Chapter 44 Inside the hospital ward , Carter sat at the edge of the bed and said , " Arielle , Adrian , I'm not taking your birth mother's side , but you need to be respectful . If something's bothering you , you need to talk it out calmly . " " But we don't like her . We just want Mom . " Arielle looked so pitiful that it was hard not to feel for her . Carter was their father , so naturally , he cared . However , he couldn't help the frustration simmering in his chest . " I did raise my voice earlier , " he said , wrapping an arm around Adrian . " I'm sorry . Can you forgive me ? " Feeling upset , Adrian let silent tears fall as he whispered , " We just want Mom to come back . " Mom ... Rhea ... The kids relied on her heavily . " She's not here , but I am , aren't I ? " he reasoned . Carter thought back to Rhea's words . She had said , " They're your kids . " Rhea had just up and left , just like that , without a second thought . He thought that it was very irresponsible of her . Anger surged in Carter again . He refused to believe that he couldn't take care of the kids without her . Adrian asked again , " Dad , is it true that Mom doesn't want us anymore ? " Carter didn't want to say anything that would hurt them , but Rhea was the one who ignored the kids . He replied , " I'll be with you for the next few days , okay ? " That reply made the siblings feel like Rhea really might not want them anymore . Carter stubbornly refused to contact Rhea . He spent the entire night at the hospital . His suit was wrinkled , his eyes were bloodshot , and his back ached from the stiff chair . Arielle had been on an IV drip and ended up staying in the hospital for two days before returning home . Carter paused his work for the time being and stayed home to take care of the kids . Arielle remained moody , so he stayed by her side and watched cartoons with her . At night , he wiped her face , hands , and feet before she fell asleep . " I don't want to wear this . Mom bought me a bunny one , " Arielle said . Carter sighed . " You don't like this teddy bear one ? " She shook her head in response . It was understandable for a sick child to be moody . Carter could only look for the bunny pajamas for Arielle himself . 1/2 Chapter 44 +25 BONUS It wasn't until Arielle finally fell asleep that Carter got a moment to sit down and rest . He had been taking care of the kids from sunrise to sundown , and he felt utterly exhausted . The next morning , Carter hadn't even opened his eyes when Arielle started shaking his arm . Off to the side stood Lauren , who didn't dare approach them . Pulling his tired body upright , Carter asked , " Arielle , what's wrong ? " " Dad , can you do my hair ? " Lauren tried to coax her . " Arielle , let me do it . Your dad doesn't know how . " " It's easy . He can do it . " Arielle insisted that Carter help her . With Rhea gone , the children could only go to Carter for help . They didn't want Lauren to take care of them at all . Thus , Carter had no choice . Still in his sleepwear , he grabbed a comb and styled Arielle's hair . The young girl simply said , " Dad , just tie it up . " With a wound still on her forehead , she definitely couldn't have her hair tied too tightly . Carter really had no idea how to do Arielle's hair . In the end , the ponytail came out lopsided and crooked , but Arielle didn't complain . Lauren tried again . " Your dad didn't do it quite right . Do you want me to fix it for you ? " Arielle shook her head , her face completely blank . " No. " Then she turned and ran off to play with Adrian . Lauren stood there , visibly deflated . She glanced at Carter and said , " Carter , the kids keep getting hurt . It's not normal . Grandma suggested that we call in a geomancer to assess the house's geomancy . What if something or someone is causing all this bad luck ? " Today's Bonus Offer GET IT NOW X