Chapter 316 You Didn't Take Care of Mommy
Susan remained silent, her mind preoccupied with her son's well-being. Oliver, filled with guilt, spoke up, "I'm sorry, Mom. It's all because I got sick that you fainted while taking care of me."
"You silly child, I'm fine as long as you're okay," Susan reassured her.
"Mom, I'm fine. Please don't worry," Oliver replied.
Mother and son held hands, a silent bond between them. Oliver then suggested, "Mom, have some porridge. It'll help you regain your strength." She moved a chair next to the bed, intending to feed Susan, but her small hands couldn't reach. In the next moment, Caleb lifted Oliver onto his lap.
Oliver sat on Caleb's lap, spoon-feeding Susan. The warm porridge dispelled Susan's fatigue, and her complexion gradually improved. After finishing the porridge, Oliver said, "Mom, take a rest." Susan glanced at Caleb, and he assured her, "I'll take good care of Oliver."
Only then did Susan lie down and close her eyes. As she fell asleep, Oliver, with a mature tone, said to Caleb, "Uncle, can we talk?" They stood face to face in the corridor. Oliver, despite being in Caleb's arms, maintained a serious and determined demeanor.
"Uncle, I know you're my father, and I like you, but Mom has raised me with great effort, and I love her more. I can't leave her. So, if you can't protect Mom, please leave and don't disturb our lives."
"I'm sorry," Caleb expressed his remorse.
"Apologies won't change anything. Do you know how much Mom has suffered? Those women pushed her around and insulted her. Mom has never been so humiliated. It's been tough for her to raise me alone all these years, and I can't bear to see her suffer more," Oliver said, her voice trembling.
"When you weren't around, Mom and I were doing just fine. You can't make Mom happy, so I'd rather you never appeared. We don't need you," Oliver's voice quivered.
"I will take care of you both," Caleb promised earnestly, crouching down to meet Oliver's gaze.
"Uncle, you already have a wife and child. What does that make Mom and me? Your actions will only bring more trouble to Mom. She has cried many times in secret because of this. I don't want to see her in pain," Oliver expressed.
"I understand all that you've said, and I'm dealing with it. Give me some more time, okay?" Caleb requested.
"Oliver, do you believe in me?" Caleb asked.
Oliver hesitated, but after a moment of struggle, she nodded firmly, "I do."
"Thank you," Caleb said with a relieved smile, ruffling Oliver's hair. "Perhaps soon, you'll have a little sister. Will you take care of her?"
"I'd love to. I've always wanted a sister. Don't worry, I'll be a good big brother. And I believe you can fulfill your promise. I trust you," Oliver replied.
Susan slept soundly, and when she woke up, she found Oliver sleeping by her side, with a cool towel on her forehead. Oliver was in a deep sleep, and seeing her son sleeping so peacefully, Susan felt a sense of relief.
A hand gently pulled up the blanket for her, and as she turned her head, she saw Caleb sitting by her bedside. Just like he had stayed by Oliver's side during her illness, Caleb was now there for her, his gaze filled with warmth.
"Why haven't you left?" Susan asked softly.
"Oliver had a fever, and you were sick again. I have to stay and take care of both of you," Caleb replied.
"You don't need to. Caleb, you promised me..." Susan's voice trailed off.
"This is a special situation, and your well-being is the most important. I'll leave as soon as you're better, I promise," Caleb assured her.
"I'm already fine," Susan emphasized.
"Do you need a mirror? You look terribly pale," Caleb said.
Susan was silent for a few seconds. She didn't need him to say it. She could feel that her body was nearing its limit. Despite having a long sleep, she still felt an indescribable exhaustion, as if she had been completely drained.
"But that's not your concern," Susan replied weakly.
"I'm not here to argue with you. Get some more rest," Caleb said.
"How can I sleep with you sitting there?" Susan asked.
"You can pretend I'm not here," Caleb suggested.
Susan wanted to say that he was very much present, but she held back. "You should go home," she said instead.
"I've already given the divorce papers to Grace," Caleb replied.
Susan's heart tightened, and she evasively said, "That's your business, no need to tell me."
"Well, then, just pretend you didn't hear," Caleb said.
Was he asking her to delude herself?
Susan couldn't do it.
"Grace refuses to give up custody of Candy, so this matter will be in a stalemate for a while," Caleb explained.
"She is Candy's mother, of course, she won't give up. No mother can abandon her child. She won't give up Candy, and she won't give you up. Caleb, she won't divorce," Susan said.
"This marriage is over, and the child must be with me," Caleb insisted.
Susan felt a chill in her heart. "You're really cruel."
"I know, but I can't let Candy be with such a mother. I'm not saying all this to put pressure on you. Are you thirsty? Have some water," Caleb said, handing her a glass of warm water.
Susan was very thirsty, so she took it and drank a few sips in silence.
"It's three in the morning now, and it will be a few hours before dawn. Get some more sleep," Caleb suggested.
"You've been sitting like this all the time?" Susan asked.
"It's okay, I'm not tired," Caleb replied.
Susan shook her head. "You should go lie down for a while. I just collapsed, and I don't want you to follow suit."
"Then I'll rest on the sofa. Call me if you need anything," Caleb said.
"Okay."
After he lay down on the sofa, Susan turned off the light, but she couldn't fall asleep for a long time.
When Susan woke up in the morning, she felt a large hand holding hers. Caleb was leaning on the side of her bed, his tall body hunched over in an unnatural half-arc.
It seemed that she had a nightmare last night, and she kept muttering something, so Caleb came over and held her hand, but he ended up sitting there the whole night. With his tall figure, it must have been uncomfortable.
Susan felt a little guilty. She didn't like to trouble others, and she felt uneasy.
She quietly withdrew her hand, put on her coat, and went out to buy breakfast. She happened to run into Caleb at the door.
"Are you leaving?"
"Yes," Caleb replied, with a hint of eagerness in his heart. He had just remembered that it was Candy's birthday yesterday, and he had actually forgotten for the first time.
"I bought you breakfast. Take it with you," Susan said, handing him the bread. "You must not have slept well last night. If you have time today, remember to catch up on your sleep."
"Thank you for your concern."
Susan didn't know how to respond to such words, so she instinctively turned her head away.
"Wait, you have something on your face."
"Hmm?"
"Don't move." Caleb bent down, getting closer to her, and used his fingers to wipe the stain off her face.
When Caleb's fingers touched her face, Susan couldn't help but shudder, her whole body trembling, and she instinctively recoiled, her face turning red.
Her nervous appearance was particularly cute, and Caleb, at that moment, didn't think about anything. Driven by instinct, he leaned in and kissed her.
Susan looked at his approaching lips in astonishment, not moving a muscle. It wasn't until he was about to kiss her that she remembered to dodge, "Caleb..."
Caleb suddenly stopped and turned his head, his face turning pale.
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