Chapter 572

"Candy, you know I love you to the moon and back," Caleb said, gently ruffling her hair.

"Yeah, I know," Candy nodded.

"I love Susan just as much as I love you. Asking me to give up Susan is like asking me to give up you. No way, no how. Even if it kills me, it ain't happening."

Candy saw this coming, but it still stung. She looked down, feeling bummed out.

"I know it's selfish, but I love her a lot. Your mom and I, we're never getting back together, you get that?" Caleb said.

"Yeah, I get it..." Candy mumbled, feeling down.

"Alright. About your mom, I won't keep you from seeing her. Just hang tight a bit longer, okay?"

"Okay, Daddy." She didn't have much choice; she was just a kid after all.

"Let's dig into this ravioli. Susan made it just for you."

"Mm."

Caleb fed her bite by bite until she finished all the ravioli.

Susan was lying on the bed, staring blankly at her email.

"Burning the midnight oil?" Caleb asked, sliding into bed.

"Huh?" Susan snapped back to reality and quickly put her phone away. She'd been feeling off and tried to distract herself with work, but ended up just staring at the screen, doing nothing.

"What's on your mind? Thinking about me?" Caleb teased.

"You're right here, why would I need to think about you?" Susan laughed.

"Why not? Even when you're right next to me, I still think about you." Caleb said, playing with and kissing her fingers.

Susan knew he was trying to lift her spirits, and she appreciated it, so she didn't bring up Grace all night.

She tried to push it out of her mind.

"Mr. Eilish, you're such a clingy guy," Susan pinched Caleb's cheek.

"Mm, just noticing? Regretting it?"

"A little..." Susan groaned, "What are you doing?"

He pinched her cheek back.

"How dare you regret it? Isn't clinginess a good thing? Shouldn't you love me more for it? Don't you know a guy only gets clingy with a girl he loves?"

"Yeah, but this is too much." Susan glanced under the blanket, where Caleb's legs were wrapped around hers like a boa constrictor. "Do you know how heavy and hard your muscles are?"

Caleb smirked, "Oh, I know how hard I am."

Susan couldn't help but roll her eyes. Despite his many great qualities, his constant sexual thoughts were his most notable trait. He could think about sex anytime, anywhere.

"Wanna find out?" he said, guiding her hand to his crotch.

"Caleb, cut it out," Susan said softly, "I'm not in the mood today."

"What's up? Work stuff?"

"Not really trouble, just busy. My work efficiency's been crap, so I've been swamped all day. Now I just want to chill. Plus, you kept me up late the past two nights."

Caleb sighed, "We just moved in together, shouldn't we be in the honeymoon phase? How can you be like this already? No fun at all. I thought after moving in, you'd be all over me."

"I'm not that wild."

"But I wish you were. The wilder, the better. Ravage me all you want."

"Alright, cut it out. The more you talk, the weirder it gets. It's eleven o'clock, let's crash."

"Mm, goodnight." Caleb kissed her forehead softly.

Susan turned off the light and lay down. Caleb spooned her from behind.

She had gotten used to this kind of embrace and loved it.

Being held in his arms, her back against his strong chest, feeling his comforting presence, Susan thought, isn't this great? She was already so happy, so why let some bad stuff ruin it?

Resting her head on his arm, her fingers gently intertwined with his, their fingers interlocked.

Susan's mood gradually calmed down.

She drifted off to sleep.

But in the middle of the night, she had a nightmare. She dreamt she was driving with Candy in the car on a rainy night, and suddenly Grace, with wild hair, rushed out and crashed into her car, falling into a pool of blood.

Grace's eyes were wide open, her body covered in blood. She stared at her with hatred, accusing, "Susan, you took my daughter. I'll haunt you forever. I hate you, Susan."

"Mommy, Mommy..." Candy cried, "You killed my mommy. I don't want you anymore. I won't let you be with daddy, murderer!"

Susan jolted awake from the nightmare.

Her phone alarm was blaring, piercing her ears.

Her forehead was drenched in sweat, and her head was pounding.

The nightmare was so real, so terrifying, it left her pale.

"Uncle Caleb, why isn't mommy up yet?" Oliver's voice came from outside.

"Let your mommy sleep a bit more. I'll make breakfast."

"Then I'll help you. Is Candy still not up?"

"Mm, looks like housework's on us men! You tired?"

"Of course not. Boys are supposed to take care of girls, especially my beloved mommy and Candy. I'm super happy. Uncle Caleb, let mommy sleep in every day, and I'll help you make breakfast."

"Alright. But no slacking off."

"A man keeps his word. I won't slack off."

Susan took a moment to shake off the nightmare. How could she have such a terrifying dream?

She freshened up in front of the mirror. Suddenly, Grace's bloody face appeared in the mirror, startling her so much Susan almost dropped her toothbrush.

Susan closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and waited for her heartbeat to calm down, 'Susan, you didn't take Grace's daughter. You did nothing wrong. Relax, you shouldn't feel so much pressure.'

Susan kept comforting herself but still felt a bit uneasy.

"Mommy, you're up. Why do you look so pale today?" Oliver immediately noticed.

"Do I? Maybe, maybe I forgot to put on blush." Susan awkwardly brushed it off.

"Let's have breakfast." Caleb, wearing an apron, came out of the kitchen with freshly made sandwiches.

"Mm." Susan sat down.

Soon, Candy also came out of her room.

"Good morning, Daddy. Good morning, Oliver. Good morning, Susan."

"Good morning."

Seeing Candy reminded Susan of the hateful look in her dream, making her back feel a bit cold.

She shook her head, trying not to think about it, or she'd go nuts.