"It's better if they don't meet." Carla could not suppress her anger anymore.
"Why, Mommy?" Venus looked at her nervously.
"Nothing." Not wanting to mention these nasty incidences in front of the kids, Carla hugged Venus and consoled her gently, "Sleep for a little while, Venus. We'll only reach the hospital half an hour later."
"Okay." Venus drifted off to sleep in Carla's arms. She gripped Carla's shirt with one hand and Zayn's hand with the other, afraid that they would leave her.
When Zayn and Carla saw that, they glanced at each other subconsciously.
There was a complicated look in Zayn's eyes, but Carla turned her head around coldly and refused to look at him.
"Daddy, I want to sleep too." Josh snuggled into Zayn's arms.
"Sleep, then." Hugging him, Zayn coaxed him to sleep.
Josh fell asleep quickly and even snored.
"Randy, you should sleep too, " said Zayn.
"Mommy, Daddy, I'd like to talk to you."
Seeing that his younger siblings were already asleep, Randy finally mustered his courage and asked.
"What do you want to talk about, Randy?"
Carla felt sorry for Randy. 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 Randy softly. "Is there no chance of a reconciliation?"
Zayn did not know how to respond to his question. He wanted to deny it and express his reluctance, but he knew that Carla's hatred for him could not be erased so quickly…
"Yes." On the other hand, Carla'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…"
Randy nodded. He wanted to put up a strong front, but tears still streamed down his cheeks.
"I'm sorry, Randy…" Carla 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 Randy as he wiped his tears.
"However, I hope that you can let Venus and Josh 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 Randy 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 Randy, Zayn 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 Carla heard Randy's request, she hesitated. Actually, she knew that although Randy would choose to follow her, Josh and Venus would most likely follow their father instead.
To both of them, Zayn 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 Randy tearfully as he grabbed Carla's hand.
Her heart ached terribly, for this was the first time she saw Randy crying like that. She knew that he was the one who understood Josh and Venus the best, so he knew what they needed the most.
No matter how reluctant she was, Carla still nodded with tears in her eyes. "Okay, I promise you."
Randy threw himself into her arms and wailed. He knew that he would soon be separated from his father and siblings…
Perhaps because Josh and Venus could sense their brother's sorrow, they woke up. When they saw Randy sobbing, they immediately cried and asked, "What happened, Randy?"
Wiping his tears away, he told them in a mature manner, "Josh, Venus, 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."
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