Chapter 286

Susan was startled by her own guess, then she found it amusing. Was she only twenty-four? How could she still have such naive thoughts? If she remained as innocent as before, all her struggles in the past four years would have been in vain, and she wouldn't have grown at all. Susan hardened her heart.

"So, you came here just to kick me when I'm down?"

Caleb was speechless. How could she think so poorly of him? "How am I kicking you when you're already down? Do you really need me to do that?" Caleb was always a man of few words, but he couldn't help but argue with her when they were together.

"So, you want to make me angry, don't you?"

Caleb retorted, "Isn't it you who wants to make me angry?"

Susan replied, "I don't have that ability."

Caleb raised an eyebrow.

If Susan didn't have that ability, then no one in the world did. She had made him angry countless times!

"You're more than capable, so don't be modest." Susan and Caleb stared at each other, suddenly realizing how childish their argument was. They had never had such a quarrel in the past four years.

At work, even when dealing with the most difficult clients, Susan had never got angry. It was not that she had a good temper; her colleagues all said she was an emotionless robot. Susan never bothered to engage in such meaningless and unseemly arguments, but in front of Caleb, her 'bad habits' were exposed, as if years of self-discipline had been ruined by him.

"Do you want to keep arguing in the kitchen?"

"Now you're the one arguing with me." Caleb once again experienced Susan's talent for distorting facts.

"I was trying to be nice and make you some oatmeal, and you scolded me."

"You're tearing down the kitchen. Mr. Eilish, you're causing me trouble."

"Susan, don't underestimate me. There's nothing I can't handle." Caleb raised his voice, but he was hesitant. He couldn't handle her, right?

"Stop arguing and order takeout."

"You want to eat takeout when you're sick? You're asking for trouble."

"Then what should we do?" Susan gave Caleb a disdainful look.

Now it seemed that Caleb was the one who was sick, and she had to go along with him.

"Go back to bed and wait for the food."

"Don't touch my things." After a few more words, Susan's head spun even more, and she returned to the room, collapsing onto the bed. She couldn't sleep, her mind was foggy, and she felt weak all over.

It quieted down outside, and she closed her eyes to rest. She didn't know how long it had passed when she heard the doorbell.

Caleb opened the door, and then he came in with a thermos. "Have some oatmeal." Susan couldn't be bothered to lift her eyelids. "I don't want to eat. I want to sleep."

"It's already midnight. Finish the oats and then go to sleep.

"Get up quickly."

"You're so annoying." Susan impatiently opened her eyes. Hadn't he ever taken care of a patient? Didn't he know that rest was what a patient needed most when she had a fever?

"Where did the oatmeal come from?"

"I made it at home and had the driver deliver it." Home. Susan had already lost her sense of taste, but now there was a hint of bitterness in her mouth. "Aren't you afraid your wife will suspect something?"

"Don't pretend. I know she's been causing trouble for you." Caleb's tone lowered a bit. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"There was no need."

"Why not?"

Susan looked up, her smile cold. "If I tell you, will you stop bothering me? Caleb, I told you a long time ago to stay away from me and not cause me trouble, but did you listen? So now that this has happened, isn't it what you expected?"

"I didn't expect her to find out about you."

"She has known about me since a long time ago," Susan murmured.

"What did you say?"

"It's nothing." Susan had no intention of bringing up the past. She had kept a secret in her heart, and Caleb knew she had suffered a lot. Thinking of what Francis had said, his doubts deepened.

"Susan, can we talk? About the past..."

"Since it's in the past, let it be."

"But it's related to the present."

"No, as long as we stop contacting each other, it won't affect our current lives." Susan said, "I'm really tired."

"I'm tired too." Separated for these four years, Caleb didn't know how he had made it through. For Caleb, the only redemption was Candy. Only when he was a father could he really feel happy. The rest of the time, he was nothing but a walking dead.

"That means we're not suitable. Continuing to be involved will only be draining for each other, and now we have people we cherish, and neither of us can afford to lose them."

"I don't want to hear that. I'll consider it myself. Susan, I just want to hear one truth from you. Everything you said back then, was it true? You didn't lie to me, and you didn't hide anything?"

Susan's body trembled, and her eyelashes drooped, "No."

"Look up and say it to me.

"Look at me.

"You dare not?

"What are you hiding?" Caleb asked, pressing Susan's heart, making her heartbeat faster and faster,

"Stop asking."

"You're evading. You didn't tell the truth, did you? You and Francis didn't have that kind of relationship, and you didn't betray me. Oliver is our child, right?" For years, there had been a voice in his ear.

Susan was not a fickle person. She believed in his heart.

"No, I'm telling the truth. Caleb, why can't you believe it? Can you stop being so persistent? Why can't you let it go and live well with your family"

"Well? Do you think it's good now? Let me tell you, my life has been messed up by you. Do you think I don't want to let it go? Susan, if I could let go, I would have never looked at you again." Caleb honestly confessed his thoughts to her, including his frustration and heartache. He sighed weakly. "I can't control myself."

He had loved her since four years ago.

It was like he was possessed by a demon, unable to control his feelings. He had also thought about the risk of losing Candy, and he had used Candy to restrain himself, but the evil beast in his heart always broke through the barriers he set, uncontrollably rushing out, making him lose control.

Susan's eyes turned red. Why did love have to be so torturous? From the beginning, it was destined to be a tragedy.

"Have you been well for the past four years? Have you ever thought of me? Susan..." Caleb leaned close to her, his breath spraying on her face, confusing her nerves.

Susan's heart became even more chaotic, and she was afraid. His breath and his voice were like a drug.

"Don't do this, Caleb..." She turned her face, wanting to escape, but Caleb held her face in his hands, making her look at him. "Look at me, Susan..."

"I beg you not to do this..." Susan choked, and a tear uncontrollably fell. Susan's tears fell on Caleb's heart.

He couldn't help but lower his head and kiss her eyelashes which were wet with tears.

Susan took a deep breath, and her whole body trembled uncontrollably, like a butterfly's wings. She was about to melt, she was about to collapse.

"Susan... Susan..." he gently and hoarsely murmured her name, his lips slowly moving down, kissing along her nose. Susan's heart was in chaos. Her brain seemed to have completely shut down...