Chapter 588: I've Decided, I Want Mommy
Caleb stopped in his tracks, thinking he must've heard wrong, "You want custody of Candy?"
Grace looked all shy, but her eyes were dead serious, "Yeah, I know you probably think I'm nuts for saying this."
"It's not that I might think you're nuts, you are nuts. Grace, is this your game? First, you begged Susan for visitation rights, then you tried to mess things up between them, and now you want custody?"
"I don't have any game. I just wanted to see Candy, but who knew they wouldn't get along? Is that my fault?"
"That's 'cause you were stirring the pot!"
"I wasn't, Caleb. I swear on Candy's name, I never did that," Grace raised her right hand like she was taking an oath, "But things just spiraled into this mess. I didn't want this either."
"Look, now Susan's pregnant again, and Candy's gonna be in an even weirder spot. Her biggest problem isn't me or Susan, it's your family of four, and she's just an outsider. Aren't you worried about her mental state?" Grace added.
"She's my daughter. I'll take care of her."
"No, you can't," Grace shook her head, "You already have Susan and two other kids, but I have nothing. I'm all alone."
"You want me to feel sorry for you?" Caleb let out a laugh, "Feel sorry for your self-made mess?"
"I'm not asking for your pity. Think about Candy. If you give me custody, I promise I'll never marry. I'll focus on raising Candy, okay? You can visit her whenever you want, I won't stop you."
"Grace, you abused Candy after getting custody before. It's the biggest regret of my life. Don't think I'll let you hurt her again."
"I won't. I just want to make up for my mistakes. Caleb, please believe me, I'm begging you."
"You don't deserve my trust," Caleb said coldly.
With that, he walked out of the hospital room.
Grace laughed coldly, 'Won't give her to me? Then I'll make your family life a living hell! Caleb, I'd rather ruin myself than let you off easy!'
Outside the hospital room, Caleb sent Susan a text, giving her the lowdown and saying he'd stay overnight at the hospital.
Susan replied instantly with a voice message, sounding super worried.
[I'll handle things here, don't worry.] Caleb replied to calm her down, but he didn't feel any better. A heavy feeling settled on his chest.
He was sure he couldn't give custody to Grace because he didn't trust her. He didn't know if Grace would suddenly snap and hurt Candy again.
And with things this messed up, he felt like Grace was plotting something.
But he couldn't ignore Candy's mental state either.
If she stayed with them in the future, she'd definitely feel awkward.
Caleb felt torn.
That night, Caleb didn't sleep a wink.
"Candy, Candy, you awake?"
Caleb had dozed off for half an hour and was woken up by Grace's voice in the morning.
"Mommy, I'm so thirsty and weak," Candy answered.
"It's normal after a fever breaks," Grace comforted Candy, quickly pouring her a glass of water.
"Mommy, I'm sorry for worrying you."
"Silly girl, why say that to me?" Grace smiled gently, "Your daddy worked hard too. He stayed with you all night."
Candy pouted, "I don't want him here. I don't want to see him."
Caleb was still half-asleep, but Candy's words hit him like a ton of bricks, making him feel awful, "Candy..."
"Go away, I don't want to see you," Candy said coldly.
"Candy, don't be like that. I called your daddy yesterday, and he came right away. He cares about you."
Candy laughed mockingly. The expression on a three or four-year-old's face looked bizarre, "If he really cared about me, he wouldn't have ditched Mommy and me for his side chick."
"Candy! Kids shouldn't say such things," Caleb scolded.
"Am I wrong? She is a side chick," Candy shot back.
Caleb glared at Grace, who quickly explained, "I didn't teach her that, I swear, Caleb..."
"It's not Mommy's fault. Mommy never said anything bad about that woman," Candy said.
"She's your aunt, not 'that woman'!" Caleb snapped.
"I used to think of her as an aunt because I was fooled. She doesn't genuinely care about me; she just pretends to be nice to deceive you and act good in front of you."
"How can you have such narrow thoughts?" Caleb found it hard to accept that his sweet little girl would say such things.
"I'm telling the truth. Just 'cause I'm three doesn't mean I don't get it. I know who's good, who's bad, and who's faking it. It's all clear to me," Candy huffed. "She's just pretending, and Daddy, you fell for it. You're so dumb!"
Caleb wanted to strangle Grace. Candy's drastic change in attitude towards Susan couldn't be unrelated to Grace. She was just playing innocent. Damn Grace!
Caleb's face turned cold, "Susan's kindness to you is real. You'll see that with more time."
"I don't want to spend time with her. I won't see her again."
"You still have to live with us. After you're discharged, I'll take you home," Naturally, he wouldn't let her see Grace again. Caleb was determined this time.
"I'm not going back. I want to stay with Mommy, always. You already have that woman and kids. I'm just extra. I don't want to be where I'm not wanted."
"Candy..."
"Daddy, you're my daddy. Seeing you is a must, but I want to live with Mommy. You can visit me when you think of me. I can see you occasionally."
"No! Your custody is with me. You have to stay with me."
"Caleb, why don't you give me custody of Candy? She wants me to take care of her..." Grace asked.
"Grace, shut up!" Caleb snapped.
If she said one more word, Caleb feared he might lose it.
"Don't yell at my mommy! You're so gentle with that woman but so harsh with Mommy. I hate you!" Candy said angrily, "I won't live with someone like you. I've decided, I want Mommy!"
"Candy, it isn't a choice!"
"It is a choice. In the hospital, I asked you to choose, and you chose that woman. So, I can choose Mommy. Since you can't take good care of me, don't harm me. I won't be happy living with you."
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