My Pretty Sweetheart (Arianna)

As the sky was getting darker, the worry I had for Evan and his family unsettled me greatly. Hence, I forced myself to call him. Unexpectedly, the phone connected immediately, but Evan's voice sounded a bit strange. "Is there a matter, Mrs. Roberts?"

I could pick up a certain suppressed tension in his words, so I lowered my voice. "Are Samantha and the children all right?"

"They are all right," Evan blurted out, seemingly afraid of my getting further tangled up in his situation. Briskly he came up with an excuse, ready to break off the conversation. "The kids are asking for me, I'm ending the call."

"Ev-" Before I could finish, the call ended.

Looking at the phone screen, which showed that the call had cut off, I laughed bitterly. Looks like I am as much the bane of others' existence, as Jordan and the rest. I was avoided like the plague. With that in mind, I figured that it was safer for them to stay as far away from me.

After putting down the phone, I realized that Wynn and Aurelia were standing at the side of the living room, looking at me from afar, not saying a word as they held each other's hands. I hadn't realized that they were home until now.

I immediately adjusted my expression and opened my arms to welcome them. "Come over here, my babies."

Aurelia looked at my arms and immediately let go of Wynn, dashing towards me. She rammed herself onto me, causing me to fall back, then laughed happily as she held onto my neck. "Mom, mom, mom, I've missed you, and I love you so much!"

The warmth from one's own child is a remedy for one's gloomy soul. I smiled as I sat her on my lap. Then I patiently caressed and tidied the soft hair on her forehead as I asked her about school. "Tell Mom, what did you learn at school today?"

Aurelia immediately got up and went over to Wynn. Taking the art paper from Wynn's hand, she excitedly dashed back to me and opened it.

a look, Mom! This is what I drew today! The teacher even praised

persons and four smaller ones. All of them were holding hands, facing the sun, happily playing on the grass as if time has stopped, and nothing else was in

forgotten, it seemed like

to react. Hence, she became a little

phone to take a picture of it. "Now, Mommy will take a beautiful picture

into twin crescents. She raised her head, staring foolishly at me like a chubby

how well-behaved Aurelia is, you will always be Mommy's sweet little baby." Aurelia pouted and shook her head. "No, that's not what I meant. I've become too naughty, so that's why Dad won't come home. He probably doesn't want

Aurelia will behave now. Can you ask him to come back, Aurelia misses him..." Her words were punctuated by her pearl-like tears falling, drop by drop,

quickly hugged

her. After

didn't know what was going on among the

just didn't want Aurelia to have unnecessary thoughts, I never thought she was not well-behaved..." They were both sensible children,

of them in my arms, as tears started to fall from my eyes.

seem like they don't know everything, but

I was about to

Voni