Chapter 317
Caleb's actions suddenly froze, his eyebrows furrowing. Susan followed his gaze, her pupils widening in shock, her face paling as she stood frozen in place.
On the other side of the corridor, Grace held Candy's hand. Candy's innocent eyes widened in surprise as she asked, "Mommy, why is Daddy kissing another woman?"
Grace, with a hint of vindictive pleasure in her eyes, coldly and calmly replied, "Candy, you see it now. Your daddy doesn't want us because of this woman."
"Grace, are you out of your mind?" Caleb hurriedly stepped forward, his face filled with unprecedented concern.
"Candy, it's not what you think."
"Isn't it? Can her own eyes be wrong? Candy, you saw it. It's because of this woman that your daddy didn't spend your birthday with you, and he doesn't come home every day. He doesn't want us," Grace said calmly.
"It's not like that, Candy..."
Tears welled up in Candy's eyes. "Daddy, I hate you."
"Candy..." Caleb wanted to hug her, but Candy pushed him away and ran to Susan, her fists clenched, "You bad woman, you stole my daddy, I hate you... I hate you! Bad woman!"
Her small fists rained down on Susan, leaving her feeling utterly ashamed. She couldn't defend herself, feeling extremely embarrassed, her ears burning with shame. She bit her lip and hung her head in humiliation.
"I hate you!"
"Candy, please don't." Caleb picked up Candy, gave Susan a pained look, and said, "I'm sorry."
"Daddy, let me go." "Let go." Candy struggled in Caleb's arms.
"Let's go!" Caleb dragged Grace away, and Grace turned back to Susan with a mocking smile, a smile that seemed to forever nail Susan to the pillar of shame. Susan's eyes quickly turned red as she stood there, barely holding herself together.
"Daddy, let me go." Candy struggled with all her might. "I hate you, Daddy." Caleb handed Candy to the driver.
"You take Miss up to the car."
"Yes."
"Let go of me, I want Mommy..." Candy was carried into the car by the driver. Caleb turned his head, glaring at Grace in anger.
"Are you out of your mind? You actually brought her to the hospital."
Grace smiled coldly, without a hint of fear in her eyes, as if nothing mattered anymore.
"Our daughter has been waiting for you to come home and celebrate her birthday with her, but you didn't come back. She kept asking me why you didn't come home for several days, why you didn't celebrate her birthday with her, and where you were. I had no choice but to bring her to find you..."
"Grace." Caleb gritted his teeth,
"You should know what kind of harm this will cause to our daughter. You shouldn't have done this."
"Ha, I shouldn't have done this, then you should betray me?" Grace shook her head, as if she had heard a joke, "Caleb, you make me doubt this world. The one who betrays is unrepentant, and the one who reveals the truth is wrong? If you love our daughter, you wouldn't be with that woman."
"You say I'm not good, that I can't take care of Candy, but it's okay for Candy to be with a stepmother, with a woman who destroys her family? Don't you consider the damage this will cause to her? That's a lifetime of shadow."
Caleb was speechless, "I was wrong about this." "I'll give you another chance to turn back..."
"I can't turn back." Caleb said without hesitation.
Caleb's words stabbed at Grace's already numb heart, and she found herself ridiculous. At this point, she still had expectations for this man.
"So you still want to fight for custody of our daughter?"
"Yes."
"Well, then I officially inform you that the war has just begun."
Caleb's heart trembled, and Grace's bargaining chip was Candy.
"What do you want to do?"
"You'll find out soon enough, I promise it will be exciting..."
"Don't hurt Candy."
"You're the one hurting her, Caleb."
"How dare you?" Caleb had just grabbed Grace's hand when Candy rushed out of the car and pushed him, "Don't you bully Mommy, bad person!"
Caleb's heart tightened, his pupils in shock. He had never thought that one day he would be glared at by his daughter with anger and hatred, calling him a bad person. This was like a thousand arrows piercing his heart for a father.
"Candy..." Caleb wanted to hug her, but Candy took several steps back, looking at him with fear, and hid behind Grace, as if he was the enemy.
"Mommy, let's go home. I don't want to see him." Candy reached out to Grace, wanting to be held.
"Okay, let's go home." Grace gave Caleb a victorious, retaliatory smile and said softly, "Who do you think Candy will choose?"
Caleb's throat tightened, and he could only stand there, watching Grace carry Candy into the car. Candy kept her head buried in Grace's shoulder, not looking at him from start to finish.
Susan stood by the window, silently watching the scene, she clearly saw the moment when Grace carried Candy into the car, the darkness, pain, and helplessness on Caleb's face. She tried hard not to blame herself, but Candy's voice kept echoing in her ears, and she couldn't get rid of it. Yes, she was a bad woman, a woman who destroyed someone else's family. She would have her comeuppance. She just hoped that this retribution would not fall on Oliver, all directed at her. Tears welled up in her eyes, wetting Susan's sweater.
"Mommy." Oliver stretched and yawned. Susan quickly wiped her tears, but her eyes remained red. Oliver looked at her with concern. "You cried again, Mommy."
"Wake up, it's time for breakfast." Susan avoided his gaze and forced a smile, "I bought your favorite chocolate cake."
"Oh, great. I'll go brush my teeth." Oliver got out of bed quickly, brushed his teeth, and came back.
Susan had already poured out the chocolate cake and put it in a bowl, giving him a pair of chopsticks.
"Mommy, have some cake." Oliver picked up a piece of meat and brought it to her mouth.
"You eat it." said Susan.
"No, boys should take care of girls and give them the best. Mommy, you eat it."
Susan smiled, her throat a little sour.
"Mommy, I'm already three years old, I can take care of you. Even if it's just the two of us, we can live well." Oliver lowered his head and pretended to say casually. He promised to give Daddy time, but he was afraid that Daddy would make Mommy cry more. If that's the case, he would rather not have Daddy, because he already has the best Mommy in the world.
"Oliver..." Susan choked.
"Mommy, come, have another bite." Oliver smiled brightly and handed another piece of cake to Susan.
"Mommy, the teacher said the most important thing in life is to be happy. So no matter what decision Mommy makes, happiness should be the priority, and I will always be Mommy's strongest support."
The next two days were calm, but Susan knew that it was the calm before the storm, and the terrible storm was still to come. And her premonition was correct. The storm came soon.