Callie instinctively curled her toes. When she was glanced at, she felt like all her secrets were laid bare.
“We should go. Grandpa is waiting for us to come home,” Nelson said indifferently, gripping Callie’s hand tightly and helping her into the car.
Just as he was about to get in, Lucia spoke again, “Nelson, I’m back. Aren’t you going to pay respects to your father with me?”
Everyone fell silent.
Nelson’s long leg, which was halfway into the car, retracted. He straightened up and replied coldly, “Who are you?”
Lucia’s pupils dilated, and the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes became more pronounced. “I am your mother.”
“Mother? She died a long time ago.”
Someone gasped.
Callie watched their confrontation nervously, her breathing slowing. She saw Lucia suddenly raise her hand and slap Nelson.
The slap was crisp and clear, causing Nelson’s head to turn to the side. Callie was startled. She jumped out of the car and shielded him, “What are you doing?”
Lucia’s eyes, filled with anger, fell on her. “Who are you? It’s not your place to interfere when I’m disciplining my son.”
Callie’s legs were shaking, but she found a surge of courage to protect Nelson. “Didn’t you hear? His mother died a long time ago.”
Lucia laughed in anger. She was very thin, looking as if a gust of wind could knock her down. Her gaze fell on the wedding rings on their fingers. “So you’re the wife he married on his own accord.”
Callie opened her mouth but said nothing.
“Doesn’t look good at all.”
Her gaze returned to Nelson. “Are you sure you want this girl to stand up for you?”
Nelson licked the blood from the corner of his mouth, his expression deadly serious. He pulled Callie behind him again. “Get in the car.”
Callie didn’t want to. She looked at the situation anxiously.
Nelson called for bodyguards, forcing her into the car. The door closed, and the driver locked the vehicle. She couldn’t get out and could only watch as Nelson re-entered the Oconnor family home with Lucia following closely behind.
She couldn’t hear anything they were saying.
Callie was frantic with worry.
Why did Lucia come back now? What did she want? Why did Nelson seem unwilling to face her but had no choice?
Could it have something to do with her? Callie couldn’t help but wonder.
After about half an hour, Nelson and the others still hadn’t come out. Just as Callie was about to plead with the driver to let her out, a servant came out and spoke to the driver.
“Madam, Mr. Oconnor asked me to take you back to Paucaster Villa Complex first.” With that, he started the car.
“No… why? What about him?” Callie was incoherent but couldn’t stop it.
The driver had no answer.
On New Year’s Eve, Ylosea was brightly lit, every household bustling with activity. Paucaster Villa Complex was no different, but without one person, it felt incomplete.
Grandpa seemed to know what had happened and invited Callie to sit down. “Let’s eat. Bianca and Nancy have been busy all day making dishes you love.”
Callie didn’t want to appear too upset in front of her elders, so she forced a smile but remained distracted. Looking at Grandpa, she saw worry on his face too.
At the empty dining table, she couldn’t help but ask, “Grandpa, what exactly is going on?”
Grandpa sighed, looking regretful. “I thought we could have a reunion dinner this year… but it didn’t work out again.”
Seeing him like this made Callie feel worse. She instructed the servants, “Put the dishes away and keep them warm. We’ll eat together when Mr. Oconnor comes back later.”