Ranita suddenly had her secret exposed and felt a little at a loss. She hugged Ayaan, and said, “Ayaan, I don’t miss him that much…”
Ayaan wrapped his arms around her neck and gently wiped the tears from her eyes. “Then why are your eyes all red? Or are you thinking about Uncle Stuart?”
Ranita was speechless.
“No! Go to sleep!” Ranita patted her son’s bottom with a touch of annoyance. “You have school tomorrow!”
“I love you, Mommy.” The little boy hugged her softly, expressing his deepest love for her.
“Thank you!” Ranita pinched his little cheeks. “Although I want to give you a goodnight kiss, I have a cold and I’m afraid of infecting you, so let’s skip it.”
The little boy giggled, “Okay! Mommy, don’t be unhappy.”
“Although Dad made a sacrifice, I will find me a new dad in the future! When I have a new dad, you won’t have to work so hard anymore!”
It had to be said, Ayaan was truly the most warm-hearted child in the world.
“You were very friendly with Uncle Stuart today. I thought you liked him!” Ranita ruffled her son’s head. “If, if I were to say, if Uncle Stuart became your dad…”
“Do you like Uncle Stuart, Mommy?” The little boy held onto her finger, soft but clear in his words. “Mommy, if you like him, I’m okay with it.”
“As long as you’re happy.”
Ranita didn’t expect Ayaan to say such things at such a young age. Her eyes turned red, and she choked out, “Where did you learn that from?”
“Well… it’s a secret between me and Uncle Pearson!” Ayaan covered his mouth and his eyes filled with remorse and regret.
Ranita couldn’t help but laugh at Ayaan’s antics. She lowered her voice and said, “I didn’t hear clearly just now, can you say it again?”
“No!” Ayaan shook his head, seemingly pleased that his secret with Steve wasn’t revealed. “If you didn’t hear it clearly, then you didn’t hear it. I won’t say it a second time.”
Ayaan’s playful behavior lightened Ranita’s mood a little.
“Alright, I promise to find you a new dad. If there’s a suitable candidate, I’ll let you know!”
The little boy held Ranita’s hand and asked as they walked, “Mommy, can you consider Uncle Pearson for now?”
“I thought you liked Uncle Stuart more.” Ranita teased, which displeased Ayaan. “But Uncle Pearson has taken care of me for many years! Even though he didn’t come to my sports day, he still ranks first.”
Steve would probably be very happy to hear that.
As for Brendon, let him suffer!
“Okay, it’s time for you to sleep!” Ranita tucked Ayaan in, turned off the lights, and then tiptoed back to her room.
Ranita took her medication throughout the day, which should have made it easy for her to fall asleep. However, she found herself struggling with insomnia. Memories of the past surged like a tsunami, plunging her into the center of a brutal storm.
When Ranita woke up the next day, she realized her cold had worsened compared to the previous day.
She pressed the alarm clock to stop it, about to get up when her phone rang.
It was a call from Jedidiah.
“Jedidiah, good morning!” Ranita stood on the carpet with bare feet, about to get up when she heard Jedidiah’s anxious and tired voice on the other end of the line. “Ranita, Dad suddenly had heart discomfort and was hospitalized.”
Dad was hospitalized?
Ranita’s mind went blank, and it took her a while to ask, “How is Dad now?”
“He was admitted last night and has regained consciousness. Dad… wants to see you and Ayaan before going into the operating room.”