Chapter 569

On a crazy busy Monday morning, Caleb and Susan were up early, whipping up breakfast. After they all chowed down, they split up to drop Oliver and Candy at preschool.

Susan crouched down to fix Oliver's little suit. The kid looked sharp in his mini suit and bow tie, totally a mini-Caleb.

"Got your water and milk?"

"Yep, got 'em. Even if I didn't, the preschool teacher's got my back."

"And your craft class stuff?"

"Yep, got that too. Chill, Mom, I never forget stuff."

Susan had to agree. Her kid was way more on top of things than she ever was.

"Good boy."

"Candy, you got everything?" Susan's voice got all soft when she talked to Candy.

"Yep, I did, Susan." Candy's voice was like a little songbird.

"Candy, we gotta split for now. See ya tonight," Oliver said.

"Okay, see ya tonight." Candy waved, already super close to them.

Susan and Caleb each grabbed a kid's hand and headed to the elevator.

"You've had a rough month. Next semester, when they're both at the nearby preschool, it'll be a breeze," Caleb said.

"It's not rough. How could it be tough taking our little ones to school?" Susan smiled at Oliver. Her boy was getting cuter and more handsome every day.

"So, am I your little one too?"

"The kids are still here." How could he be so shameless?

Both kids would be mortified.

Susan shot Caleb a look.

"Tell me, am I your little one?"

"You're in your thirties. Can you stop being so childish?"

"Men are always childish in front of the women they love, right?"

Susan had no choice but to humor him, "Yes, yes."

"Good girl, you're my little one too." Caleb kissed Susan on the lips.

Oliver quickly covered his and Candy's eyes. "Candy, let's not look," he giggled through his fingers.

These two, Caleb and Oliver, were really something. Candy was the well-behaved one. Susan couldn't help but laugh. She hoped the baby in her belly was a girl.

Rainbow Kindergarten.

"Good morning, teacher."

"Good morning, teacher."

"Good morning."

Luxury cars lined up at the preschool entrance, and all the parents were dropping off their kids. The little ones were full of energy.

"Daddy, I'm going to class now. Remember to pick me up this afternoon."

"Okay. Come here, give me a kiss." Caleb squatted down, and Candy kissed him on the cheek.

"Good girl," Caleb said.

"Candy..." A choked voice came.

"Mommy?" Candy quickly hid behind Caleb.

"Candy..." Grace walked towards them.

"Stay away from her!" Caleb warned.

Grace stopped in her tracks, looking scared, "I just want to see my daughter... Caleb..."

Grace had dressed up but had lost a lot of weight. Her eyes were sunken, making her look way older.

"Candy, go to class," Caleb said.

"But, but Mommy..." Candy was a bit reluctant but also scared of Grace, looking hesitant.

"Good girl, go on." Caleb patted her shoulder.

"Okay." Candy walked into the preschool, looking back every few steps.

"Candy..." Grace wanted to follow but was grabbed by Caleb.

"I warned the Bailey family not to show up in front of my daughter again. Do you want the Bailey family to go bankrupt?"

Grace hurriedly explained, "No, no, Caleb, my dad already did what you said. He locked me up for a month. Yesterday was the last day. He didn't go against your wishes. Please don't go after the Bailey Group, okay? I beg you."

Grace wasn't her old arrogant self anymore. She looked worn out, older, and downright humble, pleading with red, teary eyes.

"If you don't want me to crush the Bailey Group, stay away from Candy."

"But she's my daughter. I haven't seen her in a month. I miss her so much... I just want to see her, Caleb..."

"If you really cared about her, you wouldn't have hurt her in the first place."

"I was just losing my mind because of you back then. I wasn't thinking straight. Otherwise, how could I ever hit Candy? She's my precious baby..."

Caleb didn't let go, sneering, "So you're saying you're sane now?"

Grace nodded frantically, "Yes, yes, I am."

Caleb sneered, "Stop acting. I don't believe a word you say."

"I'm not lying. I truly regret it. Being locked up at home for a month, I thought a lot. My parents have aged so much because of me. Seeing them like that broke my heart... If it weren't for me, they wouldn't have to bear such pressure, and the Bailey Group wouldn't have almost collapsed..." Grace was full of regret.

Caleb wasn't buying it, "I warned you back then, and you said you didn't mind dragging the entire Bailey family down with you."

"That was before. I was blinded by hatred and didn't think about the consequences. It wasn't until disaster struck that I realized the fear. Caleb, please don't go after the Bailey family. My parents are too old to handle any more of this."

"I made myself clear, stay away from Candy."

"But she's my daughter. Yes, you have custody, and I won't fight you for it. I can't win against you. But at least I have visitation rights, right? Even if parents divorce, one party still has visitation rights."

"Yeah, but you don't deserve it. You're a monster!" Caleb gritted his teeth. He'd never forgive her for what she did to Candy and Susan.

"That was the old me. I'm different now. I truly repent for my wrongdoing. Caleb, give me a chance, please? I don't ask for much, just to see Candy occasionally, to spend time with her. She needs a mother, doesn't she? How can you deprive her of a mother's love?" Grace started crying.

"You don't deserve to be a mother, and Candy already has a mother. She gets along well with Susan and likes her very much."

Grace was thunderstruck. Her face turned pale. She shook her head desperately, "No, it can't be. Candy wouldn't abandon me. She wouldn't forget me. No one can replace me in her heart. I'm her mother, Caleb..."

"Stop saying useless things. It's your cruelty that led to all this. Grace, you brought this on yourself. It's too late for regrets! Whether you're truly repenting or just acting, I won't let you near Candy. You better stay away from her, or the entire Bailey family will pay the price!"

"No, don't go after my parents, and don't stop me from seeing Candy... Caleb, I beg you... Please, Caleb..." Grace was pushed aside.

She got up and rushed over to grab Caleb's hand, "I'll kneel to you, okay? Caleb..."

"Please, for the sake of our past, let me see Candy. Okay? I just want to spend some time with her occasionally... Caleb..." Grace knelt on the ground, crying her heart out. She was so pitiful that even some parents nearby couldn't bear it.

As parents, they could understand the depth of despair that could drive a mother to take her own life, even without knowing the specifics of the situation.