CHAPTER 370: CHAPTER 370: EXPLAINING TO THE CHILDREN

Ruby Sullivan finished eating with her little ones and called them to her side, holding her son’s hand in one and her daughter’s in the other. Her face was full of guilt. "Seth, Honey, these past few days, Mom wasn’t on a business trip, but instead was staying at Aunt Sasha’s place to avoid Dad. I lied to you, and I’m sorry."

"If Mom lied, there must be a reason. Brother and I won’t blame Mom for it," Honey said understandingly. The dumplings Mom made this morning were so delicious, such a good Mom, she just couldn’t bear to blame her.

"Thank you, Honey." Ruby Sullivan was especially touched by Honey’s words, and suddenly realized she hadn’t spent enough time with her daughter this year. She had grown into a big child, yet she hadn’t noticed at all.

Seth furrowed his brows, earnestly asking, "Do you really have to separate from Dad?"

Ruby Sullivan looked at the hope in her son’s eyes, feeling a stabbing pain in her heart, but could only silently apologize to him.

She was unsure of her son and daughter’s comprehension level, but wanted to explain things to them as clearly as possible. Even if they couldn’t understand now, she hoped they could find some solace in her words when they remembered them as they got older.

"There is a problem between Mom and Dad. It’s not that anyone made a mistake; this matter is more like an accident. The consequence of this accident is that it’s very difficult for Mom to live with Dad, because whenever I see Dad, I feel very sad, so Mom can only leave him."

The version Seth heard from Dad was different. Though he was smart and knew quite a bit about adults’ matters, it was just surface knowledge. So now, hearing two different stories from his parents, he started suspecting that Dad had lied to him.

"Mom, did Dad act foolish again?" In his eyes, Dad not treasure Mom meant he’d been kicked in the head by a donkey; he was too unaware.

Ruby Sullivan shook her head, "No, Dad didn’t do anything wrong." She thought for a moment and expressed it more directly, "There was an accident on Dad’s flight to Caelus; the plane fell into the sea."

After discussing with Ethan Sterling, she originally didn’t want to tell the children about this, fearing they’d be scared of flying, and since Ethan returned healthy, it didn’t seem that important whether they knew or not.

So, it was the first time the little ones heard about this incident.

Seth tightened his brows, looking tense, "Was it during the time when Dad and Mom stayed in Caelus for over a month?"

Ruby Sullivan nodded.

Honey didn’t have any concept of plane crashes or falling into the sea, but she knew Dad was still fine, and naively said, "Did Dad swim to Caelus?"

Ruby Sullivan couldn’t help but cry at the thought, thinking if your Dad could swim to Caelus like Superman, nothing would have happened.

"Mom, keep going." Seth urged anxiously.

"After Dad fell into the sea, his whereabouts were unknown, but since we were overseas, we needed the help of a foreign government. At that time, to get help, I had to seek help from my mentor from Bellaza."

"Oh, I know Mom’s mentor is Dr. L, who conjures lollipops for Honey!" Honey couldn’t help but happily interject, recalling the long-lost Dr. L.

Ruby Sullivan patted Honey’s head, "But the help my mentor provided wasn’t free. If I agreed to my mentor’s conditions, I had to leave your Dad."

Seth hadn’t expected his parents’ separation to involve another man, and his heart was suddenly filled with endless desolation. He furrowed his brows even tighter, his voice lowering, "So... Mom is going to be with that Dr. L?"

Ruby Sullivan shook her head, "Of course not. Mom loves your Dad, but your Dr. L is a very capable person. I’m worried that if I continue to be with Dad, it might harm him, so... I decided to leave him."

Seth found it difficult to accept this explanation, "Mom, did you discuss it with Dad? Maybe Dad isn’t afraid of that Dr. L?"

"Mom knows L’s strength better than Dad does, so Mom can’t take such a risk."

Seth looked at Mom, understanding Dad’s words, suddenly realizing Dad was right; it indeed wasn’t Dad’s fault this time. Dad was too passive. He couldn’t accept Mom’s choice; no matter how scary L was, could he really harm Dad? Besides, his Dad was very strong, capable of powerful martial arts and usually didn’t need bodyguards.

He thought of many things, recalling Honey’s delighted expression when she mentioned L earlier, suddenly suspecting whether Mom’s decision was just an excuse.

He slowly withdrew his hand from Mom’s grip and stepped back a few paces, for the first time holding some resentment toward Mom, "Mom, don’t you think this is very unfair to Dad? He made himself sick to get you back home; he... loves you so much. Besides, you were so happy when you were together, why are you separating so easily?"

He looked at Mom, almost feeling she had betrayed them and Dad!

Mom was frightened by her son’s questioning gaze, "I’m sorry, son, Mom has no choice either. Perhaps when you grow up, you’ll understand."

Seth clenched his fist, looking at Mom with complex emotions. After a long pause, he drooped his head sadly, controlling his emotions, "Mom, I still respect your choice." This time, he really felt for Dad.

Honey didn’t understand why her brother was angry, nor did she comprehend Mom’s words. It seemed like the outcome she and her brother had already discussed last night, that Dad and Mom would live separately. She probably couldn’t see Dad every day, but could still see him whenever she wanted.

She went over and hugged her brother, "Brother, are you angry because you don’t want to be separated from Dad?"

"A bit."

Honey furrowed her brows too, becoming a bit upset, "Brother, are you going to leave Mom and me to go with Dad?"

Seth looked at Honey’s pitiful expression, his heart softening completely, sighing, "No, I will stay with you and Mom, replacing Dad to protect you."

Ruby Sullivan couldn’t understand what her two children were talking about, "What are you saying? When did Dad say he was going to leave?"

Seth explained, "Actually, Honey and I thought about it last night; if you really want to separate, let Dad leave. He can go back to live with Aunt Vivian and them, and the three of us can continue staying here. If you’re embarrassed to tell Dad, let me say it."

Ruby Sullivan didn’t expect the two children to have thought so much, feeling even more uneasy in her heart. This time, she had forced them to once again ponder adult issues.

"Let Mom handle this matter, Mom intends to buy a new house after the New Year, and then the three of us will move out."

"What about Mama Bennett and Owen Fulton?" Honey asked.

"Well, I’ll have to ask their opinions. If they’re willing, I also hope they continue taking care of you."

Just as she finished speaking, she heard the sound of a key turning in the lock, and then Ethan Sterling walked in.