Chapter 580: She Can't Betray Mommy
10 PM.
Candy was tossing and turning in bed, waiting for Grace's call.
"Mommy, you home?" Candy sat up excitedly as soon as she got the call.
"Yeah, just got outta the car," Grace answered.
"What took you so long? I was worried sick!"
"Your daddy drove me, so it's all good. No need to stress," Grace replied with a smile.
"Did Daddy give you a hard time while driving?"
"Nah, not at all."
"Good. If he ever does, I'll set him straight. Daddy loves me too much to ignore me."
"Thanks, Candy, for loving Mommy so much."
"Of course, you're my mommy. I gotta look out for you. So, where are we going next week?"
"How about the amusement park?"
"Yay! Last time was such a bummer. I barely had any fun."
"Alright, see you this weekend."
"Okay, see you this weekend, Mommy. Think of me, 'cause I'll be thinking of you a lot." Candy blew several kisses happily.
"Oliver, let's hit the amusement park next week with my mommy," Candy suggested.
Oliver seemed a bit bummed, "Huh? Your mommy's coming too?"
"What's the deal? You don't like my mommy?"
"Not really." Truth be told, he wasn't thrilled about seeing Grace again, but he didn't say it outright.
"My mommy's super nice and even brought you gifts. How can you not like her?"
"I didn't say I didn't like her..."
"You don't like her. If you like me, you gotta like my mommy," Candy pouted.
"Of course, I like you, but do I really have to like your mommy too?"
"But I accepted your mommy, so why can't you accept mine? It's so unfair," Candy said unhappily. "Your mommy took my daddy away, and my mommy's the one who suffers."
"Candy, that's not right. What do you mean my mommy took your daddy away? My mommy and uncle truly love each other."
"But Daddy married my mommy first, and then divorced because of your mommy," Candy said, getting more upset. "Your mommy took my daddy away, leaving my mommy without a husband. My mommy didn't even blame your mommy and became friends with her. Shouldn't you be nicer to my mommy?"
"Candy, that's grown-up stuff. We don't get it."
"I don't get it, but I know that before your mommy came, we were a happy family. Now we're split up. Oliver, you wanna be with your mommy, right? I do too. I can only see my mommy once a week. It's so sad."
"Isn't my mommy good to you?"
"Susan's good to me, but she's not my mommy."
Oliver frowned, not knowing what to say, "Alright, let's drop it. It's time to sleep. How about I tell you a story?"
"I don't wanna hear it. Go back to your room. I wanna sleep."
"You mad?"
"No."
When a girl says she's not mad, she definitely is.
"Candy..."
"I'm going to sleep." Candy burrowed under the covers, pulling them over her head.
"Goodnight then." Oliver sighed. Having no other choice, he turned off the light.
After the light went out, Candy poked her head out from under the covers, feeling a bit down.
She didn't mean to argue with Oliver. She really liked Oliver and Susan, and they were good to her. But they already had Daddy and were so happy every day. Her mommy only had her. If she didn't protect her mommy, her mommy would be even more pitiful.
Her mommy gave birth to her, raised her, and loved her. She couldn't betray her mommy for anyone else.
The next morning at breakfast, Susan noticed that Oliver and Candy interacted less.
Oliver offered Candy an egg, but she just pushed it around her plate, looking kinda out of it.
"Candy, what's up with breakfast today? Not feeling it?" Susan asked, concerned.
Candy shook her head, "No, it's fine. I'm just not really hungry. Susan, I'm gonna grab my backpack and get ready for school."
Caleb had already finished eating and was getting into his suit, leaving just Susan and Oliver at the table.
Susan asked, "Did you and Candy have a fight?"
"No, we just talked a bit yesterday. She said her mommy's coming this weekend. I mentioned it casually, but Candy got mad," Oliver replied.
"You shouldn't have brought that up. That's her mommy."
"Yeah, but I just don't like Grace. I can't fake it. I know you don't like her either, but you still have to deal with her. It must be tough for you. Candy cares about her mommy, and I care about mine."
"I'm fine. Candy's in a sensitive spot right now. You should think about her feelings more and avoid saying stuff in front of her, okay?"
"Okay, I get it, Mom." Oliver sighed, "But... do we have to see Grace every week? This can't go on. What husband stays so close to his ex-wife? Mom, you must be jealous too, right?"
Susan didn't expect her thoughts to be so easily read by a three-year-old. It's both a blessing and a curse for a kid to be so perceptive.
"I'm fine. It'll get better when Candy grows up a bit."
"She's only three. It'll take at least ten years for her to grow up."
Thinking about dealing with Grace for ten long years, Susan was appalled and shook her head, "Finish your breakfast. We need to leave soon."
"Okay."
In the following days, Candy stayed polite and courteous to Susan, but Susan could clearly feel a new wall between them.
Several times, Susan tried to have a heart-to-heart talk with Candy at night to bridge the gap, but Candy always declined, saying she was tired.
Candy and Oliver's relationship wasn't as tight as before either.
Finally, the weekend arrived, and the family planned to hit the amusement park.
Caleb had a last-minute meeting and couldn't go, so Susan drove the two kids to pick up Grace.
"Mommy!" As soon as Candy saw Grace, she lit up, hugging Grace and kissing her face.
Susan thought helplessly, 'Candy would never be this affectionate with me. After all, there's a difference between a biological mother and a stepmother.'
Putting herself in Grace's shoes, she wouldn't want Oliver to be so close to a stepmother either. So Grace probably didn't want that either.
"Sorry to trouble you to pick me up. I could have had the driver take me," Grace apologized as she got into the passenger seat.
Susan didn't want to come either, but she couldn't say no to Candy. She responded coolly, "No worries, it's on my way."
"Next time we go out, I'll have the driver pick you up. No need to drive yourself and tire yourself out."
Susan was speechless, 'Grace is already thinking about next time.'
"Mommy, we're gonna ride the amusement park train and the carousel. Those are my favorites," Candy said cheerfully.
"Okay, Candy, whatever you want to do, I'll do it with you," Grace answered.
"Yes, Mommy is the best. I love you the most in the whole world."
Susan reminded herself, 'It's natural for a kid to love their mommy. I shouldn't feel uncomfortable.'
Just then, Grace suddenly shouted, "Susan, watch out!" and lunged for the steering wheel.
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