Chapter 693 Break up
After Landon finished talking, Leonard's face went white, and his lips trembled like he wanted to say something, but Landon had already hung up.
Leonard felt like the room was spinning. He held onto his phone for a bit, then messaged Caitlyn on Facebook, hoping to chat. But, surprise! Caitlyn had already deleted him.
He sent her a friend request, but after waiting for about 10 minutes, Caitlyn still hadn't accepted it!
Leonard felt a mix of shame and frustration. Did she really think that little of him? Last night, he had lost his cool and suggested they break up, but he regretted it by morning. She couldn't just shut him out like that.
Feeling restless, Leonard decided he'd find Caitlyn after work to talk things out.
During breakfast, Hestia noticed Leonard's downcast look and couldn't help but say sharply, "Most people look happy when they're in a relationship, but having a girlfriend doesn't seem to be doing you any good."
Leonard gave a weak smile and said, "Mom, you overthink it. I'm fine."
Hestia disagreed, "You're a doctor, and she just runs a small training class. She has more free time than you and doesn't earn as much, right? Shouldn't she be taking care of you? Make sure she learns to cook our food. Don't spoil her. You didn't marry a wife to let her be a princess."
Leonard didn't mention their breakup to Hestia. He vaguely said, "She'll definitely learn after we get married."
Hestia felt a bit better and reminded him, "Anyway, you must not become a man who's afraid of his wife."
Leonard could only smile bitterly at that. But he didn't expect Hestia to run into Caitlyn and Eden and stir up trouble.
Caitlyn didn't have any classes in the morning, so she decided to go shopping with Eden. She planned to tell Eden about her breakup with Leonard when Eden was in a good mood.
While Eden was trying on clothes, Caitlyn stepped out to take a phone call.
Leonard's parents happened to be shopping nearby. When they saw Caitlyn shopping closely with a middle-aged woman, who was clearly her mother, Hestia felt annoyed and whispered to Valentin, "I heard their family went bankrupt. Leonard and Caitlyn have been dating for so long, but there's no talk of meeting the parents. Do you think she's stringing Leonard along?"
Valentin coughed lightly, "You're overthinking it!"
The more Hestia thought about it, the angrier she got. She said, "I need to talk to her family."
Valentin, though not thrilled with Caitlyn, also felt this was a bad idea. But he couldn't stop Hestia.
Hestia walked into the store with a fake smile. "You must be Caitlyn's mom, right?" she asked.
Eden was quietly telling the sales assistant where the clothes needed adjustments when Hestia suddenly appeared, startling her.
Hestia said again, "I'm Leonard's mother! Leonard and Caitlyn are dating. I happened to run into you, so I thought I'd say hello. There's a coffee shop across the street. How about we sit down and talk?"
Hearing this, Eden suddenly understood. She had no idea about Caitlyn and Leonard's breakup, so she eagerly agreed, "Caitlyn has mentioned you. We haven't had a chance to meet yet."
Hestia linked arms with her and warmly led her to the coffee shop. Eden messaged Caitlyn, letting her know she was at the coffee shop across the street with Leonard's parents.
In the coffee shop.
Hestia glanced at Eden's outfit and couldn't help but touch her hair and smile reservedly. "Mrs. Robinson, you know our conditions. Leonard is a doctor with a bright future, and there are many outstanding girls who want to marry him. I heard that your family used to be quite wealthy. How about you contribute some money for their new home renovation as a wedding gift when they get married?" After she finished speaking, she kept looking at Eden.
Eden didn't say anything, so Hestia added, "If there's no gift at all, people will look down on you."
Hearing this, Eden was furious. She suppressed her anger and said, "Caitlyn's gift will be there, and no one will look down on us."
Before she could finish, her hand was held down.
"Mom!" Caitlyn gently pressed Eden's hand.
She could feel Eden's hand trembling with anger. She had heard what was said earlier, and not only was Eden angry, but she was also now extremely glad she had broken up with Leonard. With a family like this, no one would have a good life marrying into it.
Caitlyn looked up at Leonard's parents and smiled faintly. "Sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Dobbins! Leonard and I have already broken up."
Leonard's parents were stunned, and Eden was also surprised.
Hestia felt humiliated and sneered, "Leonard is so good. I don't believe you would give him up."
Caitlyn's smile became even fainter. "Leonard is great, and I'm sure he won't lack for partners! In any case, I've broken up with him!" she said.
Hestia was furious, but Caitlyn didn't acknowledge her. She took Eden and left after paying for Eden's coffee, ignoring Leonard's parents.
In the car, Eden grabbed Caitlyn's hand and asked, "What's going on? How did you break up?"
Caitlyn told her about Leonard and Clio.
Eden, though hoping for Caitlyn to get married, felt sorry for her after seeing Hestia's unreasonable behavior earlier. "I really couldn't tell. Leonard seemed so cultured, but his parents are like this! They weren't even formally meeting us and already asking for gifts," she said.
Caitlyn didn't respond.
Eden cursed a few more times, then looked at Caitlyn's face and suddenly asked, "Do you... not really like Leonard?"
Caitlyn was slightly stunned, then softly said, "I was serious about dating him, but we're not suitable."
Eden didn't ask further. She actually understood Caitlyn's thoughts. She was really worried that Caitlyn and Landon, that scoundrel, would rekindle their old flame. She had seen Landon's shamelessness that night and feared he wouldn't give up.
Later, Caitlyn took Eden home.
It was almost 8 PM when she was ready to head home. Caitlyn opened the car door to get in, but Leonard walked over, holding her hand. He said, "Caitlyn, we need to talk."
Caitlyn paused and looked up at him with a very calm gaze, which slightly took Leonard aback. They hadn't been dating for long, and while their relationship wasn't fiery, it had its good moments.
Sometimes, she looked at him with tenderness, unlike now, where her gaze was cold and indifferent, like she was looking at a stranger.
Leonard asked, "Caitlyn, can we talk?"
Caitlyn knew that if she didn't clear things up, he wouldn't let her go, so she closed the car door.
She looked at Leonard and explained clearly, "Leonard, we're just too different! You crave success and high society, while all I want is a peaceful life. You broke up with me last night and now want to reconcile. Maybe you think you care about me, but if you truly did, you wouldn't be so indecisive!"
She continued, "If I agree to get back together with you today, can you guarantee that you won't regret it someday? If Dr. Patel asks you out again, will you refuse? You won't! You'll convince yourself that you had no choice, that it wasn't cheating, you just couldn't say no."
Leonard's face looked grim, and after a while, he said in a low voice, "She's the dean's daughter. Caitlyn, some things..."
Caitlyn remained calm and said, "I understand! But I can't accept it. Leonard, relationships are a two-way street."
And she chose to break up with him.
She smiled faintly and recounted what happened at the mall today, "Our parents have already had an unpleasant encounter. Leonard, there's no future for us!"
She thought she had made herself clear, turned around, and opened the car door to get in. Behind her, Leonard's voice came coldly, "Are you breaking up with me so decisively because of Landon? He has money and power, and he's willing to invest $100 million in the hospital to make me break up with you. Isn't that great love? Are you touched and can't wait to throw yourself into his arms?"
Caitlyn's body stiffened. After a long time, she said in a low voice, "Leonard, maintain some dignity! If you hadn't mentioned the $100 million, we could have parted amicably. Wasn't it those benefits that made you break up with me last night? You're just regretting it now."
She thought that they really weren't suitable for each other.
Caitlyn got into the car, slowly fastened her seatbelt, and drove away under Leonard's gaze.
After being together for so long, breaking up was always uncomfortable, especially when it ended on such a bad note. She drove home and sat quietly in the car for a while, getting out of the car absentmindedly.
When she opened the apartment door, she didn't notice Landon standing in the dim corner. As she entered, she was suddenly grabbed and pulled into an embrace.
Caitlyn wanted to scream for help, but something hot and wet suddenly invaded her lips—a forceful kiss!
She smelled the familiar scent of tobacco. His long fingers, which were holding her face, even had a cigarette between them, and he kissed her eagerly. She, both embarrassed and angry kicked him.
Landon, holding her, stumbled against the wall. He was afraid the cigarette would burn her, so he slightly turned his body to extinguish it. Caitlyn, still furious, slapped him.
Yet Landon just glanced at her sideways, said nothing, and continued to extinguish the cigarette. Then he closed the apartment door with one hand.
Caitlyn was held in his arms, his hand gently cradling the back of her head, and he changed the angle to kiss her. The kiss was fierce and intense.
After what felt like forever, he finally let her go, his long fingers gently caressing her red lips. His voice was hoarse. "I've wanted to do this for a long time!"
Hearing this, Caitlyn finally snapped back to reality.
She slapped him again, but Landon wasn't angry. He even laughed softly. He held her gently and asked, "Did you break up with him?"
Caitlyn felt extremely embarrassed. Yes, she had broken up with Leonard, so did Landon think he could treat her like this?
She turned her face away and said softly, "Let go of me!"
In the dim light, Landon could see her eyes tinged with red. He gently caressed that spot and asked, "Have you been crying? Are you really that upset?"
Caitlyn pushed him away and said, "It's none of your business!"
She hurriedly straightened her clothes, the dim light filled with their shallow and slightly hurried breaths. She felt extremely embarrassed and, after thinking carefully, still spoke to Landon. "Landon, you really don't need to waste your efforts on me! With $100 million, you can make many girls fall head over heels for you."
Landon frowned and asked, "You don't care?"
Caitlyn lowered her eyes and smiled faintly. "I used to care a lot, but does caring help? Landon... please, let me go. We're from two different worlds now," she said.
Landon said softly, "I let you find a partner, but what was the result?"
Hearing his words, Caitlyn slightly raised her head. She looked at the light spilling in from the second floor and said very softly, "If this one doesn't work, I'll find the next one! Landon, there are so many men in this world, I'm sure there's one who's right for me."
Landon clenched his fists, gritting his teeth. He called out, "Caitlyn!"
Caitlyn turned to look at him and smiled lightly. She said, "Does it hurt? I used to hurt a hundred times more than this!"
She finally left, step by step, up the stairs and out of his sight, while Landon leaned against the wall.
He irritably lit a cigarette. He knew Caitlyn wouldn't easily accept him, but after all this time, she hadn't softened at all. He had hurt her too deeply back then.
Caitlyn returned home and immediately saw Eden sitting on the sofa watching TV. Eden asked calmly, "Did you see Landon? Is he still bothering you?"
After thinking for a moment, Caitlyn said, "He wants to be with me, but I didn't agree."
Eden didn't say anything and just went to heat up the food. They then ate in silence.
Suddenly, Eden said softly, "Next week, I'm going to Lumina Bay City. Your aunt and uncle have a grandson now, and I'm going to help take care of him."
Caitlyn was quite surprised.
Eden looked at her quietly for a while, then lowered her head and continued eating, but there were tears in her eyes.
Caitlyn's lips trembled, and she called out, "Mom!"
Eden remained calm and responded, "I'm just going to visit relatives! If it's nice there, I might buy a house. Your aunt said it's quite cheap, only about $2 million for a big villa."
Hearing this, Caitlyn understood immediately. She wanted to respond, but Eden wouldn't let her. Eden walked to the window and looked at the black Rolls-Royce parked downstairs.
After a moment, she said softly, "Caitlyn, I just want to tell you that being a stepmother is hard. Think it over carefully."
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