chapter 3
The next morning, Arabella dressed Bonnie in her favorite little dress.
She twirled around excitedly, holding up her skirt.
Bonnie said, "Mom, today I'm going to be the prettiest kid in kindergarten."
Arabella smiled and pinched her cheek.
She said, "In my eyes, youve always been the prettiest kid."
Bonnie shyly threw herself into her arms.
Charles just came out of the bedroom and saw Arabella and Bonnie laughing, feeling very tender inside.
He picked up Bonnie in one swoop, then took Arabella's hand, his voice full of joy.
Charles said, "I'll go with you too."
Bonnie hugged Charles's neck and tentatively asked, "Dad, are you really not going to Arlo's place today?"
Although she had said she didn't want Charles as her dad, Bonnie was still a child and secretly hoped to attend the parent-child fair with her mom and dad.
After all, for the past three years, every time there was a parent-child activity at the kindergarten, Charles would choose to accompany Arlo.
Over time, some classmates teased her for not having a dad.
Bonnie's words made Arabella's nose sting, almost bringing her to tears.
Charles felt a tinge of guilt in his heart.
Since James passed away, he didnt want Arlo to be teased for not having a dad, so he attended every event with Arlo, neglecting Bonnie in the process. If Arlo werent hospitalized now, this fair might have been...
He stopped thinking further.
Anyway, he would stay with Bonnie today. That was enough.
Charles said, "Of course. I'll play with you all day today."
A simple promise made Bonnie temporarily forget yesterday's unhappiness and excitedly hug Charles around the neck.
Bonnie said, "I want to introduce Dad to all my classmates."
She wanted to tell them that she also had a dad.
However, just as they arrived at the entrance of the military base's family area, they saw Emilia's anxious figure.
Emilia said, "Charles, Arlo doesn't want to stay in the hospital and insists on pulling out the IV to run outside. He usually listens to you the most. Can you go to the hospital and help me persuade him?"
She grabbed Charles's sleeve, her tone extremely anxious.
Hearing her words, Charles immediately frowned.
He said, "How can he be so reckless? Emilia, don't worry. I'll go to the hospital with you right now."
Hearing him agree, Arabella was almost amused with anger.
He had just promised to accompany Bonnie, and now he forgot.
Arabella said, "Charles, today is Bonnie's parent-child outing. You promised to accompany her."
Charles realized it too, his face stiffened, and he looked hesitant.
Emilia let go of her hand and started sobbing into her palms.
She said, "Charles, it's me and Arlo who have delayed you too much. Go accompany Bonnie. I'll go persuade Arlo alone. If he really doesn't listen to me, then I won't treat his illness anymore."
Saying that, she turned and left.
Charles panicked instantly, then put Bonnie down and ran after Emilia.
He said, "Emilia, how could that be? Bonnie's matter isn't important. Arlo is the priority right now."
After speaking, he turned around, his eyes filled with a deeply familiar guilt.
Charles said, "I'm sorry, Bonnie. How about letting your mom go with you today?"
Arabella's nails dug deep into her palms as she trembled with anger.
She thought angrily, "Why does he make promises he can't keep?"
As a mother, she couldn't accept her daughter's emotions plummeting from heaven to hell.
This is too cruel for a child.
Arabella was about to step forward to call Charles back when a small hand tugged at her sleeve.
Bonnie's face showed a calmness beyond her age. "Mom, let's go. Having you by my side is enough. Anyway, I'm already used to days without a dad."
Even though Bonnie spoke nonchalantly, Arabella still noticed a hint of hurt in her eyes and a trace of sobbing in her voice.
Arabella hugged Bonnie tightly with a heart full of ache, trying hard to hold back the sting in her eyes.
She said, "I promise you, once we leave here, I'll find you a dad who only cares about you."
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