Chapter 683 She Must be Crazy to Stay!
Caitlyn turned around, trying to figure out where the voice was coming from.
The villa was all lit up, and there was Katelyn, dressed in a pure white dress. Her hair was perfectly framing her face, making her look all innocent and sweet.
She was tiny, clutching the handrail, and giving Caitlyn this sad puppy-dog look, which made Caitlyn feel like she had done something really bad to Katelyn.
But that couldn't be right!
Katelyn used to be a real firecracker, and when it came to being sneaky, she was even more devious than Dione! Now she was slowly making her way down the stairs.
"Don't come any closer!" Caitlyn blurted out, clearing her throat and trying to reason with Katelyn. "I gave the money back to your dad! I'm not your teacher anymore."
Katelyn stopped, her little face blank as she said, "I knew it, nobody likes me! Dad's always in meetings or working, and it's just the servants at home with me!"
After saying that, she slowly headed back upstairs, mumbling, "If there's no class, I don't want to eat either!"
Landon had been quiet this whole time.
Caitlyn was stunned again.
Hazel quickly came down the stairs, pleading, "Ms. Robinson, please stay and teach Ms. Carter. She's been talking about you all afternoon! She'll be so disappointed if you don't teach her!"
Caitlyn replied firmly, "That's not my problem!"
At that moment, Landon spoke up, all casual-like, "That's right! Whether Katelyn is good or bad has nothing to do with Ms. Robinson! You don't have to care about her, and it doesn't matter if your career is successful or not, since you're going to be Leonard's wife anyway."
Caitlyn pressed her lips together and said, "Stop trying to provoke me!"
Knowing it was a trick, she didn't want to fall for it, so she left without looking back.
She walked out of the villa. She never wanted anything to do with Landon again, and she would treat that past as nothing.
Caitlyn thought she should learn from him and be a bit more heartless!
In the hall, watching her leave, Hazel anxiously turned to Landon and asked, "Mr. Carter, what should we do?"
Landon picked up the newspaper again, casually reading. At that moment, Katelyn ran down the stairs like a little whirlwind. Seeing this, Landon smiled lightly.
In the parking lot, Caitlyn opened the car door and was about to get in when she felt a pair of thin arms hug her from behind, and Katelyn's fragile voice said, "Don't go! You can't leave!"
It was both commanding and pitiful.
Caitlyn's body stiffened. No matter what Katelyn did, Caitlyn knew Katelyn should be the one she hated the most. She never forgot the slap Phoebe gave her while she was pregnant.
Caitlyn tilted her head slightly and said softly, "You're right! I don't like you, not even a little! Why should I?"
After saying that, she broke free and got into the car, quickly starting it.
As the car drove away, she saw in the rearview mirror that tiny Katelyn was standing there in the twilight, wearing the prettiest dress, but her little face was full of sorrow.
Katelyn just stood there, watching the car drive away, not going back inside.
However, Hazel's words echoed in Caitlyn's mind. "Ms. Carter is very well-behaved and pretty!" and "She was so excited about your visit. She took a bath and washed her hair. I think she really likes you."
Caitlyn berated herself inwardly, 'What are you thinking, Caitlyn? How could you feel sorry for Katelyn? How could you think she's like you were back then—abandoned and pitiful like a stray dog? Stop it!'
Before her rationality returned, the white BMW screeched to a halt, the piercing sound echoing through the villa.
Caitlyn sat in the car, thinking that if that not-so-likable kid was willing to come and beg her again, she would reluctantly teach her. But she waited for a long time, and no one came.
She opened the car window and looked back. Katelyn was still standing there, her little dress fluttering in the wind.
Caitlyn glared at Katelyn for a moment. Finally, Caitlyn slowly backed up the car and, from the window, said to Katelyn, "Come over here, and I'll teach you."
Katelyn pursed her little lips, looking very arrogant. She said, "You get out and carry me! My feet are numb from standing!"
Caitlyn sneered, "Just a little while, and your legs are already numb? If you don't come over now, I'm leaving!"
As soon as Caitlyn finished speaking, Katelyn ran over.
She opened the car door and leaned into her arms, murmuring, "Ms. Reynolds said you were the mom Dad found for me. I was happy for a long time, but you don't like me!"
Caitlyn was bewildered and said, "When did I say I was going to be your mom? You have your own mom."
"My mom died! I never met her. Besides, our names sound the same. Shouldn't you be my mom? And Dad likes you! He has been single for a long time; Mr. Hawkins always says he's single." Katelyn said the most shocking things in the most gentle tone.
Caitlyn was speechless, thinking, 'How did Landon raise his child?'
At that moment, Hazel also ran over, looking a bit embarrassed as she rubbed her hands and said, "That was just a guess, I was just talking nonsense."
Caitlyn looked down and reiterated to Katelyn, "I'm here to teach you a foreign language, not to be your mom."
Katelyn leaned on her shoulder, lazily saying, "I know, you have a boyfriend."
Caitlyn listened to the tone, her heart trembling slightly. Unwilling to believe she might have been tricked by Katelyn pretending to be pitiful, she simply asked Hazel, "Where's her little classroom?"
Hazel looked troubled and replied, "Ms. Carter hasn't eaten yet!"
Caitlyn didn't indulge Katelyn and said straightforwardly, "Meal times are included. I'm here to teach, not to feed her."
Katelyn looked a bit aggrieved and said, "I can feed you, or Dad can."
Caitlyn thought she must be crazy to agree to stay.
Returning to the hall, seeing Landon looking calm, Caitlyn felt awkward. Compared to her embarrassment, Landon was much more composed. He put down the newspaper and said, "Let's eat first!"
Caitlyn refused, "I'm here to teach."
Landon pointed to Hazel and said, "Hazel will eat with us too!"
Katelyn had already wiped away her tears. Holding Caitlyn's arm with her small hands, she softly said, "I want to sit next to Ms. Robinson. I will finish my meal today."
Landon sat at the dining table. Once everyone else had taken their seats, he unbuttoned his diamond cufflinks and rolled up his sleeves—a familiar action Caitlyn had seen for many years. Her eyes grew warm, and she lowered her head to hide it.
Hazel served four dishes, two salads, and a hot soup, then sat down.
Landon served Katelyn a bowl of soup, and after thinking for a moment, he also served Caitlyn a bowl, speaking very politely, "Ms. Robinson, please have a bowl too! Hazel spent all afternoon making it."
Caitlyn was stunned; it was the soup she loved.
Since she had decided to stay, Caitlyn didn't want to cause another conflict. She quietly drank, then set the bowl down. Landon remained silent.
Compared to their silence, Katelyn was in a great mood. Her feet were no longer numb, and her body was no longer delicate. She drank two bowls of soup and a serving of mashed potatoes, making her little belly round.
After eating, Caitlyn thought it was time to study, but Katelyn dragged Caitlyn to her room.
Her slender little body lay on the bed and she quickly fell asleep.
Caitlyn stood by the bed, glaring at Katelyn. She wondered if she was brought here just to be a nanny.
She really shouldn't have softened and stayed. Katelyn's cunning outmatched ten Dionnes's.
Caitlyn grabbed a blanket and haphazardly covered Katelyn.
She was about to grab a book to pass the time when Landon stood at the bedroom door. He walked in, slightly leaning over to look at Katelyn.
Then he said to Caitlyn, "Come to the study with me, I have something to discuss with you."
Caitlyn was somewhat wary.
Landon smiled self-deprecatingly and continued, "Caitlyn, do you really think I'm such a despicable person? I haven't forgotten that you have a boyfriend."
Caitlyn lowered her head and walked out first, saying, "It's good that you remember."
Landon followed her out, gently closing the door. The two of them walked to the study one after the other.
Even though they were alone, Caitlyn didn't forget her place. She sat on the sofa in a very restrained manner. Landon poured her a glass of water, then took twenty thousand dollars from a drawer and handed it to her, along with a contract.
He said, "Katelyn likes you very much, so I want to hire you as her private tutor long-term. As for the salary, Ms. Robinson, you can name your price, and I will agree to it if I can."
Caitlyn looked through the contract. It was nothing special, just that the Carter Group's professional lawyers had made it much more detailed and formal than hers.
After reading it, she didn't sign immediately but seriously suggested, "Actually, what Katelyn lacks is not a tutor, but companionship. If you can't give her enough companionship, perhaps you should consider finding her a stepmother."
Landon quietly stared at her and asked, "Do you dislike her that much?"
Caitlyn was taken aback and instinctively replied, "I didn't mean it that way! That's your private life; it has nothing to do with me."
"Then why did you suggest I find a wife?" Landon wasn't angry; he was just calmly stating the facts. Then he softly continued, "I can give you a monthly salary of one hundred thousand dollars. Consider it high-level companionship. Think about it."
Caitlyn couldn't help but think that Landon didn't press the issue. If she hesitated, it would seem petty. Besides, one hundred thousand dollars could support her studio.
And when Katelyn got tired of Caitlyn, she would naturally find someone else. After thinking it over, she agreed but added one condition, "I won't stay overnight."
Landon agreed, as he took the contract and handwrote the addition, casually asking, "Why, do you really want to stay overnight?"
Caitlyn couldn't help but say, "Mr. Carter, if you continue like this, we won't be able to work together."
Landon paused and looked up at her. Finally, he said something personal between them, "Caitlyn, you weren't like this before! When I wronged you, you would cry, curse, and slap me. But now, your understanding makes me uncomfortable! Are you preparing to become Mrs. Dobbins?"
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