Now that both children knew, there was no need for Charlotte to beat around the bush.
So she spoke directly: "Darlings, you both are big kids now."
She looked straight into Chad’s eyes, effortlessly catching a fleeting glimpse of sadness in the boy’s eyes.
Charlotte felt a twinge of pity, but she went on.
"I realize you may have some inkling of it. But since your father has already approached me, I think it’s necessary to tell you some things."
She paused, took a deep breath, and said softly, "Your father is Adam Ross, the leader of Ross Group. I’ve checked out his side of the story - he didn’t intentionally abandon you, he just didn’t know you existed."
As her words fell, Jack, seated across from her, was caught off guard and his eyes reddened.
Chad simply turned his head slightly, his eyes betraying a tumult of emotion.
Charlotte bit her lip, feeling a pang of guilt.
When they were young, Chad and Jack were reserved and solitary at school, but they never shed a tear.
Jack’s reaction to any mention of Adam Ross was something she anticipated.
After all, they were young children who had believed they were abandoned as infants.
Now that they were confronted with this matter again, it felt like someone had cruelly reopened their wounds, rubbed salt in, stitched them up, and torn them open again.
Charlotte knew that this revelation was cruel, but she had no choice but to speak.
This concerned the rest of the children’s lives, their identities henceforth.
She opened her mouth and continued, "Adam Ross approached me this time to meet you and to acknowledge you."
Her eyes calm, she glanced at Chad.
The boy’s messy fringe fell on his forehead, and there was a faint shadow under his eyes. Confronted by Charlotte’s gaze, he simply bit his lip, and bowed his head in silence.
The air fell silent, no one willing to break the peace.
After a long while, Chad lifted his head, as if he had been fighting an internal battle.
He looked at Charlotte, his voice firm, "Mommy, I disagree."
Hearing Chad’s words, Jack also unwrinkled his brow, echoing, "I disagree too."
Jack lowered his gaze and said, "Since we have memories, we’ve grown up by your side. We’ve never met Adam Ross, this so-called father. So, we only recognize you as our mommy."
Both children simultaneously rejected Adam Ross’s request.
Strangely enough, Charlotte felt a touch of consolation.
She opened her mouth but was unable to make a sound. She saw the struggle hidden in the children’s responses.
She wished more than anyone that her children could live happily.
A few seconds later, she sighed softly and spoke, "Mommy knows what you’re thinking. Even if you don’t wish to acknowledge Adam Ross, deep down, you might still hope to meet him, right?"
At her words, both children fell silent. Find the newest release on novel·fiɾe·net
Chad pressed his lips together, his eyes reflecting complex emotions.
Charlotte took a few steps forward, leaned over, and gently embraced them.
Smelling the familiar scent of her, both children’s eyes moistened.
Charlotte’s voice sounded over their heads.
"My darlings, you were raised by me. How could I not know what you’re thinking?"
Charlotte paused, patted the children’s shoulders, as if giving them strength in invisibility.
"In a bit of time, I’ll arrange a meeting with Adam Ross. Then, you can have a heart-to-heart chat with him, okay?"