Chapter 237

The Maybach, its front end marred by a fresh dent, tore down the road with reckless abandon.

Inside the luxury vehicle, Caleb's face was a tempest waiting to unleash. His countenance was so dark and stormy, it seemed as though water might drip from his tightly clenched jaw. In a voice laced with venom, he spat out, "Susan, are you a prostitute?"

Susan's face drained of color.

She recalled Hotch's earlier words, the insinuation that she was nothing more than a high-class escort in their eyes.

It seemed Caleb shared this view. If he held even an iota of respect for her, he wouldn't have uttered such degrading words.

A hollow laugh escaped Susan's lips. "Yes, I'm a prostitute. And what does that make you? A pimp?"

"You shameless woman, I still have some self-respect," Caleb retorted, his voice harsher than it had been all night.

Susan had pushed him to his breaking point. He was teetering on the edge, torn between hurling more insults or physically lashing out.

"If you have any self-respect, then stop harassing me and let me out of the car."

"Caleb, what exactly do you want? I'll call your wife!"

"Screech!" The Maybach came to an abrupt halt, the sudden motion throwing Susan forward. She fought back the urge to vomit.

"You want to call her? Go ahead and call!"

"Do you think I'm afraid?"

Caleb thrust his phone into her hands. "Here, make the call!"

"Go ahead!"

"You crazy man!" Susan recoiled as if she had been burned, hastily pushing Caleb away. "Let me out of the car." As she reached for the car door, Caleb lunged at her, capturing her lips in a sudden, forceful kiss, leaving her no room to escape.

"Don't you touch me?" Susan screamed in panic, her hands flailing in front of her in a futile attempt to ward him off. But Caleb seized her hands roughly, pinning them against the car, his grip unyielding. The more Susan struggled, the tighter his hold became.

Susan felt like a bird with broken wings, utterly helpless.

"Caleb ..." Susan's protest was cut short as he deepened the kiss. It was a tempestuous onslaught, domineering and demanding, leaving her breathless.

His kiss was so deep, so intense.

Susan's heart pounded wildly, her cheeks flushed and her mind in disarray.

Memories flooded her mind. Caleb was kissing her with such fervor, she was powerless to resist.

Trapped in his arms, she was intoxicated by his scent, almost lost in the kiss.

Caleb abruptly broke the kiss, his nose brushing against Susan's as he panted heavily. His eyes were a fierce scarlet, reminiscent of a wolf's. "I thought you hated me? You're no better than other women."

The insult stung.

Susan's face flamed with indignation. "Let go of me."

"Caleb, you're shameless."

"I am shameless, but Susan, you are a slattern. You're so carnal you yielded to me when I touched you." Caleb's words were dismissive.

Tears welled up in Susan's eyes, the moisture causing her lashes to glisten. She hated him, hated Caleb for humiliating her so thoroughly, and hated herself even more for responding to his touch.

They had been so intimate that he knew every inch of her, had complete control over her body, and could easily elicit a reaction from her.

Yes, she was bitchy.

"I'm warning you, don't use those ridiculously stupid ways to provoke me. Otherwise, the consequences are not yours to bear." With that, Caleb shrugged Susan off and resumed driving.

Susan stared out the window, struggling to hold back her tears.

She had never imagined Caleb could be this violent.

Caleb scared her.

As they neared her neighborhood, Susan asked Caleb to stop the car. Just as she unbuckled her seatbelt, he taunted, "What? Aren't you going to invite me up for a ride?"

Susan bit back a curse.

'How does he still have the nerve? He even laughed softly.'

"It's inconvenient for you because of the man at your home?"

With a dismissive air, Susan pushed her way out of the car, the door slamming heavily behind her as she vanished into the obscurity of the night.

Watching her retreating figure, a shadow of anger crossed Caleb's face.

On the threshold of her home, Susan paused, taking a few deep breaths to recalibrate her mood. This had become a ritual over the years; whenever she felt her temper flare, she would take a moment at the door to regain her composure before stepping inside.

"Let it go," she murmured to herself. A forced smile pinched her features as she pushed open the door. "Baby, Mommy's home."

"Mommy!" Olivia's voice rang out, his small body launching into her arms with joy.

"Hey, babe." Susan crouched down, enveloping her son in a warm embrace, savoring the comforting scent of milk and warmth that radiated from him.

Olivia was Susan's beacon in the darkness, guiding her through life's thorny paths.

"Olivia has been waiting for you. He was so disappointed when you didn't come back tonight," Victoria Sinclair commented with a chuckle.

"I'm sorry, Olivia. I broke my promise."

Shaking his head, Olivia looked up at her. "Mommy, did you cry? Who bullied you? I'll fight them." He pouted, his tiny fists clenched in defiance.

"No, I didn't cry. I'm just a little tired," Susan forced another smile. "Let me hold you again, babe."

"OK." Olivia obediently stood on his tiptoes and wrapped his arms around Susan's neck. "Mommy, I love you."

Tears welled up in Susan's eyes.

Meanwhile, on the other side of town.

"The number you dialed is temporarily unavailable. Please try again later."

Damn, he's not picking up her call.

Frustrated, Victoria ended the call.

Caleb had a habit of ignoring her calls, but Victoria had never felt this restless before. Lately, she had been plagued by insecurity, fearing that Caleb was entertaining other women.

She could tolerate a mistress, but the thought of Caleb developing emotional connections with other women was unbearable.

Victoria's face turned pale.

The front door creaked open as Caleb stepped inside.

"Why are you back so late? It's already midnight." Victoria jumped up from the couch, quickly slipping on her slippers and rushing towards him.

She smelt that familiar scent of perfume again.

"Who were you with tonight?

"What's wrong with your mouth?

"Did a woman bite you?

"Caleb, do you have a mistress?" Victoria blurted out, her hand reaching out to grab him. "You tell me, do you have a mistress?"

"You'd better explain yourself."

Caleb's patience wore thin. He abruptly stopped and turned around, his sudden movement causing her to step back. "Yes, I was with another woman, so what?"

Victoria's almond-shaped eyes widened in shock. "You...what did you say?"

She hadn't expected this response. She thought he would deny it.

"Do you consider your act all righteous? I am your wife."

"Our marriage was upheld by Candy. I have no feelings for you."

"Well, I am still your wife!" Victoria screamed, her hysteria mounting.

"Keep it down, don't wake Candy up."

"If you were worried about our daughter, you wouldn't have messed around with another woman. Who is she? Tell me. Where did she come from? How did you get involved with her?" Victoria's eyes widened, her demeanor resembling a madwoman.

"I don't want to argue." Caleb shook off Victoria's hand, feeling annoyed and exhausted from dealing with her, "I'll sleep in the guest room tonight."

"Caleb..."

The door to the guest room closed, leaving Victoria alone in the hallway.

Victoria trembled with anger, her face turning pale, her expression terrifying.

She hadn't let that woman steal her fiance back then, and she wouldn't let any woman steal her husband now. No way!

Late into the night.

Layla worked until eleven o'clock before finally setting down her pen.

Her body was weary, but her mind was strangely alert, buzzing with excitement.

Lately, Layla had been in such a state, physically exhausted but mentally restless, often lying awake until the early hours of the morning.

But Layla knew she couldn't afford to stay up late; it wasn't good for the baby.

She switched off the desk lamp, about to get up and take a shower, when her phone screen lit up, flashing a string of numbers she would never forget.

Layla's hands trembled.