Chapter 421 Unaware
The ground was soaked from the rain, puddles everywhere, and the air felt damp.
Caroline ignored Nicholas and headed straight home.
Charles nudged Nicholas to follow her.
Nicholas was livid that Caroline took Josie abroad without telling him.
"Stop following me!" Caroline suddenly stopped, turned, and shouted desperately.
'How did he find me even after I moved abroad?'
She just wanted peace.
Nicholas looked grim.
"Where's Josie?"
"Josie is my daughter!" Caroline clutched her shopping bag tightly.
"She's my daughter too," Nicholas said.
Caroline sniffed, trying to stay calm. "I know you're Josie's father, and I won't stop you from seeing her. But Nicholas, don't think you can take her from me. The Watson family is dangerous for her, and I won't let her go back!"
With that, she limped away without giving Nicholas a chance to respond.
A gentle breeze brought a slight chill.
Caroline carried her shopping bag filled with fresh ingredients. Her foot seemed to be healing; she couldn't walk normally yet, but her back was straight.
Nicholas followed silently, gripping the handrail tightly, his chest heaving.
It was only half a mile from the supermarket to Caroline's place, a ten-minute walk, but today she walked even slower.
Her mind was racing. She had planned for this, but now she was flustered.
Caroline walked slowly, and Nicholas matched her pace. The ten-minute walk took twenty minutes.
"Mom." Josie peeked out from the doorway, waiting for Caroline.
Usually, Caroline took no more than half an hour to buy groceries, but today she was late.
It was Josie's first time living in a foreign country. She felt insecure and scared of the people who looked different from her.
Seeing Caroline, Josie ran out to help with the bags.
Caroline took out a lollipop from the bag.
"Josie," Nicholas called out hoarsely.
Josie turned, surprised, holding the lollipop. Seeing Nicholas, she ran over joyfully.
"Dad, why are you here? Did you come to see me?" Josie hugged his leg.
Nicholas patted her head. "I'm here to take you back."
Josie looked thinner, probably because she hadn't adjusted to the new place yet.
Hearing this, Josie instinctively looked back at Caroline.
She thought, 'Mom says we live here now, but why is Dad saying he'll take me back?'
"What about Mom?" Josie asked softly.
Nicholas looked at Caroline, his gaze heavy.
Caroline had changed flights en route to Country M, cleverly choosing an airline from Country Y, making it hard for him to track her.
But he found her eventually.
Nicholas wanted Caroline to come back with him, but he knew her too well. Once she decided to leave, she wouldn't return easily.
Plus, she was so resistant to him.
Nicholas' heart ached, and his expression darkened.
"Josie, do you want Mom or Dad?" Nicholas asked, almost spitefully.
Caroline frowned but thought, 'If Josie chooses me, will Nicholas give up?'
After all, Nicholas had Daisy's child. He didn't need Josie.
Josie looked at Nicholas, then at Caroline, tears welling up in her eyes. She bit her lip lightly, just like Caroline.
After a while, Josie choked out, "If I choose Mom, Dad will be sad. If I choose Dad, Mom will be sad. I don't know what to do."
Nicholas and Caroline's hearts ached instantly. Caroline moved to hug Josie, but Nicholas had already picked her up.
Caroline's hand froze in mid-air.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked you that." Nicholas gently wiped away Josie's tears with his thumb, soothing her. "From now on, both Mom and Dad will be with you, I promise."
Josie leaned against Nicholas, her shoulders shaking.
Seeing them standing outside, Lisa sighed and spoke up. "Come inside. It's chilly after the rain."
Caroline tried to take Josie, but Nicholas avoided her, letting Charles push him inside.
The house was small, with two bedrooms and a living room. Whether it was the decor or because Caroline lived there, Nicholas felt warmth as soon as he entered.
Lisa poured coffee for Nicholas and Charles.
"Sit down and let's talk things over," Lisa said, letting Josie down from Nicholas' lap and taking her to the room.
Lisa had met Nicholas before. When Caroline and Nicholas were in love, Caroline had brought Nicholas to the orphanage. Lisa had been pleased with Nicholas and happy that Caroline had found a good husband.
Later, for some reason, Caroline and Nicholas broke up. Caroline stayed at the orphanage during her pregnancy and went abroad after giving birth.
Caroline hadn't told Lisa much about what happened then.
But Lisa knew Caroline had been through a lot.
So, although Lisa was polite to Nicholas now, she harbored a lot of resentment towards him.
She didn't want Nicholas to keep bothering Caroline.
Caroline sat across from Nicholas in silence for a while before speaking first.
"The Watson family has given up custody of Josie. Her identity information has been changed. I will live here with her. If you want to see her, I won't stop you."
Nicholas' face was expressionless. "I wasn't aware of this, and I don't acknowledge that Josie's custody belongs to you."
Hearing this, Caroline felt a surge of frustration.
She and Nicholas faced off, the air thick with palpable tension.
Caroline took several deep breaths.
At that moment, Lisa came over with a file folder.
"Mr. Watson, take a look at this."
Nicholas took it, opened the seal, and pulled out a stack of hospital records.
Caroline was surprised and looked at Lisa.
Lisa explained, "I accompanied Caroline throughout her pregnancy. I kept these records as a memento for her."
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