Chapter 593: You Can't Leave Me
"Candy."
Candy's eyelashes fluttered as she stared blankly at Caleb. She moved her lips, asking, "Susan... is she, is she okay?"
Caleb answered, "She's fine. She'll come to see you in a couple of days."
Candy let out a small sigh of relief, then lowered her head and clutched the bedsheet with her tiny hands, "What about my mommy?"
"She can't come to see you right now."
Candy didn't ask further.
Caleb knew Candy understood everything in her heart, including how Grace had treated her. He couldn't imagine the psychological trauma this would cause a three-year-old girl.
Caleb held Candy's hand, and she shivered.
"I'm sorry, I didn't protect you well and let you suffer so much. I'm really sorry."
"But despite everything, please believe that I truly, truly loves you. If one day I had to trade my life for yours, I would do it without hesitation and be happy to do so."
"Candy, I'm very selfish and wants to have everything. You, Susan, Oliver, you three are the most precious people in my life, and I can't be without any of you. I know this is unfair to you, and you’re afraid that I won't love you as strongly in the future, and you'll end up feeling like an outsider. But that will never happen. What father doesn't love his daughter?"
"You don't have to accept it now; take your time. We have a long, long time, and I won't force you. My biggest wish is for you to be healthy, safe, and happy. Nothing else matters."
"Daddy..." Candy's nose twitched as she nestled into Caleb's arms. "Daddy, I love you too."
In the middle of the night, Candy was half-asleep.
"Candy, Candy?"
She rubbed her eyes and opened them, "Mommy?"
Candy was startled and almost screamed.
Grace quickly covered her mouth. "Silly girl, it's me. What are you afraid of?"
Candy's big eyes blinked with fear. This version of Grace inexplicably scared her.
Moreover, Candy had just dreamed of Grace standing on the poolside, watching her drown without saving her. It was like a nightmare, constantly replaying in her mind.
"Don't scream, okay?" Grace demanded.
Candy nodded.
Grace handed her clothes, "Put these on quickly. I'm taking you away."
"Away? Where to?"
"You don't need to know where, just follow me, okay?" Grace helped Candy dress.
Candy was a bit confused and reluctant, "Mommy, I don't want to go."
"Why? Didn't you say you always wanted to be with me? Do you want to stay with your daddy? Have you forgotten? He has a mistress now; he doesn't want you anymore."
"Daddy won't abandon me. Daddy loves me, and, and Susan isn't a bad person."
Grace frowned, "How is she not? You know how she ruined our family, and you even scolded her."
"But Susan saved me. And Mommy, you, you pushed me into the water."
"I didn't. You accidentally fell in."
"I didn't fall accidentally. Mommy pushed me hard. And after pushing me, you didn't save me; you just stood on the poolside and watched. Susan and Oliver saved me."
"They were just acting."
"Even if they were acting, they risked their lives to save me, while you just watched," Tears welled up in Candy's eyes.
Grace didn't expect her to understand so much and argued, "You had a nightmare; it wasn't real."
"No, I was very clear-headed. Mommy, I really wanted to live with you despite your past abuse. But I didn't expect you to use me against Susan, even pushing me into the water to harm her. Mommy, how could you be so bad? Are you still my mommy?"
Grace got angry, "Shut up! How can you talk to me like that?"
"But I'm telling the truth, Mommy. I'm very disappointed in you. I don't want to live with you—"
Grace slapped Candy hard, scolded furiously, "Who taught you to talk to me like this? Was it Susan? Was it? She has brainwashed you, and now you're turning against me!"
"No," Candy held her face, which hurt a lot, but she gritted her teeth and didn't cry. "I used to trust you completely, but you lied to me and almost killed me. Now I understand, you were just using me."
"You're not thinking clearly and are talking nonsense. Put on your clothes." Grace had lost patience.
"I'm not going," Candy broke free and threw the clothes on the ground.
"You—" Grace raised her hand to slap her again but held back. Instead, she said painfully, "Candy, how can you not believe me? Your daddy abandoned me, and I only have you left. If even you don't want me, I'll have nothing."
"Candy, do you remember? You promised you would never abandon me and would always stay with me. Right? You said that..." Grace held Candy's arm anxiously. "You can't leave me, and I won't allow you to."
"I did say that, but I didn't know you were lying to me. Mommy, I don't want to go with you."
"You... there's no time to explain. Whether you want to or not, you're coming with me," Grace forcibly dressed Candy.
"I'm not going, I'm not going, help..." Candy struggled and shouted.
In a panic, Grace grabbed Candy's head and slammed it against the wall, knocking her out.
Morning.
Susan was awakened by the ringing phone, too sleepy to open her eyes, "Caleb? Caleb, answer the phone."
The phone kept ringing. Susan reluctantly opened her eyes and answered it.
"Candy is with me," a cold voice said.
Susan instantly woke up, "Grace? What did you say? Candy is with you?"
"Come to Warehouse 8 right now, or I'll kill her."
Susan immediately sat up, her face pale, "Grace, are you crazy? Candy is your daughter, your flesh and blood."
"So what? Caleb has pushed me to the brink. Do you think I care about that? I'd rather die with my family than let you have it easy."
Susan took a deep breath, "You can't fool me. Caleb has already sent you away. You can't get to Candy."
"Do you think I'm so easy to deal with? I've already died once; I'm not as stupid as before."
"Mommy, let me go, let me go—" A child's voice came from the phone.
She's gone mad!
Susan's heart skipped a beat, "Don't hurt Candy."
"Come here now. If you tell Caleb, you'll never see your daughter again."
The call ended.
Susan hesitated. She knew going alone was dangerous, but Candy...
She couldn't risk Candy's life.
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