Chapter 679 Between Us, It's Already Completely Over
After Kingsley finished talking, the room got super tense. By the door, Caitlyn looked as pale as a ghost, clutching gifts for Amara and the kids.
Landon just watched her quietly.
Kingsley grinned and said, "Why are you still standing there? It's been ages. We've got a lot to catch up on. Let's chat over some food!"
Caitlyn was frozen for a moment, and Amara gently patted her hand, offering silent support and encouragement.
Just then, Dione came running over.
She hadn't seen Caitlyn much in the past few years, but they were pretty close. Dione called her softly and pulled her towards the dining room.
Meanwhile, Katelyn watched with envy! She stared at Dione, her eyes burning with jealousy, which only made Dione try even harder.
Kingsley grabbed a bottle of wine and four small glasses from the cabinet, then said to Landon, "I'll have the driver take you back later. It's rare for us to get together, let's have a drink!"
Landon, intentionally seated across from Caitlyn by Kingsley's arrangement, initially wanted to refuse, but after glancing at Caitlyn, he changed his mind and smiled slightly, saying, "Sure!"
Four small glasses, each half-filled with brandy, were lined up and handed out.
Amara said softly, "Caitlyn can't drink."
A few years back, Caitlyn used to drink a lot because of Landon, which messed up her stomach. Since then, she hardly ever touched alcohol.
Kingsley lowered his eyes and chuckled softly, "One drink won't hurt!" he said, still trying to place the glass in Caitlyn's hand.
Landon reached out and took the glass mid-air, his tone calm. "Her stomach isn't in great shape, so I'll drink for her."
Kingsley chuckled lightly and said, "After all these years, Mr. Carter is still as considerate as ever."
He let go, and Landon was about to take the glass back.
But Caitlyn gently held the glass, their fingertips accidentally touching. The slight warmth made both of them a bit dazed, especially Landon.
Under the light, Caitlyn's red lips parted slightly, and she said, "No need to trouble Mr. Carter! I can handle one glass of wine myself."
Landon's gaze was deep and unreadable as he looked at her. His long fingers twitched slightly, but in the end, he let her go.
Caitlyn took the glass and downed it in one gulp. The spicy liquid burned down her throat, bringing back memories and leaving her choked and in pain. She didn't know why Landon had to come back to Seattle.
Didn't he choose a life in Boston? Caitlyn couldn't wrap her head around it, so she just stopped trying. After finishing her glass, she looked up at Kingsley and said softly, "I'd like another."
But Kingsley put the wine away, smiling faintly, "Better not! Amara wouldn't allow it."
Sure enough, Amara gently patted Caitlyn and said, "Don't drink any more! You'll just end up feeling awful and needing to go to the hospital again."
Caitlyn listened and didn't push it.
After a moment of silence, the kids' laughter brought the room back to life. Kingsley and Landon chatted while eating, but their conversation always drifted back to business.
Amara and Caitlyn, on the other hand, talked about more personal stuff.
Suddenly, Landon asked Caitlyn softly, "How have you been these past few years?"
Caitlyn was caught off guard.
At the table, everyone else was staring at her. With no way to dodge the question, she said softly, "Not bad. I learned a niche language... Vesperian."
Landon watched her speak, his gaze intensely focused.
At the right moment, he looked away and smiled slightly, "That's great! I'm quite envious of your freedom to travel the world."
Caitlyn lowered her eyes and said, "I also envy you, Mr. Carter, for having a wife and daughter—a happy family. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have mentioned something that might make you sad."
Hearing her words, Landon didn't respond. He just looked at her with a deeper, more profound gaze.
At this moment, Katelyn approached Landon, her pretty little face pressed against his arm, and said softly, "I've never seen my mom! Ms. Robinson, have you seen my mom? I heard she's very beautiful."
How could Caitlyn not have seen Phoebe? Not only had she seen Phoebe, but she had also been slapped by her!
But Phoebe was gone, and Caitlyn couldn't hold a grudge against Katelyn, especially since her little face was so adorable. Caitlyn thought she resembled Landon a lot.
But Caitlyn didn't want to be too kind to Katelyn, to avoid giving her any false hopes. So Caitlyn snapped, "I haven't seen her!"
Hearing this, Katelyn looked quite disappointed.
After a moment, she lowered her thick eyelashes, looking very downcast. "My mom is dead. You'll never see her again," she said.
Caitlyn was speechless.
Katelyn looked up at her again, tears filling her eyes. Despite her good skin, she was small and thin, looking quite pitiful. Caitlyn couldn't truly harden her heart against Katelyn and stared blankly at her.
Unexpectedly, Landon also looked over at her, his eyes filled with emotion. Caitlyn quickly looked away, her face feeling a bit hot. She hated herself for being so weak; she could have been more indifferent.
She thought, 'After all, Landon was just an old fling from years ago. He got married and had kids. Now that his wife is dead, he's in a tough spot. Why should I still be affected by him?'
Caitlyn then started talking to Amara, while Dione clung to her. Dione even sat on her lap, asking her to show her a picture book.
Normally, Dione wasn't this clingy. She just wanted to show off in front of Katelyn and make her envious. Kingsley's keen eyes caught onto Dione's little game, and he couldn't help but chuckle softly to himself.
Sure enough, Katelyn was angry. She thought, 'Why does Dione have a dog, and I don't? Why does Dione have Caitlyn, and I don't? But soon I'll have Cola, and I want Caitlyn too.'
Katelyn looked up at Landon, who knew her so well that he could tell what she was thinking just by looking at her. With his hand on the glass, he gently patted her little head, which told Katelyn that he agreed.
She leaned against him, staring intently at Caitlyn. She thought, 'After all, Caitlyn would be hers sooner or later.'
The night was cool as water.
The birds and insects in the courtyard were already asleep, and the three little ones in the hall were getting drowsy... The adults were still reluctant to part, though honestly, the only one truly unwilling was Kingsley.
Everyone else had mixed feelings.
Amara felt she hadn't had a proper chat with Caitlyn.
Caitlyn had been wanting to leave for a while, and Landon just thought there were too many people around.
Finally, Landon stood up and said, "Katelyn needs to sleep. I won't keep you any longer. Goodbye."
Outside, his driver was already waiting.
Before leaving, Landon very gracefully and appropriately asked Caitlyn, "Do you need a ride? It's not safe to drive after drinking."
Kingsley said he would personally take her, but then thought better of it and said, "I drank too."
Landon smiled lightly and said, "I'll give Ms. Robinson a ride then."
He spoke politely and distantly, as if their past had never happened, making it seem petty for Caitlyn to refuse. Nonetheless, she declined, "Thank you, Mr. Carter. I'll take a cab."
Landon, holding Katelyn, stood at the entrance.
The light shone on his face, and he still looked as handsome as ever, showing no signs of age, only the fine lines at the corners of his eyes adding a mature charm.
He asked her, "After all these years, you still can't let go?"
Amara's heart trembled when she heard this.
Sure enough, Caitlyn couldn't stand being provoked. She sneered lightly, "Mr. Carter, you're overthinking it!"
Landon's gaze was deep. After a moment, he slightly turned his body, gesturing for her to go first.
Caitlyn walked ahead, and Landon followed, with Katelyn clinging to his shoulder... Her little face looked aloof, but inside she was overjoyed.
In the hall, Amara looked at Kingsley and said, "You planned this all along, didn't you?"
Kingsley touched his chin and chuckled, "After all these years... Caitlyn still hasn't made any progress! You see, one Landon was enough to captivate her before, and now there's another one! Katelyn is quite clingy."
His words made Amara worried, and she sighed softly as she went out to see them off.
A black Rolls-Royce was parked in front of the parking lot. The driver held the rear door for Landon to put Katelyn in the child's seat. Once Katelyn was settled, Landon straightened up and looked at Caitlyn. "Get in," he said.
"I'll sit by the door," Caitlyn softly said.
Landon gave her a deep look, then got into the car first, with Caitlyn following behind.
Once inside, she realized how close they were sitting—almost hip to hip. In the limited space, she could smell his scent, a mix of tobacco and fresh cologne. It was unique and very pleasant.
It was exactly the same as before. Caitlyn remembered how she used to lie on him like a puppy, sniffing his neck, making him itch, and driving him wild, calling him Mr. Carter in a soft voice.
Caitlyn's eyes filled with tears as she remembered the past. She turned her face to look out the window, not wanting to see him or think about the past.
Landon remained silent.
Once the car started, he relaxed against the seat. To avoid touching him, Caitlyn leaned forward, but after a while, her back started to ache, so she adjusted slightly.
Suddenly, a hand grabbed her arm and pulled her back.
Her shoulders and back pressed against the comfortable seat, but she was very stiff, not daring to look at Landon's expression. She imagined his eyes must be bright and aggressive.
Landon asked, "Are you that afraid of me? I don't mean anything else; it's just sharing a ride. Is it necessary to reject me like this?"
Though it was a question, he spoke gently.
With a cold attitude, Caitlyn replied, "You're overthinking it, Mr. Carter. Don't flatter yourself. We made things clear and clean many years ago."
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