Chapter 83 The Affair With Luke

No one could quite believe that Charlotte was merely a simpleton, since she had managed to send her stepmother to jail with what seemed like alarming ease. Yet her children were undeniably beautiful; both Andy and Lilya possessed the grace of princes and princesses. Upon closer inspection, it was revealed that the children bore a striking resemblance to Luke. The suspicion among the parents that Charlotte's divorce was due to an affair, and that Luke was the other party, lingered in their minds. As the preschool gates opened and the crowd entered, their minds were filled with speculation and doubt. Despite their suspicions, no one dared voice these thoughts aloud. "Luke, leading Charlotte and the children into the school's auditorium, chose seats at the very back. "Are you going home afterward, or will you come to the office with me?" he asked. Charlotte pondered for a brief moment. "I'll go to the office; there's much to accomplish today." "Alright." Soon, the headmaster began to speak. "Welcome, parents, to the orientation of our young learners. This is a new stage in your children's lives, and seeing so many of you here today is a testament to the care you have for them. You can trust us with your children; our school has a history of a hundred years." The headmaster's lengthy speech, reminiscent of her struggles with attentiveness during school lectures, nearly lulled Charlotte to sleep. She nudged herself back to alertness when Luke gently pushed her. "She's finished speaking," Luke said. "Let's escort the children to their classroom and then leave." The parents seated nearby observed the couple's affectionate rapport with a tinge of envy. While understanding the moment's importance for the children, they lamented that their own husbands were too busy to attend. In contrast, Luke was there, supporting his wife and children. Witnessing this family of four stirred a sense of discomfort in them. Charlotte, a woman who had remarried, had found such a considerate husband, while they, in their first marriages, had never been cherished in such a manner. Charlotte and Luke knelt, bidding their children a tender farewell. "You must be good here, and we'll come to pick you up after school," they said softly. Although Lilya was reluctant to part with her mother, she bravely held back her tears, trying to appear strong. "Okay, Mommy. Bye for now." Luke turned to Andy. "As the older brother, you need to look after your sister. If she needs your help, make sure you're there for her." "I will, Daddy," Andy replied. Turning to leave, Charlotte resisted the urge to look back, her longing for her children more intense than ever, filled with worries about their happiness in preschool. Once in the car, Luke noticed Charlotte's disquiet and offered reassurance. "Don't overthink it. We can try this for a few days, and if it doesn't suit them, I can arrange for a transfer to another preschool. Or, we could hire a professional preschool teacher to teach them at home." Charlotte replied, "No, it's better for them at this age to interact with others. I'm just momentarily overwhelmed that they're already going to school. Don't worry about me; I'm fine." Relieved to hear she was alright, Luke said, "Let's head off then." Charlotte nodded. At the office, she went about her usual business, assisting Luke with company documents. Yet, she was noticeably distracted all day, even failing to notice when she accidentally knocked over a coffee cup on her desk, her thoughts preoccupied with her children. Luke, wanting to be available to pick up the children, even canceled his dinner plans for the evening. Finally, when it was time to pick up the kids, Charlotte quickly grabbed her bag and hurried Luke, rushing toward the preschool. Upon arrival, she checked the time; there were still about fifteen minutes left before the school day ended. Determined, Charlotte planned to pick up her children first on their first day at preschool. She knew that Andy and Lilya's longing for their parents would have peaked after a whole day apart, especially Lilya, who was probably anxiously watching the door, eager to see her mother. Charlotte recalled Lilya's sweet voice as she clung to her, realizing the separation was often harder for the parents than the children. As a child, Charlotte, often the last to be picked up from preschool, felt the impact of her father's busy schedule. She knew the loneliness of that experience and didn't want her children to feel the same. Parents might think it's trivial, but to a child, it can be a significant blow. Thus, Charlotte resolved to always be the first to pick up her children. Luke watched her anxiously waiting at the gate, her eyes fixed intently inside. "Your eagerness won't make them open the doors any sooner. They'll only open at the set time," he said. Many other parents had already gathered at the gate, the same ones who had attended the orientation in the morning. Seeing Luke and Charlotte arrive together to pick up their children, they couldn't help but feel a strong surge of envy once again. In the morning, when the other parents saw Luke and Charlotte together, some might have assumed Luke was merely putting on a show of solidarity. However, his prompt arrival at the preschool to pick up his children proved him to be a thoroughly dedicated father. When the time came, a staff member opened the preschool's gates and beckoned the parents to follow. "Please come with me, parents." Charlotte and Luke, along with other parents, were led inside, where the staff directed them to a waiting area furnished with refreshment. "Please wait here quietly. Our teachers will bring the children out one by one," the staff member said. Charlotte glanced at Luke. "Things have certainly changed," she said. Luke nodded. "It's for safety. Did you notice we had to go through facial recognition to enter? It's a security measure to prevent unauthorized access." Charlotte nodded in understanding. "It seems this preschool takes its responsibilities seriously." Charlotte's thoughts shifted from Lilya to Andy, worried that his serious demeanor might hinder him from making friends, or worse, that he might bully other children. Her children, though born of the same mother, were as different as night and day: one content to sit quietly all day without uttering a word, the other a bundle of energy, constantly looking around and exploring. Suddenly, two youthful voices rang out from nearby. "Daddy! Mommy!"