Chapter 529

The tall dude and the slim chick had this weird vibe going on.

Caleb looked like he saw a ghost, while Susan had this slight frown.

Caleb shot out, "Mrs. Johnson? Seriously? You call this innocent?"

Susan snapped back, "Michael and I aren't like that."

"Then why not just spill the beans?"

"I don't have the energy to explain to people who don't matter, and we won't see each other again anyway," Susan said, keeping it real.

She cared about what her close ones thought, but for randos, she couldn't care less and didn't wanna waste her breath.

"So I'm just some rando now? That's why you won't explain?" Caleb raised an eyebrow, clearly ticked off.

Susan fired back, "It's not that I won't explain, but even if I did, you wouldn't buy it."

"So you think I'm just being petty, that I don't trust you, but you don't think about keeping your distance. In the end, it's all on me."

Susan felt a wave of helplessness. "I don't wanna keep having the same pointless fights. It's not going anywhere. Can we just drop it?"

She was about to turn and find Michael, but Caleb stepped up and grabbed her wrist.

"Caleb!" Susan was startled.

He was too noticeable; every move he made was like a spotlight. There might even be reporters around, and she didn't want her name splashed next to his in the papers tomorrow.

"Let go," Susan bit her lip and whispered. "Caleb..."

Caleb dragged her out of the hotel.

Susan stumbled, trying to keep up. "I haven't eaten anything, and my stomach hurts. Slow down."

She tripped again. Seeing she was about to fall, Caleb scooped her up in a princess carry.

"Caleb..."

"Mr. Eilish," the driver opened the back door, and Caleb shoved her inside.

"Caleb," Susan tried to get out, but the driver shut the door.

Caleb got in from the other side.

"Drive."

"Don't!" Susan protested.

But the driver, loyal to his boss, started the car.

"Caleb, if you take me away like this, Michael will freak out."

"Good, let him freak out," Caleb said angrily. 'No, she's my girl; what right does Michael have to worry about her?'

Susan said, "You're over thirty, a dad of two. Can you stop acting like a bratty teenager? Think about the consequences, will you?"

"I don't need to think about the consequences."

He was Caleb; he could handle anything and deal with the fallout.

Susan was momentarily speechless but continued, "You can handle it, but I can't. I don't want to..."

Caleb cut her off, annoyed, "Yeah, as long as you're with me, you don't want anything, can't do anything, and have to be careful about everything. But with that loser Michael, you're all chill and can do whatever."

"Because Michael isn't as noticeable as you," Susan said.

Michael was a great guy, but compared to Caleb, he was just a regular dude. She was also a regular person and didn't want too much attention.

"So it's my fault for being noticeable?" he sneered.

Susan added, "You can't choose your birth; there's no fault in that. It's a double-edged sword, giving you glory and wealth that many envy. But it also means responsibility and constraints. Your every word and action represent the whole Eilish family, so you gotta think more."

"I can't think straight 'cause my head's all about you, Susan. You're driving me nuts," Caleb said, sounding both frantic and helpless. "I thought we'd be all lovey-dovey every day, but I didn't see this coming."

Susan stayed quiet. Problems are never one-sided. Caleb was bossy and controlling, but she had her own baggage and emotional hang-ups. She wasn't gonna pin it all on him.

The car was dead silent for a bit.

"Pull over," Caleb suddenly said.

The driver hit the brakes.

"Stay put, don't even think about running," Caleb ordered.

He hopped out of the car.

Susan watched him, confused, as he darted into a convenience store.

A thought hit her. 'Jerk!'

A few minutes later, Caleb came back with a small plastic bag, seeing Susan's pissed-off face.

"What's your deal?" Caleb asked.

"Caleb, what the hell are you thinking? Have you lost it?"

Caleb frowned, caught off guard by her outburst. "What are you talking about?"

Susan snapped, "Do you guys only think about sex? You think in this situation, I'd want to? Be willing? Or are you planning to force me? What, you gonna punish me? What are you thinking? I'm telling you, it won't work with me, and it'll just make me hate you more."

Caleb tried to cut in a few times but couldn't, and he finally laughed in frustration. "What are you even talking about?" It was rare to see her this worked up.

"What am I talking about? Don't think I don't get it. Didn't you just go buy condoms..." Susan grabbed the bag from his hand and angrily pulled out the contents.

"Check out what I bought," Caleb said.

"Isn't it..."

'A sandwich, milk?' Susan was stunned. 'How could it be this?'

"Isn't it what?" Caleb smirked at her. "Go on, say it."

Susan bit her lip, too embarrassed to speak, her face turning red.

Caleb kept going, "Say it, you were all fired up a second ago. Why so quiet now? What did you think it was?"

"Nothing."

Caleb said, "Nothing? I'll say it for you, you thought it was condoms, right? You always call me dirty, now look who's dirty? Your mind's in the gutter, not pure at all."

"I..." Susan's face turned even redder, stammering, "What nonsense are you talking about, I didn't think it was anything."

Caleb shot back, "Still denying? You just said it. Do you always think of me this way? You look so proper, but your thoughts are so dirty."

"Caleb!" Susan was flustered. "Stop talking."

"Gotcha, huh?"

Susan retorted, "That's 'cause you usually act like a rogue, so I misunderstood. Who would've thought you'd suddenly buy this?"

Caleb reminded, "You just said you hadn't eaten and your stomach hurt."

Susan suddenly couldn't stay mad.

"I'm not as heartless as you. Even if we're fighting, I still care about you, don't want you going hungry. But you just bully me, make me mad."

"Who bullies who? Who makes who mad?" Susan felt this was totally dodging responsibility!

Caleb said, "Even if we're fighting, eat first and then argue after you're full, okay? I feel bad if you're hungry."

Susan lightly bit her lip, hesitated. "I don't wanna eat in the car. There's a park outside, let's get some fresh air."

The air outside was nice, and it would help her clear her head.