Chapter 571: Keep Asking Until She Agrees
Susan squinted, "You tryin' to scare me or somethin'?"
Using death as a threat? That's just way over the line.
And in an office like this, with Grace bawling her eyes out, everyone outside could hear.
Susan felt a bit stuck.
She wasn't sure if Grace was doing this on purpose, but it was super embarrassing.
"I'm not threatening you, Susan. I'm outta options here. I know I messed up, and I know regret ain't worth squat. But right now, you're my only hope. Please, cut me some slack, forgive me, Susan. Just give me a shot, talk to Caleb for me."
"I told you, I ain't talkin' to him. You need to leave."
"Please, Susan." Grace crawled to Susan's feet, begging.
Susan stepped back, losing her cool, "If you don't leave, I'm calling security to toss you out."
"You really won't help me?" Grace's eyes were bloodshot.
Susan didn't even blink, "Nope, not gonna help you."
"I won't give up, Susan. I'll keep begging till you say yes." Grace wiped her tears and left.
Susan squeezed her eyes shut and pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling the headache coming on. More drama, just what she needed.
All day, her coworkers gave her weird looks, but she was too drained to care.
Grace's drama had thrown Susan off her game, and by the afternoon, she was way behind on her work.
After five, Susan headed to the kindergarten to pick up Oliver.
"Mom, you look kinda beat," Oliver said as soon as he got in the car. "You were fine this morning."
"It's nothing, just a long day at work."
"Mom, I'll grow up fast and make lots of money to take care of you."
Susan ruffled his hair, feeling a bit better, "Alright, I'll be waiting for that."
Grace's tear-streaked face popped into her mind.
They say every story has two sides, and Grace was living proof of that.
Grace had done some awful stuff, but as a mom, Susan couldn't help but feel for her. There's nothing worse than losing your kid.
If someone took Oliver away, wouldn't she be on her knees begging too?
"Mom, if you're upset, you can tell me, okay? I can help," Oliver said, all serious.
Not wanting to dump her problems on him, Susan shook her head, "I'm fine, let's just go home."
When they got home and she was prepping dinner, Caleb and Candy walked in.
"Candy, I missed you so much!" Oliver jumped off the couch to greet her.
But Candy looked kinda down, "Hey, Oliver."
"What's wrong? Someone mess with you at kindergarten? I'll take care of 'em." Oliver raised his little fist.
"No, Oliver, no one bullied me." Candy bit her lip, looking troubled. She'd seen her mom today.
Mom had lost a lot of weight and looked really worn out, which made Candy sad. But she was also kinda scared of her mom.
"Dad, I'm gonna lie down in my room for a bit," Candy said.
"Okay," Caleb replied.
Susan saw this and walked over to Caleb, "What's up with Candy?"
"Nothing," Caleb shook his head.
He didn't wanna talk about Grace, not wanting to stress Susan out, so she didn't push it.
"Why'd you get back so late?"
"I hit up the supermarket for some groceries."
"More groceries? Didn't I tell you I already stocked up? We're never gonna finish it all." Susan hated wasting food.
"But I wanted to grab some stuff you like." Caleb wrapped his arm around her waist and whispered playfully in her ear, "Though I know what you really wanna 'eat' is me."
"You're so full of yourself."
Dinner was ready, and the four of them sat around a small round table.
The warm yellow light made everything feel cozy.
"Candy, I made your favorite shrimp." Susan put some shrimp in Candy's bowl.
"Thanks, Susan." Candy mumbled, barely paying attention to her food.
Susan shot a glance at Caleb.
"Maybe she's just tired of shrimp." Caleb smiled softly.
"Then what else do you like, Candy? I'll make it for you tomorrow." Susan offered.
"Thanks, but I'm not really hungry. Dad, I'm full." Candy looked at Caleb.
"Okay, if you're full, you don't have to eat more." Caleb noticed she barely ate but didn't want to push her.
"I'm going back to my room." Candy said, looking down.
"Candy, wanna play with Barbie dolls?" Oliver asked.
"No, not today." Candy shut her door.
"Mom, what's up with Candy? She seems really down." Oliver looked worried.
"It's nothing, just eat up." Susan told Oliver.
"But if Candy's not eating, I can't eat either. I just don't feel like it."
"No, you need to eat so you have energy to play with Candy, right?"
"Yeah, I gotta take care of Candy." Oliver said, digging into his food.
"Slow down, don't choke."
While cleaning up, Susan made some ravioli, "Candy didn't eat much, take this to her."
"You're so sweet."
Caleb was touched by her thoughtfulness.
"Go ahead, I'll handle the dishes."
"Candy, Daddy's coming in." Caleb pushed the door open.
Candy was sitting there, holding her Barbie doll, "Daddy."
Her voice was weak.
"Susan made some ravioli for you, she cares about you."
"I know Susan's really nice to me, but... but I miss Mom... Dad, did you see how she looked today? She's so thin, I feel awful for her. Dad, Mom used to be so good to me, I think she didn't mean to hit me, she must be really sorry."
"Mom hasn't seen me for a month, she must miss me a lot, and I miss her too. Susan's great, but... she's not my mom, I have my own mom... Being nice to Susan feels like I'm betraying Mom. Dad, am I a bad person?"
"No, Candy, you're the sweetest little princess. It's my fault for putting you in this tough spot. Grace is your mom, that's a fact, and I won't force you to see Susan as your mom. But... right now, I can't let you see her."
"Why?" Candy got anxious, "Mom came to see me."
"But I can't be sure she won't hurt you, do you get that? Candy, I can't let anything happen to you. So until I'm sure your mom's really changed, I can't let her see you."
"But that makes Mom so sad, her voice was all hoarse today." Candy felt heartbroken just thinking about it, "Dad, can't we make up with Mom?"
"Can you... not be with Susan?" Candy hesitated to ask.
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