Love Me Or Leave Me

CHAPTER 213

“If there’s nothing else to do here, let’s buy flight tickets for tomorrow and head back. We’ve been here for several days already,” Debra suggested.

Stacey nodded in response. “Sure.”

As Debra spoke, she reminded Stacey, “By the way, why don’t you ask Hay when he’s planning to leave? If it works out, we can travel together.”

Upon hearing this, Stacey was hesitant. “He’s probably going straight back to Strico, isn’t he?” Strico and Hivalis had their respective airports. Since they were heading back to Hivalis, Stacey assumed Hayden would head straight to Strico as well.

Debra sighed, realizing the practicality. “You’re right.”

“I’ll ask him anyway, Stacey said. Regardless, it was only polite to inform Hayden about their departure and check if their plans could align.

Debra nodded. “Yes, that’s a good idea.” As it was getting late, Stacey returned to her room and pulled out her phone to send a message to Hayden.

On the other side, Hayden had just stepped into the bathroom with his robe when his phone rang with a special notification.

his phone to tone he had set just for Becky. As soon as he heard the ring, he immediately put down his robe and picked up check the message. Stacey texted: [Going back tomorrow?] It was what he had expected, as he also had plans to leave

tomorrow.

He quickly replied to Becky: [I’m planning to go back tomorrow too, but I need to make a stop in Strico first. Jeremy has been causing a fuss at home, insisting on seeing you. I need to go back and calm him down.] Jeremy’s fondness for Becky had surpassed even Hayden’s expectations. However, it was a good thing. At least, he wouldn’t have to worry about Jeremy not liking her when they were together.

After reading his message, Stacey smiled warmly at the thought of Jeremy. She quickly replied: [I’ve missed Jeremy too. It’s been a while since I saw him.]

Hayden responded: [Tll bring him to see you next time.]]

Stacey asked: [By the way, when is Jeremy’s surgery? If possible, I’d like to be there with him.] Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Hayden replied: [In 20 days, we’ll have to be in Menterra for it.]

Stacey thought, “Menterra?” She soon understood, given the advanced medical technology there. Before long, she replied: [All right, I’ll come to your place a day earlier, and we can travel to Menterra together with Jeremy.]

Hayden agreed: [Sounds good]

Having settled the matter, Stacey lingered over their chat for a while, feeling a mix of concern and hope for Jeremy’s surgery. She wanted it to go smoothly so he could be healthy and live like any other child, able to speak. She thought perhaps she should visit a church and pray for Jeremy’s safety as soon as she returned to the country. With that thought, she finally put down her phone and picked up her robe to take a shower.

“Mommy! Mommy, where are you?” Halfway through her shower, Lillian and Kevin burst into Stacey’s room, calling our

her.

Upon hearing their voices, Stacey sighed. However, she was already accustomed to such interruptions after caring for the children all this time. “I’m in the shower she quickly responded

“Why are you still in the shower? We’ve already finished and want to go to bed now. Before that, we want to hear a bedtime story, Mommy, Lillian demanded with a sweet voice.

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09:12 Sat, Aug 3

“I want to hear one too,-Kevin chimed in.

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The bathroom door creaked as the two children pushed against, trying to get in. Meanwhile, Stacey continued her shower, pretending not to hear. “Mommy, how much longer are you going to be in there?” Lillian asked impatiently.

“I’m almost done.” Stacey replied quickly.

“Are you going to open the door soon?” Kevin asked. Maintaining a calm facade, Stacey answered her eager children while finishing her shower. When she finally wrapped herself in her robe and opened the door, Lillian and Kevin immediately clung to her, with one on each side.

“Mommy, you took forever! It felt like ages,” Lillian complained.

“Yeah, we almost lost our patience, Kevin added, with a surprisingly serious tone for his age. Stacey’s eyelid twitched as she carried Lillian and Kevin to the bed, removing their shoes and

tucking them in. Once they were settled, she took out a storybook and began reading to them. Fortunately, Lillian and Kevin were unusually calm that night and fell asleep after just

After breathing a sigh of relief, Stacey gently placed the book on the bedside table, turned off the light, and went

one story.. to bed.

The next morning. Stacey was jolted awake by a nightmare. In her dream, a massive boulder had fallen from the sky, terrifying her until she woke up. Opening her eyes, she realized the “boulder” was Kevin, who had crawled onto her again. At almost two years old, they were solid little weights, and having them climb on her was no joke. Sighing, Stacey rolled over and gently pushed him off. Kevin, undeterred, immediately climbed back up, tugging at her hand. “Mommy, wake up! The sun’s up!”

“No, it hasn’t. Let me sleep in a bit longer,” Stacey mumbled, keeping her eyes shut tight. However, Lillian soon joined in, clambering onto Stacey’s body, adding her weight to the mix. That was enough to force Stacey’s eyes open. Looking down, she saw Lillian and Kevin, now wide awake and full of energy, bouncing on the bed. Resigned and left without a choice, she was forced to wake up. She lifted Lillian and placed her to the side, then sat up and swung her legs over the edge of the bed.

“Mommy, it’s time to get dressed!” Lillian, the little smarty–pants, reminded her in a sweet, sing– song voice, already reaching for her clothes. Kevin joined in, scrambling to find his outfit. They were still so young, their small hands clumsily grappling with the task. Only after Stacey had dressed herself did she step in to help. She first dressed Kevin in his tiny clothing, then lifted him, and set him down gently on the floor. Lillian was next to get dressed up in her equally tiny clothing before being placed on the floor beside Kevin. “Don’t forget to comb our hair, Kevin piped up, his voice filled with insistence.

In fact, Kevin’s hair was short and didn’t need combing. However, he would feel left out if only Lillian got her hair done. To prevent any feelings of neglect and to ensure he felt equally loved, Stacey always pretended to comb Kevin’s hair too. With a few perfunctory strokes with the comb, Kevin beamed with satisfaction. Lillian, with her hair slightly longer but still too short to tie up, received the same gentle attention. A few more strokes and she too was content.