Chapter 696 I'm Not That Magnanimous
Eden wanted to ask, but seeing Caitlyn's pale face, she decided against it.
Eden wanted to stick around, but Caitlyn wasn't having it. She didn't want Eden to worry or risk her condition flaring up again. Caitlyn promised to call once she had everything sorted out.
Even though she was worried, Eden agreed.
That night, Caitlyn caught the earliest flight back to Seattle. Sitting in the taxi after landing, she heard that the radio was still buzzing with that piece of news. "The president of the Carter Group, Landon, is out of life-threatening danger, but his daughter is getting psychological treatment after a stress reaction from being kidnapped."
The taxi driver shook his head and muttered, "Rich folks ain't always happy. Probably some extortion. Lucky no one got killed."
Caitlyn was a mess inside. An hour later, the taxi pulled up at the best hospital in Seattle. As the driver took the fare, he casually remarked, "You must really care about this person to visit so late."
Caitlyn's face was pale, and she managed a weak smile.
The hospital at night was cold and solemn, with the moonlight casting thin, desolate shadows.
She walked through the empty stairwell, her footsteps echoing.
The top floor of the inpatient department was the VIP ward, completely booked by the Carter Group. Bodyguards were stationed at every entrance, making it impossible for even a mosquito to get in. They didn't recognize Caitlyn and stopped her. "Sorry, without Mrs. Hawkins's permission, no one can see Mr. Carter."
Caitlyn bit her lip and said, "I'm... a friend of Mr. Carter."
But the bodyguards were loyal and wouldn't let her in. Just then, a slender figure approached from a distant ward. It was Amara.
Seeing Caitlyn, Amara immediately told the bodyguards, "Let Ms. Robinson through! She's the most important person to Mr. Carter."
The bodyguards got the message.
Amara then walked up to Caitlyn and whispered, "He's awake, but very weak. You should go see him."
Caitlyn had rushed over and didn't feel much at first. But upon arriving at the hospital, knowing she was about to see him, she felt her legs like jelly.
Yes, she had loved Landon. Yes, she had also hated him to the core. But she never thought someone like him could die, just under a sharp blade... and then they would never see each other again, not even allowing her to hate him.
Amara gently supported her and said, "Mr. Carter is fine! But Katelyn isn't doing well. She's scared and having nightmares."
She lowered her voice. "Leonard went mad. He thought Katelyn was your child with Mr. Carter, so he took her away, locked her in a dark room, and kept demanding to know if she was your child with Mr. Carter!"
Caitlyn's heart tightened. "How is she?" she asked weakly.
Amara paused and replied, "Katelyn's getting psychological counseling. It's gonna take a while for her to feel comfortable around people again."
They walked down the hospital corridor, their footsteps echoing. Caitlyn suddenly stopped, looking at Amara, but couldn't find the words. Amara guessed what she wanted to ask.
Even though Landon had never admitted Katelyn's background to Amara, she had pieced together enough from Kingsley, actually knowing Katelyn's story.
Amara softly said, "Mr. Carter loves her dearly, because her name is Katelyn. For a long time, he probably thought he had no chance with you anymore, so Katelyn might have been his emotional anchor. Every time he called her Katelyn, he was probably thinking of you, reminiscing about the past, maybe even regretting."
"It's no surprise he loves her so much he'd risk his life for her." After speaking, Amara gently patted Caitlyn's shoulder in silent comfort.
Caitlyn took a deep breath and said, "I'll go see him."
The super VIP ward door opened, revealing a space larger than expected.
Past the foyer was the reception room, then Landon's ward, and further inside was a small suite where Katelyn stayed. Katelyn now didn't want to be separated from Landon for even a moment. And Hazel was there to keep her company.
Landon was awake but pale, leaning against the headboard, listening to his subordinate's report. When the door opened, he glanced over and was momentarily stunned.
Even though they had been intimate a few days ago, easing their relationship, he really didn't expect Caitlyn to rush back so quickly. Did it mean she had quietly changed her mind?
"You're here?" he said.
In front of his subordinates, Landon had to keep his cool and didn't show his excitement. As he sat up, the thin blanket slipped to his abdomen.
The white bandage was exposed, with blood seeping through. As Caitlyn silently lifted the blanket to look, her face pale as a sheet.
Landon didn't move; he just quietly watched her. After a while, he smiled and asked, "Do you feel sorry for me?"
Caitlyn slightly raised her head, her slender throat tightening as she suppressed her emotions before saying, "Landon, do you know you injured your spleen! Shouldn't you be resting now? You're still working... Are you planning to take your money to the grave?"
The Carter Group executives touched their noses, silently mourning for Caitlyn. She was so bold!
Landon continued to stare at her, his gaze weak but tender and affectionate. He missed this side of her, bold and fiery, not afraid of him at all. And he hadn't been able to look at her like this for a long time. He had wasted three whole years.
Landon spoke, surprisingly with a hint of a smile. "No! But I want to take you with me when I go!" After speaking, he gently pulled her slender fingers.
But Caitlyn wasn't having it. She shook him off, but he didn't get mad. Instead, he kept his cool and said, "I'll rest, okay? I'll listen to you from now on."
Caitlyn didn't respond to that. "I just came to see you, and I'll leave soon," she said.
At this point, Amara helped Landon lie down while the Carter Group executives quickly made their exit, leaving the room empty.
As Landon lay down, despite the pain in his abdomen, he managed to smile at Caitlyn. He gently asked, "Did you bring me a gift? At least some nutritional supplements?"
Caitlyn replied, "No."
Hearing this, Landon just smiled.
Watching from the side, Amara felt like Landon had turned into a love-struck fool. The way he pursued Caitlyn with such finesse made it seem effortless. Besides, Amara knew the energetic Landon from his youth... How could Leonard, a frail doctor, have possibly managed to injure him?
The last time they fought, Landon seemed to have come out on top! However, in the workplace, Amara was experienced and didn't speak carelessly.
After checking on him and confirming he was fine, Caitlyn said, "You're okay; I'm leaving."
Landon didn't answer her. Instead, he glanced at Amara.
Amara, understanding, smiled faintly. "Mr. Carter, it's late. I'll leave now," she said.
She then told Caitlyn, "You two have a good talk."
Before Caitlyn could react, Amara left and closed the door.
Finally alone with Caitlyn, Landon was about to say something tender when Hazel came out holding Katelyn. She told Landon worriedly, "She had another nightmare and woke up crying."
Seeing Caitlyn, Hazel was both surprised and delighted. "Ms. Robinson!"
Caitlyn nodded, looking at Katelyn in Hazel's arms. After a few days, Katelyn seemed to have lost a lot of weight. Remembering Amara's words, Caitlyn felt a pang of guilt toward Katelyn.
She could imagine how terrifying Leonard must have been.
Katelyn, half-awake, was softly crying and unconsciously calling for her mother, which made Caitlyn feel even more guilty. She stepped forward and asked Hazel, "What did the doctor say?"
Hazel glanced at Landon and, seeing he had no reaction, honestly replied, "The doctor said she needs further observation. If things improve, it will pass in a few days, but if not, she might need long-term psychological intervention."
Hearing this, Caitlyn felt distressed and reached out to take Katelyn from Hazel. Though she wasn't very skilled at holding children, which made Katelyn a bit uncomfortable, Katelyn still nestled into her arms like a little kitten, clinging to her and calling her "Mom."
Caitlyn's body trembled.
Under the hospital's fluorescent lights, her face was pale, without a trace of color. This was the child of the person Caitlyn hated most, yet here she was, nestled in Caitlyn's arms, treating her like a mother. It was a crazy situation, but Caitlyn couldn't let go now. She could only hold little Katelyn tightly, pressing her face against her.
Landon lay on the hospital bed, quietly watching this scene. Hazel, beside him, was wiping her tears. She was a cautious person, having checked Katelyn's blood type, knowing she wasn't Landon and Phoebe's child.
But she knew that no matter what, from now on, Katelyn would be Landon and Caitlyn's child.
Landon softly said, "Make some ravioli, they must be hungry."
Hazel wiped her tears and responded, "I'll make it right away."
Katelyn hadn't eaten much all day, so Caitlyn coaxed her into eating half a bowl of food before she finally fell asleep peacefully. Caitlyn stayed for a while, then let Hazel watch over Katelyn and walked out.
It was late at night, and Landon was still awake, clearly waiting for Caitlyn.
Caitlyn walked to the bedside, softly asking, "Did you deliberately release the news?"
Landon looked at her, not denying it. He said, "I was injured and couldn't find you. I wanted to see you, so I had the news released. And you came."
She knew his methods and didn't want to argue, so she said she was leaving again.
Landon suddenly asked her, "Caitlyn, you've been here for so long, why haven't you asked about Leonard? He kidnapped Katelyn and stabbed me. These two charges alone are enough to keep him in prison for at least 10 years. Aren't you going to ask, or plead for him?"
Caitlyn turned her back to him, her slender back straight. After a moment, she turned around and asked, "What will you do to him?"
Landon, a businessman, was good at negotiations. He didn't answer her question but asked back, "Whatever I do, it won't affect our relationship, right? For example, if I let him serve 10 years, you won't feel sorry for him, will you?"
Caitlyn thought he was hypocritical. She coldly smiled and asked, "Do you want me to plead for him or not?"
Landon gently said, "Caitlyn, you've clearly become smarter than before! Yes, I don't want you to! If you plead for him, his outcome will be worse. I'm not that magnanimous."
Caitlyn lowered her eyes. Landon knew her too well. He understood her thoughts, leaving her unable to say more.
As she was about to leave, Landon softly said from behind, "Caitlyn, you can't leave."
She suddenly looked at him, and in that moment, she fully understood—it was all his plan to force her back. Gritting her teeth, she said, "Landon, you're a madman!"
He didn't deny it. "Yes! I'm a madman! Caitlyn, I'm not young anymore. I can't wait for you to change your mind. Besides, he kidnapped Katelyn; it wasn't my plan."
He then held her hand, gently saying, "That day we were together, I savored it for a long time."
So he couldn't wait any longer.
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