Howard’s acting skills weren’t very convincing; he was immediately seen through by the woman.
Sebastian could only admit awkwardly, “Actually, Howard misses you…”
Caitlin interrupted him coldly, “That doesn’t mean you should teach the child to lie! Pretending to be sick when he’s not, do you know how much you made me worry?”
“We didn’t lie. Before you came, he really did have a stomach ache, and so…”
“So, you took advantage of the situation and brought me here, didn’t you? Don’t think I don’t know what’s going through your mind,” Caitlin said, pointing at his heart with her finger, her cold gaze fixed on him.
“Alright, I’ll tell you the truth. Not only does my son miss you, I miss you too. I wanted to see you, so I resorted to this plan. Don’t believe me? Here, look!”
Sebastian handed over two little notes that Howard had written.
After reading them, Caitlin’s anger diminished significantly.
It was indeed Howard who wanted to see her, who missed her.
“I want to take my son with me!”
Caitlin felt it was better for Howard to live with her. He could have some company from his brothers as well.
“You want to take him? Only if you take me too!”
Sebastian was not about to let her just take their son. If she really wanted to take Howard, it would be a “buy one, get one free” situation. Did she want that?
“Impossible!”
There was no way Caitlin would want him.
“Then there’s no negotiation! My son and I cannot be separated!”
Sebastian’s deep eyes stared at her beautiful yet cold face, wondering how he could melt her heart.
Caitlin turned her gaze away and went back to her son’s side, gently stroking his little face.
“Howard, if you miss Mommy, you can just video call me. Don’t pretend to be sick anymore. But if you’re really unwell, you have to tell me, understood?”
Howard nodded, his eyes filled with affection for her.
“Get some sleep now! Mommy will stay with you.”
Caitlin didn’t leave immediately but stayed with her son until he finally fell asleep in her arms. Only after he was peacefully sleeping did she gently get up and cover him with a blanket.
She exited the children’s room and bumped into Sebastian in the hallway. He asked, “Is he asleep?”
“Mm.”
When she tried to leave, Sebastian stood up and blocked her path, holding his hand out. “It’s late. Stay here tonight!”
“I don’t need to.”
“Caitlin, you saw for yourself. Howard really depends on you! I’m worried he’ll wake up from a nightmare in the middle of the night and be upset if he can’t find you.”
Caitlin looked up, her voice cold. “If that’s the case, just let me raise him!”
“Caitlin, if you raise him alone, he’ll lack fatherly love. How about we co-parent him? Let him grow up in a healthy and complete family environment, wouldn’t that be better?”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t do that. I don’t want to live with someone I don’t like!”
Caitlin made her reasons clear.
Her words were harsh-more painful than a knife wound.
Caitlin was determined to leave, but Sebastian cornered her against the wall. “Do you really hate me that much?”
“Tell me, what about you is worthy of my love?”
Sebastian couldn’t answer. The qualities he used to pride himself on seemed to have no effect on her.
She liked youth, but age couldn’t be reversed.
“Give me a chance to change! Try to understand me. Once you do, you’ll definitely change your mind.”
“I’m not interested in you, and I don’t want to understand you.”
“I don’t believe it. You have feelings for me, I’m sure of it…”
Sebastian tried desperately to prove his point. He lowered his head and kissed her forcefully.
Caitlin was shocked and frightened by the sudden kiss. She tried to push him away, but his strength was overwhelming.
He held her like a mountain, making it impossible for her to move.
After a moment, the taste of blood filled the air, and in pain, Sebastian pulled back. Caitlin shoved him away and slapped him hard.
“Shameless!”
Furious, Caitlin stormed downstairs, leaving Sebastian standing there.
At this moment, his lips were cut, and blood stained them, making his lips appear even redder.
He wiped the blood from his lips, then smiled slightly.
He had discovered a secret.
When he kissed her, her heartbeat had been disrupted!
It turned out that the best way to disturb her heartbeat was through his kiss!
She had feelings when he kissed her!
—
**Outside Vanderbilt Manor**
Caitlin ran out of the Vanderbilt Manor, her cold heart now in turmoil. She realized clearly that she couldn’t get too close to Sebastian.
That man was bad, and he could easily shake her resolve!
As she prepared to leave, Caitlin heard someone calling her.
It was Molly’s voice!
“Caitlin! Wait!”
Caitlin turned her head and saw Molly supporting Beatrice, walking out of the shadows.
“Beatrice? It’s so late, aren’t you resting?”
“Well, Caitlin, I heard you came back, so I specifically came to see you.”
Beatrice walked up to her, took her hand, and looked at her with tearful gratitude.
“Caitlin, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you were Howard’s biological mother. The woman who gave birth to him for our Vanderbilt Family is you!
“Our whole family owes you a debt of gratitude for giving us such a lovely child. But how have you been these past few years? It must have been hard for you!”
Caitlin was touched by the old lady’s words, and her nose tingled with emotion. She shook her head.
“Before, Sebastian didn’t know your identity and did many foolish things that upset you. I will make sure he is properly punished!
“Please, for Howard’s sake, will you stay with us in the Vanderbilt Family? The child needs you, and we need you too!”
Beatrice had come in person, not for anything else, but to try and keep such a good woman in the Vanderbilt family.
Molly also persuaded her. “Caitlin, even though my brother was a jerk before, Howard is innocent! Can you bear to separate him from his flesh and blood?”
Caitlin truly couldn’t bear it. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have come back to find her son.
She appreciated Beatrice’s concern and Molly’s kindness, but she really couldn’t stay.
“I’m sorry. I will visit Howard often, but I can’t live with Sebastian again.”
After saying this, Caitlin got into her car and drove away from Vanderbilt Manor.
Watching the car disappear into the distance, Beatrice sighed. “Such a good girl. Now, even if we wanted to keep her, we couldn’t.”
“Boom!”
Another car passed by. Molly recognized it as her brother’s car, her excitement growing.
“Grandma, don’t worry. He’s had an epiphany! He’s going after Caitlin now. Just wait! He’ll definitely win her back!”
“Let’s hope so! We’ll wait and see!”
Beatrice could only wish her grandson good luck.
Sebastian drove after the car, his deep eyes confident and resolute as he focused on the distant taillights, gently pressing the accelerator to increase his speed.