Chapter 295
At the Eilish family.
The fireplace warmed the entire villa. The family of three gathered around a 1.8-meter Christmas tree surrounded by a pile of exquisite gifts. The tree's lights twinkled.
Candy, in a beautiful princess dress and a Christmas hat, looked adorable in Caleb's arms.
Grace, watching the loving scene, couldn't help considering Caleb a good father, but quickly dismissed the thought. Who would cheat and be with another woman if they truly loved their child?
Despite his flaws, she was determined to keep him, not letting Susan win. The thought of Candy not being Caleb's biological daughter brought a strange sense of revenge.
"This is the gift Daddy gave me," Candy exclaimed, opening it to find a princess toy. "Daddy, I love you," she said.
Grace, with a cold smile, remarked on the seemingly insincere gift, but Caleb ignored her.
"This is Mommy's gift," Candy said, opening a heavy box to find a violin.
"Do you like it?" Grace asked. "I love it! I want to learn the violin," Candy exclaimed. Grace had already arranged for the best violin teacher for Candy.
Candy nodded vigorously. "I love Mommy the most."
"You love Mommy more, or Daddy more?"
"I love you both."
"If Daddy and Mommy are separated, will Candy go with Daddy or Mommy?"
Caleb warned, "Grace."
Candy frowned. "Why separate? Isn't it good if Daddy and Mommy don't separate? We are a family, and we should always be together."
"Daddy, Daddy, what gift did you buy for Mommy?"
"Sorry, I forgot."
"Daddy, you are so careless. Remember to make it up to Mommy tomorrow."
"Okay."
"This is the gift Mommy gave to Daddy. Let's open it and see." Candy shook it curiously. "Such a small box. What gift is inside?"
Caleb opened it, and his face changed. Inside was actually...
"What is this?" Candy grabbed the shiny box from inside. "Mommy, is this bubble gum?"
Caleb snatched back the box and gritted his teeth. "Are you crazy?"
She actually gave him a box of those things for that time.
Grace laughed softly. "Isn't this for my and Candy's good? You should take protective measures to avoid getting any diseases from other women in the future, which would harm me and Candy."
Grace's mentality was twisted.
"Dinner is ready." The servant brought the exquisite dinner plate to the table.
On the long white dining table were cakes, turkeys, champagne, and juice, and the candles on the silver candlestick were flickering.
Candy lifted her orange juice in a pretentious manner, her beautiful big eyes sparkling. "I hope that every Christmas, I can spend it with Daddy and Mommy, and I hope our family will always be this happy. Cheers!"
Caleb clinked glasses with her.
"Mommy," Candy called Grace, who then raised her glass and clinked with her. Grace gave Caleb a meaningful, sarcastic look.
Caleb glanced at his watch. It was seven o'clock, and he deliberately started the dinner half an hour early tonight.
This detail was captured by Grace.
After the dinner, Candy, Caleb, and Grace took a photo together.
The Polaroid instantly captured the moment and printed the picture, which Grace hung on the wall.
Every year, they would take Christmas and New Year photos, but Grace wondered if there would be another one next year.
She couldn't help but hate Caleb. She had given him such a happy family, the most adorable daughter in the world, so why couldn't he cherish it?
These thoughts often crossed Grace's mind, making her feel increasingly twisted.
It was all because of Caleb. Grace's eyes burned with anger, wanting to punch a hole in Caleb's face.
"Daddy, are you going to work late again? Can't you stay?" Candy held Caleb's arm, reluctant to let go.
Grace, who had been suppressing her anger all night, couldn't take it anymore and confronted Caleb, "Caleb, are you out of your mind? It's Christmas Eve, and you can't let go of that woman?"
"Watch your words," Caleb warned.
"Did I say something wrong? Are you planning to start another 'family' outside?"
Grace's had a clear boundary. She didn't mind if he put on a show, but having a mistress was absolutely unacceptable, let alone an illegitimate child, and if that woman was Susan, it was even more impossible!
"Mommy, what does it mean to have another family outside? Doesn't Daddy only have us?" Candy asked, confused.
"Grace, mind your own business."
"Mind my own business? Why don't you mind your own lower body? Caleb, are you openly betraying me now? Can't you hide it from your daughter?"
If it weren't for Candy, Caleb had no doubt that he would strangle Grace, but because of Candy, Caleb had no immediate plans for divorce. However, he couldn't stand another day with Grace. He despised her deeply.
"Daddy, please don't go. Christmas Eve should be spent with family. We haven't even eaten the apples..."
Caleb looked down, his adorable daughter hugging his leg, her pitiful face tearful, pleading.
Caleb's heart softened. He felt suffocated.
In the hospital room, Susan moved to a VIP ward at Caleb's insistence. The room was spacious, with a large bed and a big sofa, better than their home. By the window, a 1.8-meter Christmas tree adorned with lights sparkled like stars. Soft Christmas music filled the air. Susan, in a fitted beige sweater, was knitting a hat.
Her focused expression exuded an indescribable tenderness, her face as radiant as ever.
Oliver was reading comics in various positions, occasionally bursting into laughter. At the moment, he was lying on the pillow, his hands supporting his chin, engrossed.
"You kicked the blanket again," Susan said, using one hand to tuck him in.
"Mommy, I have turned on the air conditioner. I'm not cold," he replied.
"It's better to be warm," she insisted.
"Mommy, this comic book is so exciting. I don't want to sleep tonight," Oliver exclaimed.
"No, kids shouldn't stay up late," Susan replied.
Oliver pouted and muttered, "I'm not a kid. I'm a little superhero."
Susan smiled. Wasn't her son a little superhero? During his week in the hospital, he never once asked what illness he had or why he needed to be hospitalized. He obediently took his medicine and the IV, thanking the doctors and nurses.
As a mother, seeing her son so sensible, Susan felt even more uncomfortable, suppressing her emotions. She put down the half-knitted hat. "Oliver, you're going to have a little surgery the day after tomorrow."