Chapter 5

A boy and a girl came bounding out of the house, their faces lighting up with excitement at the sight of Clyde.

“Daddy, Daddy!” they chorused, rushing towards Clyde with outstretched arms. Clyde's heart swelled with love as he scooped his children up into his arms, their laughter ringing in his ears like music. He held them close, savoring the warmth of their embrace and the feeling of their small bodies pressed against his own.

“How are my favorite little people doing?” Clyde asked, his voice filled with affection as he set them down on the ground.

“We're fine Daddy!” The children exclaimed in unison, their faces beaming with happiness.

The boy, noticing the bandage wrapped around Clyde's head, furrowed his brow in concern. “Daddy, what happened to your head?” he asked, rubbing the bandage around his head gently. “Mummy also has the same thing on her head,” he said, turning his head to notice his mom.

Clyde smiled at his question and nodded his head not until the little boy pressed his finger against the bandage on Clyde's head. Clyde screamed out and held his hand but in no time, his scream turned into laughter. He took a brief look at Charlotte who stood on a stance, staring at him and the kids. Her expression has darkened with anger at the boy's question. 

He soon gave his son a reassuring smile, his mind racing for a suitable explanation. “That scream, I mean my scream was nothing… it's nothing to worry about, buddy,” he replied, his tone light and casual. “I just bumped in on something, but I'm perfectly fine now.”

The boy smiled and reached out to take Clyde's hand, his grip firm and reassuring. “Okay, Daddy,” he said.

Clyde shrugged and tilted his head as he squeezed his son's hand. He held his daughter also and rubbed her head with his palm. He soon ushered them inside so he would have a word with Charlotte.

He took a deep sigh and turned to notice Charlotte whose eyes were narrowed into slits of fury and her lips were pressed into a thin line of displeasure. The sight of the bandage on her head only added to the tension that Clyde already had within him, casting a shadow over what should have been a joyful reunion.

“Charlotte?” He uttered softly.

“What is it you have to say again?” Charlotte demanded, her voice sharp with anger as she folded her arms across her chest.

Clyde's heart sank at her icy tone but he squared his shoulders and met her gaze head-on. “I came here to check up on you only to see that you were also injured.” He sighed and threw his arms down after making an illustration. “I never knew I was going to see you this way.” He said, his voice steady despite the turmoil churning inside him.

“How come you had no idea that I was injured… you ran us into a tree and you were injured, why won't I be injured also?” She bursted out with a sharp tone after laughing out loud and clapping her hands at Clyde's words.

It took a few moments before Clyde could respond to Charlotte's statement. “My bad… maybe I thought about it but it wasn't the way you think,” He took a step forward.

“Something could have happened to me, Clyde,” She screamed out loud, her voice breaking. “I was unconscious and when I woke up, I didn't find you by my side… Do you know the first word I uttered? It was your name, Clyde but you were nowhere to be found.” She nodded her head, her expression filled with sadness.

Clyde, this time around did not hesitate to hold Charlotte. She held her hands so that she could not lose his grip. 

“I didn't know you went through all that… I was taken to a different hospital and when I woke up, my wife was already there.” He sighed, his gaze pressed on her. “I came here directly the moment I left the hospital and I didn't go with my wife back to my apartment all because of you.” He rubbed her chin and propelled his head forward.

Charlotte folded her lips and wagged her head slowly. She gulped down her gut as she listened to Clyde's words.

“I love you, Charlotte. If I don't, I won't be here… I should be home resting like the doctor said but I'm here for you and our kids,” he smiles at her and kisses her on her head. 

“You love me huh, then divorce your wife and let us be together, forever.” She announced her voice firm.

Clyde chuckled at her words as he didn't take her seriously not until Charlotte voiced out a second time. 

“If you want to see your children again, Clyde,” she said, her voice low and menacing. “You'll divorce your wife and do it quickly, otherwise, you won't have access to them, including me.” She shut her eyes and turned away from me

“Charlotte, are you really serious?” He questioned and threw his arms down. 

He felt as though the ground had been ripped out from beneath him, leaving him suspended in a whirlwind of emotions. The weight of Charlotte's words note down on him like a leaden blanket, suffocating him with the gravity of the choice he was being forced to make. 

Though he already declared to Kristen that he wanted a divorce but he said that out of anger and because Kristen won't let him be and not because he meant it. He planned to get right with her when he got back to his apartment. 

“But Charlotte,” he began, his voice breaking with uncertainty. “I can't just divorce my wife. It's not that simple.” He shrugged.

Charlotte's expression hardened at his response, her features contorted with rage. “Not that simple you say, huh?” She echoed, her voice rising to a crescendo of fury. “Do you think it's simple for me to watch you go back to her time and time again, leaning me to pick up the pieces? Do you think it's simple for me to raise our children alone while you're off playing happy families with her?”

Clyde kept mute, unable to utter a word as he reclined at the venom on her words, his heart twisting with guilt and remorse. He knew that Charlotte was deeply hurt but he had never imagined that she would resort to such drastic measures to force his hand.

“Remember, I gave you what your wife could not… the kids… at least be grateful.” She sobbed and wagged her head sideways but swiftly.

Clyde took a deep breath in before raising his head to notice Charlotte.

“I’m sorry, Charlotte,” he whispered, his voice barely audible above the tumult of emotions swirling around them. “I never meant to hurt you. I love you and I love our children more than anything in this world and I would do anything to be part of their lives.”

Charlotte's expression softened slightly at his words but the fire in her eyes remained unquenched. 

“Then prove it, Clyde,” she demanded, her voice filled with sadness. “Prove that you love our children enough to put them first, even if it means letting go of your wife.” She pressed her palm against her forehead and inhaled deeply.

Clyde felt as though he were teetering on the edge of a cliff, his heart torn between two worlds. On one side stood his wife, the woman he had vowed to love and cherish until death do them part but could not give him what he would have cherished more. On the other stood Charlotte, the mother of his children, the woman who had captured his heart in a way he had never thought possible.

Closing his eyes against the weight of his decision, Clyde took a deep breath and reached out for Charlotte's hand. “I promise you Charlotte, I'll do everything I can to make us be together.” He whispered, his lips partially apart. “For you, for us, for our children, I'll do what I can.” 

Charlotte sniffed and folded her lips… “I’m happy you chose us but make it soon, Clyde.” She said and walked away from him and retreated back inside her apartment while Clyde watched her until he lost sight of her.