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Novel Catalog
Chapter 64
Ricky nodded enthusiastically, his eyes shining with excitement. “Yes, Mom! Gia is really talented. Grandma said she’ll help her, but she needs the right colors to finish her painting. It’s important to Gia.”
Eden smiled, her heart swelling with pride for her children. Gia’s artistic passion had been blossoming over the last year, and she had always known her daughter had something special in her. The thought of Gia participating in the art exhibition made her beam with pride, but she was also a little worried. She knew how much pressure Gia put on herself to do well.
“That’s wonderful,” Eden said softly, taking a bite of her steamed bun. “We’ll go together, of course. We’ll make a day out of it.”
She looked at Ricky, who had been unusually quiet for a moment, his brow furrowed. There was something on his mind, something he wasn’t saying. She studied him closely.
“Is everything okay, Ricky?” Eden asked gently. “You look like you have something on your mind.”
Ricky hesitated for a moment before his gaze met hers, a mix of confusion and curiosity in his eyes. “Mom, can I ask you something?”
Eden nodded, placing her chopsticks down on the table. She could tell something was bothering him.
“Of course, Ricky. What’s on your mind?”
He took a deep breath, his small hands clasping together as he thought carefully about his words. “Who is my father?”
The question came so suddenly, and it hung in the air like a heavy weight. Eden froze for a moment, her heart stuttering in her chest. She wasn’t ready for this conversation—not yet.
Ricky, sensing her hesitation, quickly added, “I’ve been wondering for a while. I don’t remember him, and Grandma told me that I should be proud of him. But why don’t I know anything about him? Is he… like the other fathers?”
Eden’s heart broke a little at the raw innocence in Ricky’s voice. She knew this day would come eventually, but she wasn’t sure if she was prepared to answer the questions he was asking. How could she tell him the truth without shattering the peaceful life they had built together?
She took a deep breath, trying to steady her emotions. “Ricky, your father… he’s a complicated person. He’s not around right now, but one day, when you’re older, I’ll tell you everything you need to know. You deserve to hear the whole story, but not yet. It’s not the right time.”
Ricky didn’t seem completely satisfied with the answer, but he nodded thoughtfully, his bright eyes still searching hers for the truth.
“I understand, Mom,” he said quietly. “I just want to know more. I don’t want to be confused anymore.”
Eden reached across the table and gently squeezed his hand. “I promise you, Ricky, when the time is right, you’ll know everything. Just trust me, okay?”
Ricky nodded, his expression softening as he smiled up at her. “Okay, Mom. I trust you.”
Eden smiled back, though there was a bittersweet ache in her chest. She hated keeping secrets from her children, but she knew it was for the best—for now. She would protect them from the pain and confusion for as long as she could.
“Now, let’s enjoy our breakfast,” she said, trying to shift the mood. “Afterward, we’ll get the paints for Gia, and then we can have some fun.”
Ricky’s face lit up at the mention of the art supplies, and he bounced in his seat with excitement. “Yes! Let’s go right after breakfast!”
Eden chuckled softly, the tension in her chest easing a little. Her children were her world, and as long as they were happy, she would do everything in her power to protect them from the things they didn’t yet understand.