Although Calla hadn't been back home for long, Carol had already asked countless times about the father of her child. Whenever she heard this question, she got a headache and didn't know how to respond. She would never mention Mercer because it would be trouble if Carol went looking for him. That said, she couldn't just fabricate a father for the child, so Calla chose to keep her mouth shut."Alright, alright, I won't ask for now, but that doesn't mean I won't ask in the future. When you're ready to talk about it, you can tell me," Carol said helplessly.Right at that moment, there was a sudden knock at the door.Calla stood up and said, "I'll get the door.""I'll go. Who would come here at this hour?" Carol muttered as she turned and went to open the door.When Carol opened it, she saw Zoey standing there, dressed to the nines. Carol couldn't help but feel a little puzzled. "The banquet's over, right? Why did you come here? Where's Larissa?"Zoey's face was etched with frustra
Carol was stunned, and Calla's jaw hit the floor when she heard that. Calla's first reaction was to refute the accusation. "Impossible! I bought this gold bracelet at the mall for over 3,000 dollars. How could it be fake?"Calla felt enraged because she was being insulted in this way. Even though she wasn't rich right now, she hadn't stooped so low as to buy a fake bracelet as a gift."Go ahead, take a look at what you bought. See if I'm lying!" Zoey's gaze was fixed on Calla with a fierce intensity, her eyes burning with hostility.Hearing this, Calla opened the red velvet box in her hand and took out the small gold bracelet inside.Calla examined it carefully. This bracelet looked similar to the one Calla bought, but it was noticeably lighter. And upon closer inspection, the color wasn't quite right either.Calla realized that the bracelet in her hand was indeed a fake. She could tell that this was not the bracelet she had purchased at the mall. But where did this fake bracele
Without a moment's hesitation, Zoey seized Carol's hand and wept bitterly. "Mom, our family and Harlan's were never a good match. All his relatives are people of considerable standing. I've been busting my butt for the Englers for two years, trying to do everything right. Luckily, my in-laws are open-minded and haven't looked down on my background. "But what Cal did today embarrassed my in-laws. They're even starting to regard me with disdain. If it weren't for Larissa, they would have said much harsher things. I feel so ashamed. Mom, how could Cal do something like this?"At this point, even Carol believed Zoey's words. She turned to Calla with disappointment. "Calla, how could you do such a thing? I know you're tight on money now, but you could have told me. I may not have much money, but I've saved the allowance you've been giving me every month. I can afford a small gold bracelet!"Calla took a step back, looking at her mother with hurt in her eyes. "Mom, are you taking Zoe
When Calla heard that Zoey wanted her to apologize to her in-laws, she stared at Zoey in shock.Zoey was out to ruin Calla. She wanted to humiliate Calla in front of everyone. She planned to force Calla to confess that she'd given Larissa a fake bracelet. This would paint Calla as a terrible person and make Harlan, his parents, and everyone else think less of her.The extent of Zoey's deceit and malice was now evident. Her relentless pursuit of her sister's downfall through such vile means left Calla disillusioned."That's one way to handle it, Calla. Tomorrow, I'll prepare some gifts for you. You can take it to Zoey's in-laws as a token of apology," Carol quickly said to Calla.At this moment, Calla firmly said to Carol, "Mom, the bracelet I bought for Larissa is genuine. I didn't do anything wrong, and I'm not going to apologize!""Mom, look at her! She messed up and is still talking like that." Zoey added fuel to the fire.Carol was now angry and scolded, "You have to go, n
At that moment, Clover, who was sleeping in bed, suddenly woke up and started crying.The sound of her daughter crying snapped Calla back to reality. Calla knew that now was not the time to be overwhelmed by sorrow. She still had her daughter, who was still so small and dependent on her. She had to be strong and pull herself together.The next moment, Calla quickly walked over to the bed and picked Clover up. When a baby cried, it was usually because they were either hungry or needed a diaper change.Calla checked Clover's diaper, and sure enough, Clover had wet herself. She changed Clover's diaper, then held her close and nursed her daughter.Once Clover latched onto Calla's breast, she stopped crying and a sweet, innocent smile appeared.The sight of Clover's smile infused Calla with renewed determination. For Clover's sake, she couldn't allow this unfounded accusation to stand. Her reputation was important because it would affect her child in the future.Calla didn't know when
Calla had just finished hanging up Clover's clothes and diapers when she heard the hushed chatter of a few women from her balcony.Although their voices were low, they were on the floor right below her. With Calla standing out in the open, she could hear everything clearly."Did you hear? Carol's eldest daughter has been back at her place with a baby for quite a while now." Calla knew that voice all too well—it was Joyce, who lived just next door."I don't need to hear about it, I've seen it firsthand! Haven't you noticed Carol going out with her basket to buy groceries every day? She's cooking for her daughter." That was Ruth, who lived across the hall."Didn't Calla get divorced? How did she end up with a baby? When did she get married again? I never heard Carol mention anything about it." This was Becky, who lived at the far end of the building.Calla knew these three women very well. They had nothing better to do than gather to gossip about other people's affairs. Carol and he
Calla extended an arm, intending to close the sliding door. She didn't want to hear any more of their baseless gossiping. She hoped Carol wouldn't overhear anything when she returned from grocery shopping.But before her hand even touched the door, she heard Carol's voice from downstairs.With a shopping basket on her arm, Carol pointed at the gossiping women. She unleashed a torrent of scolding."What are you all gossiping about again? You guys truly have nothing better to do. Why are you so nosy about our family affairs? You better watch your mouths. You'll get what's coming for talking like that." Calla quietly peeked downstairs. Carol had indeed returned from grocery shopping.She had never seen her mother so fierce before. In the past, when faced with gossip about her family, Carol would either suppress her anger or offer a mild rebuke. Never before had she displayed such ferocity.Calla knew that Carol cared most about her own and her daughters' reputations. Before, their
Calla leaned against the balcony railing and shouted, "Ruth, you're quite the detective, aren't you? Did you catch me red-handed, sleeping with a millionaire or something?"The small crowd standing downstairs suddenly looked up at Calla on the balcony. Carol stepped forward to reprimand her. "This is a grown-up conversation. Why are you butting in? Go look after the baby!"Carol knew her daughter's vulnerabilities. She was concerned that Calla would be humiliated by those gossiping women. She also didn't want to escalate the situation any further.But Ruth wasn't about to back down now. With one hand on her hip, she shouted back at Calla. "Calla, you say you weren't a homewrecker, but who's the father of that kid? Is the baby you're always holding some fatherless little bastard?"Ruth's words elicited laughter from a building crowd.Whenever the common folk congregated, any commotion was sure to attract a curious crowd. The slightest hint of excitement would draw in neighbors from