Chapter 461
"It's nothing," Susan brushed it off. If he hadn't touched it, she wouldn't have noticed. What a jinx!
"I'll get some band-aids."
"It's just a small cut. Don't make a big deal out of it."
"Do you get hurt often?" Caleb frowned.
She thought, 'What else? Sitting in an office all day like you, signing papers and giving orders like a god?'
Caleb was the center of attention, while Susan was always busy.
"As a designer, I often visit construction sites. A few bumps and bruises are inevitable," Susan said calmly. A little scratch was nothing.
She used to be a delicate princess who'd cry over a bruise. Now she was a warrior, running around construction sites with scraped knees.
Caleb felt a pang of discomfort.
"That hand is meant for playing the piano."
Susan gave a bitter smile. Playing the piano? That was ages ago. She hadn't touched one in forever. Only those who are financially secure have time for such things. She was too busy making ends meet.
Car loans, mortgage, tuition fees-these filled Susan's mind, leaving no room for a piano.
"I'm sorry." Caleb's guilt couldn't be expressed with just an apology.
"Get in the car first."
"No..." Susan was dragged along. Apologizing and then using force-his "sorry" was too cheap.
Susan was pushed into the passenger seat, and Caleb's long arms reached over to pull out the seatbelt.
Susan was strapped in.
Her almond-shaped eyes widened in protest. "Caleb, this is kidnapping."
"Since you've already decided I'm a kidnapper, I don't mind 'kidnapping' you one more time."
"You..." So shameless.
"Stay put and don't run off."
Caleb said as he closed the door and jogged to the pharmacy.
Once he was inside, Susan unbuckled her seatbelt to escape but found the door locked.
'What a crappy car.' She was furious.
Glaring, she waited for Caleb to return.
When he saw the unbuckled seatbelt, Caleb smiled. "You really were trying to run away."
"Should I just sit here and wait?" Susan sneered. She was like a porcupine, all bristles and spikes.
Caleb chuckled and reached for her hand.
"Don't touch me."
"Caleb..."
"Be good."
"Don't let it get infected." Caleb's voice was gentle, like coaxing a child.
He held Susan's small hand and gently blew on the wound.
Susan felt a shiver, as if someone was tickling her earlobe with a feather, making her body go weak.
She couldn't handle this kind of teasing.
Caleb's gaze was serious and focused, filled with concern.
Why was that look so alluring? Susan felt dizzy and instinctively bit her lip. She clenched her fingers, trying to control the surge of emotions.
How long had it been since someone cared for her like this?
It seemed like a long, long time ago, so long that she had almost forgotten.
As the pride of the family, Susan had always been the little princess. Her parents cherished her like no other, she was a delicate flower in a greenhouse. If she ever felt a bit wronged, the whole world would shower her with care.
But later...
Later, Susan didn't even have the strength to care for herself. The people who once cared for her were gone. No matter how much she suffered at work, she had to swallow it. She couldn't fall because there were people depending on her. She had to be invincible.
Being cared for felt like this, stronger than sulfuric acid, corroding her heart to pieces.
Caleb looked up, and Susan's eyes were wet and red.
Susan quickly lowered her head, not wanting him to see her vulnerability. Before she could, he cupped her face in his hands. His palms were so large, holding half her face, his fingers reaching behind her ear.
"I'm sorry for all the suffering you've endured."
Susan choked, her throat aching.
"Seeing you like this breaks my heart. Susan, I deserve to be cut into pieces, don't I?" Caleb sighed, his voice trembling.
Staring at her pink lips, Susan had bitten them so hard they were misshapen, showing how much effort she was putting into controlling herself.
Caleb couldn't bear to see her in pain.
He leaned in, slowly getting closer.
Susan wanted to escape.
'This isn't right.' A voice in Susan's head reminded her, but her body wouldn't move.
It wasn't about lust; she couldn't resist this tenderness. She was just a mortal woman, longing to be loved.
Their breaths grew hotter, intertwining, getting closer.
Susan felt a jolt of electricity through her body.
Just a little more, and their lips would touch...
Suddenly, a ringing phone startled Susan like a cat with its fur standing on end, panicked and flustered.
Her face turned pale with panic as if struck by lightning.
Caleb frowned.
On the car seat, his screen displayed an unfamiliar number.
However, a woman's intuition told Susan that it was Grace calling. It felt like there were eyes watching her, scrutinizing her dirty, disgusting self.
Caleb was silent for a few seconds before answering.
"Candy fell down the stairs and is in the hospital."
Caleb's face changed instantly. "I'm coming right now."
He hung up the phone.
The next second, he looked at Susan with embarrassment. She had already quickly wrapped herself in that hard shell again, her expression cold.
Caleb felt particularly uncomfortable. This discomfort wasn't because of her coldness towards him but because of his concern for her. He owed her so much that even his life couldn't repay it.
"Susan..."
"Go," Susan's voice was icy.
As she spoke, Susan reached for the door.
"Don't be like this..." Caleb grabbed Susan's hand.
"Then how should I be?" Susan's head was half-turned, her eyes mocking him.
She despised herself like this; no, she loathed herself like this.
Accepting a tiny bit of concern from the person who ruined her life and now wanted to take away her only family member made her so emotional that she almost lost her principles, almost did something with a married man in a car... she felt so dirty.
If she repeated the same mistake, she would be both stupid and evil, destined for hell.
"Let go," she gritted her teeth.
Caleb stared at her, his eyes filled with restraint and pain.
"Let go!"
Caleb released his grip.
The door slammed shut.
He closed his eyes in pain but didn't have much time to dwell on it. He started the car and headed straight for the hospital.
First Hospital.
Caleb rushed down the hallway like a shooting star.
Aidan and Mia were already there, pacing anxiously outside the emergency room.
"Why are you just getting here?" Aidan scolded.
"How's Candy?"
Mia's face was full of worry. "We... we don't know yet."
"How do you take care of a child? There are you and several servants at home, and you can't keep an eye on one child?" Aidan angrily blamed Grace.
At this moment, the anxious Grace was like a ticking time bomb; her eyes immediately filled with hatred.
"You blame me? I stay with Candy every day, but what about him? He's out there fooling around with his mistress. Has he come home? Has he seen his daughter? I'm the one who stays with Candy day and night. Where has he been?"