She didn’t want to like this father.
“Grape…” Callie held her, with a hint of heartache in her voice, “Don’t dislike your father…”
The matters between adults shouldn’t involve children.
Grape pouted, “But Daddy… doesn’t like me either.” Her tone couldn’t hide her sadness and disappointment.
Callie understood Grape’s feelings. Over the years, as a mother, she had ultimately failed her.
“If I could only choose one between Daddy and Mommy, then I…” Grape’s eyes showed determination as she hugged Callie’s neck, “I want Mommy…”
Callie’s heart warmed, and tears uncontrollably fell down her face.
“Grape-” Callie just quietly held her.
Little did she know, at that very moment, downstairs, Nelson’s car had already stopped at the door. The engine was off. The car window slid down, revealing the man’s deep profile; his brows were furrowed as if troubled by unsolvable worries. His deep eyes stared at the lit-up house.
“Sir, this is Grape’s birth certificate…” Anthony handed over the information he had found.
Even though he had already confirmed his suspicions in his mind, seeing Grape’s date of birth still gave Nelson a twinge of pain. It was hard to imagine how tough it had been for Callie to raise a child alone in a foreign country for the past two years.
“You can go back now…” Nelson instructed.
Some things he needed to face alone.
“Sir…” Anthony was a bit worried.
Nelson waved his hand, Anthony understood his meaning and got out of the car…
Callie stayed with Grape, coaxing her to sleep. Only when Grape was asleep did Callie relax her grip. She gently placed her on the big bed and looked at Grape’s tear-streaked face, feeling a pang of guilt.
“Grape, I let you down-” Callie murmured to herself.
After tucking Grape in, she tiptoed out of the room.
Night had fallen. Callie stood alone on the large balcony; the evening breeze brought a slight chill, lifting the strands of hair at her temples. The cool air cleared her mind. Her gaze inadvertently fell on the car downstairs. Her heart started pounding as if she had guessed something.
The man looked at her through the car window; their eyes met, and his intense gaze seemed to see right through her. Callie quickly looked away and hurried back inside.
Nelson, how did he find this place?
Just then, her phone rang. It was Nick. The screen showed his slightly travel-worn face.
“I’ve arrived in Anbusea… Alice.”
Nick sounded like a husband reporting his safety to his wife while on a business trip.
“Oh, that’s good.”
“Switzerland should be nighttime now. Why aren’t you resting yet?”
Thinking about Nelson downstairs made Callie’s emotions unstable; she was visibly distracted.
“What’s wrong? Alice?”
Callie snapped back to reality, “No… nothing.” She then politely said, “You’ve had a long day of travel; you should rest well.”
Nick raised an eyebrow.
“Alice, you seem a bit down. Is it work getting you stressed, or has Grape been acting up again? Or… is it because I left Switzerland?”
Nick’s tone was a blend of playfulness and earnestness.
Callie hesitated for a moment. Nick’s words from the other day rang in her ears. She was well-aware of his feelings, but she simply couldn’t return his affection.
“I’m not in a bad mood. I was just lost in thought looking at the night sky.”