Everyone’s eyes turned to Caitlin. Almost everyone had already seen her as a bad omen. Ever since she arrived at The Vanderbilt Family, she had turned everything upside down.
Willa and Xylia were still lying in bed because of the punishment they received because of Caitlin!
Beatrice finally sighed and asked Raymond, “Why don’t you go to The Gray Family yourself and see if you can resolve this? If this blows up, it’ll be bad for both of our families.”
Raymond agreed, “I understand, Mom. I’ll go right away.”
“I think this isn’t Caitlin’s fault. It’s Audrey’s overreaction! There’s no need for Dad to go plead, is there?” Molly spoke up in Caitlin’s defense, agreeing with her actions.
“Right,” Molly continued, “Why should she have let Audrey’s son bully Howard? Caitlin’s actions were justified.”
Grace said, “Right now, it’s not about who’s to blame. Caitlin has already offended The Gray Family, so your father needs to step in.”
“No need!” Caitlin interrupted. “Beatrice, there’s no need for Mr. Vanderbilt to go to The Gray Family to beg. This is my mess, and I’ll handle it. Before noon tomorrow, I’ll go to The Gray Family and apologize.”
Just then, Howard ran into the room and hugged Caitlin’s leg.
Seeing her son, Caitlin gently pulled him by the hand and started walking out.
Everyone watched them leave, and Grace exchanged a knowing glance with Yasmin. They were both looking forward to tomorrow’s drama.
As Caitlin walked away, Molly couldn’t help but admire her even more. She was bold, decisive, fierce, and deeply caring for her child. A woman like that could stand her ground and control even a stubborn, cold man like her brother. She was truly the right fit to be Howard’s mother!
Outside, Caitlin saw Lucy, handing Howard over to her. “Lucy, please take Howard back for me. I’ve got something to do. Howard, go with Lucy, okay?”
Howard looked up at her, sensing her concern. “Mommy will be fine. Mommy will come back to be with you. Be good.”
Howard obeyed and followed Lucy back.
Caitlin walked out and met Xavi, who had hurried over. When he saw her, he asked, “Caitlin, are you alright?”
“I’m fine, but I need to go out. You can go back now,” she replied.
“Where are you going, Caitlin? Let me drive you,” Xavi offered.
“No need. You go back and make sure everything is alright here.”
Caitlin walked out toward the gate, disappearing into the night.
Back at Vanderbilt Manor, Xavi returned and informed Sebastian.
“So, that’s what happened,” Sebastian murmured as he processed the information. “She did it for Howard.”
“Yes, Caitlin only acted after hearing Audrey and her son insult young master Howard.”
Sebastian was filled with a strange emotion, a feeling he couldn’t quite describe. He wasn’t sure why this woman would go to such lengths for his son, but it did touch him.
“Where is she now?”
“She said she was going out,” Xavi replied.
“At this hour? She’s going out alone, and you didn’t follow her?” Sebastian asked.
“I offered to go with her, but she refused.”
Sebastian grew uneasy. “She said she’d handle it herself? What does she think she’s doing? Does she plan to beg Quade?”
A woman going to beg a man-what else could it be other than offering herself? The thought filled him with dread.
The more he thought about it, the worse he felt. It felt like his worst fears were about to come true. He rushed to give an order. “Go! Bring her back! Don’t let her go to some man!”
Just as Xavi was about to leave, the door opened and Caitlin stood outside.
“Caitlin?”
“I’m back. You can go rest now,” Caitlin said coldly, having overheard Sebastian’s words.
“Oh, alright,” Xavi said, feeling a bit relieved. “See, nothing happened. She just went out for a bit and came back.”
Sebastian felt a sudden unease. Caitlin returned so quickly? She didn’t go to beg Quade?
Howard immediately ran to her and hugged her when he saw her.
Sebastian couldn’t see, but he could hear Howard running toward her. He asked, “How come you’re back so soon? Didn’t you go to…”
Caitlin’s voice was tinged with anger. “Did Mr. Vanderbilt think I went out to beg Quade? You really think that little of me?”
Her words left Sebastian speechless. He had indeed thought that, but now, hearing her response, he felt humiliated.
“What’s going to happen now?” Sebastian asked, trying to shift the focus.
“If it weren’t for you making a mess of things, I would have already handled it.” Caitlin answered, while she laid Howard down on the bed, tending to him.
Sebastian’s frustration boiled over. “You’re impossible!”
He was frustrated by how difficult it was to communicate with her. She was always so sharp-tongued, deliberately provoking him.
“I don’t need you to judge how I behave! You have no right!” Caitlin shot back.
Her words were enough to drive him mad. Sebastian clenched his fists and slammed them on the bed. “You’re always causing trouble, and you have the audacity to say I don’t have a right to speak? We’re still in a contract marriage, I’m your husband, and I should have the right to discipline you!”
“Just a nominal husband. Don’t forget Article 3 of our contract. We’re not supposed to interfere with each other’s private lives. Should I remind you again?” Caitlin replied coolly.
Sebastian seethed with anger, chest heaving with frustration. He was enraged, but he couldn’t argue back.
This woman was driving him crazy-she seemed like she was sent by God to torment him!
Howard, hearing his parents arguing again, was curious. Was there some sort of agreement between them? Did his mom have a deadline to take care of his dad? Was she going to leave once that time was up?
The thought made Howard frown deeply. His instincts told him something bad was coming, and he didn’t want his mom to leave!
Silence filled the room for a moment as the tension grew thicker. Sebastian gritted his teeth and swore to himself, “If I speak first, I’ll be the one to lose.”
But just then, Caitlin poured a glass of water and went to his side, propping him up and placing a pillow behind his head.
Sebastian, not knowing what she was doing, asked suspiciously, “What are you doing?”
Then he suddenly realized and cursed himself internally.
“Hey, take your medicine! I went out to get it for you! It’s time for you to take your pills.”
The medication Griffin prescribed had issues, so Caitlin had arranged for someone else to provide the right medicine. Quincy had brought it earlier, and she had just gone to pick it up.
“What medication?”
Sebastian was puzzled but felt a strange sense of deja vu, like the old “take your medicine” scenario.
“This is a blood circulation medicine,” Caitlin explained.
“Didn’t Griffin prescribe something for me?” Sebastian asked, curious.
“His prescription? You’d better not take it. If you do, you might only live to 26!”
“What do you mean?”
Sebastian’s heart skipped a beat, his brows furrowed tightly.