"Are you alright, Mom?" Gwen's concerned tone cut through the air, her gaze flickering between their disturbed and scared faces. It wasn't difficult to surmise they must have overheard their argument. Jace, still very young, might not have comprehended the situation fully, his fear palpable. However, it was Gwen who truly worried her; on the verge of tears, the innocent child undeserving of such strife. She was so young, yet burdened with their conflict. Mandy's heart ached at the sight of her beloved daughter's distress, resenting herself for being the cause. Would things have been different if she hadn't separated from Alex? If she had tried a little harder? If they had given their marriage another chance? So many questions lingered, unanswered. She knew this guilt and resentment would haunt her for life, alongside the unanswered questions. But for now, she needed to focus on her two nearly teary-eyed children. Pushing aside the somber thoughts, she forced a smile.

"Of course, I'm perfectly fine. Now, hurry and get ready, or we'll be late," she replied playfully, pinching the tips of their cute noses.

"Really, Mom?" Jace's eyes sparkled with excitement at the prospect, perhaps assuming their plans had been canceled.

"Of course! Didn't I promise we'd have lots of fun together? And Mama never breaks her promises. Now, hurry up, young man."

"Yay!" With that, Jace dashed off to his room, leaving Gwen behind, still looking a tad despondent. Mandy sat on the sofa, pulling Gwen onto her lap.

"What's wrong, Winnie dear?" she asked, cupping Gwen's face gently, lifting it to meet her gaze.

"Mom... is Uncle Mark angry because of me? And is he not coming with us? If he doesn't, Jace will be very sad." Her voice trembled with sadness, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. Mandy felt a pang in her heart, embracing her daughter tightly.

"No, no, sweetheart. Don't think like that. You're my lovely little angel, my precious baby. Who could ever be angry with you? Uncle Mark is just tired, nothing more. And you know what? When I told Jace you'd be coming along, he was thrilled. And when he's with you, he won't even think about his dad. After all, you're his big sister," she reassured, holding Gwen close to her chest.

"Then can I stay with you forever, mom? I miss you so much, and I want to be with Jace too," Gwen asked innocently, her eyes filled with hope. Seeing the expectant look in her daughter's eyes, Mandy resolved to have a proper discussion with both Alex and Mark. If things didn't go as planned, she was prepared to leave Mark. She was no longer as weak as she once was; she could fight for custody, especially now that she had a stable job and Gwen wanted to stay with her.

"Of course, sweetheart. And I miss my baby too. Now, let's get you ready to have some fun," she said, planting a kiss on Gwen's pink cheeks, her heart brimming with happiness.

True to her word, she took them to watch their favorite animated movie, followed by lunch and playtime in the park. As they frolicked with other children, their boundless energy infectious, Mandy sat on the nearest bench, her heart swelling with love as she watched them. She silently prayed for their happiness, her resolve strengthened. Yet, the memory of her earlier argument with Mark lingered, her lips pressing into a tight line. But she pushed aside the unpleasant thoughts, focusing solely on her children.