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Chapter 423

Author: Hibiscus 1980
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56
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
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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    "Things will work out when the time comes. Mom, please stop worrying about me." At this moment, Calla felt an intense guilt. Not only had she failed to make Carol's life better but she had also caused Carol embarrassment and sorrow. The next moment, Carol suddenly asked, "Calla, tell me the truth. Are you someone's mistress? Is he a married man? Is that why you won't tell me who he is?"Calla was amused. "Mom, I wish that were true. If I were a rich man's mistress, I wouldn't be in such a dire situation. A rich man would have already gotten me a house, a car, and even a nanny!""Then, who is Clover's dad?" Carol couldn't help but ask again."Mom, we'll find out tomorrow, won't we? Just wait a little longer." Calla had to brush it off lightly."You stubborn child; the more I ask, the less you tell me." Finally, Carol sighed and left Calla's room.After Carol left, a frown formed on Calla's forehead as she stared up at the ceiling. She wondered to herself, "How am I going to get t

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    "My heart is already in pieces because of you. So what if I hit, cursed, or even stabbed you now? What's the point of doing all that? I beg this of you, Mercer, please let me live my life quietly and stop bothering me!"Stop making up all these ridiculous justifications too. I'm tired—exhausted! I don't want to deal with you anymore," Calla sobbed, tears running down her face.She knew that she shouldn't have cried in front of him. It wasn't just a sign of her weakness, it might also fuel his assumption that she still cared for him. However, she couldn't control it. Whenever she thought of the suffering she'd gone through in the past couple of years, tears ran uncontrollably down her face."I want nothing more than for you to let me tell you the truth in its entirety. I want you and Casper to not miss out on the chance to reconnect as mother and son. "I promise that I'll respect your choice once I'm done telling you everything, and I won't bother you again in the future!" Mercer l

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    Mercer's face fell. He sat on an armchair before asking Calla, "Do you dislike me that much? Are you not even willing to stay by my side for one minute?""I don't dislike you—I hate you. Also, one minute is too long—I can't even bear to stay by your side for one second!" Calla replied without hesitation.As memories—filled with love and resentment alike—flashed in Calla's mind, she felt an intense hatred for Mercer. If not for Casper, she would never have stepped inside this place again, much less take a seat across Mercer to have a conversation.Calla's words hurt Mercer. He sat there for a while with his head lowered before lighting up a cigarette and taking a long drag.Calla couldn't help coughing when the acrid smell of smoke entered her nose. Realizing that he'd made her cough, Mercer quickly stubbed the cigarette in his ashtray. Calla didn't want to waste any more time with him. She asked impatiently, "Why did you have me come here? Who is the woman you had Casper with?"

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