched while she stayed with
her.
Soon after, Camila began to feel drowsy and asked her mother to put her to sleep. Christina glanced at the clock and, upon realizing it was their nap time, summoned Lucas.
Like old times, the trio lay in bed together. Amid the soft lull of nursery rhymes Christina crooned, the children soon fell asleep in her arms.
Christina waited until the children were sound asleep before leaving their room.
As she silenced her phone upon arriving home, she found that Lina had called her many times and left multiple text messages.
Christina entered the study and addressed them one at a time. She asked Lina to send the documents to her inbox, then returned her grandmother’s call.
Azure had been deeply concerned to hear that Camila was feeling unwell. After learning via a series of questions that it was nothing serious, she ended the call in relief.
Christina switched on the computer in the study. Nathaniel had never changed the pa*sword even after all those years. She keyed in the login credentials, and the screen unlocked.
A brightly lit photograph greeted her at once, and she froze.
Isn’t that the photograph of all of us together when we visited the amusement park? I can’t believe Nathaniel is using it as his wallpaper.
It was during a summer’s day several years ago before their fight had escalated to its current state. Overwhelmed by the memories, Christina felt a strange mix of emotions rising within her.
+5 Bonus
Nevertheless, she remained seated before the computer and dealt with her files. Just when she was nearing completion, her phone rang.
It was Sheridan.
Occupied by her work, she nearly forgot about him.
Christina hurriedly picked up the phone. “Have you found a place to stay, Sheridan?”
“I’m in a hotel in the middle of the city with a nice view. It’s been a while,” Sheridan said with a light laugh. He did not sound tired at all. On the contrary, it appeared that he had had a good rest.
Christina chuckled. “There are many more things to see. Since you hardly come to visit, let me treat you to lunch as a thank-you for the trouble of driving me home last night.”
“Giving a beautiful woman a ride is never any trouble. However, I won’t say no to a free meal,” Sheridan answered with a chuckle. His voice was gentle and elegant and it made her feel at ease.
“Send me the name of the hotel, and I’ll come to you,” Christina said, packing her things as she did so.
“All right.”
After hanging up, Christina headed to the garage. She selected a car less garish than the others and took off.
Twenty minutes later, Christina caught sight of Sheridan at the hotel entrance. He was dressed casually in a brown suit. He did nothing to his hair and allowed it to fall carelessly over his forehead, emanating a carefree and romantic air.
Upon spotting Christina’s car, Sheridan came over and got in.
“You look much younger like this.” Christina realized she had misspoken again as soon as the words left her lips.
Sheridan chuckled good-naturedly. “Maybe I look younger because I spent a lot of time around young people like you.”
The awkwardness dissipated at once. Christina smiled and started the car. “What would you like to eat?”
“Something local, please,” Sheridan said after a moment’s thought.
“Sure.”
