Chapter 6

Willow's POV

At the family estate, I greeted Eleanor.

Eleanor scowled, not even looking at me.

Caleb frowned, reminding her, "Eleanor!"

Only then did she grudgingly respond.

Before dinner was even served, Caleb sat beside me, peeling grapes for her.

Eleanor sat opposite, her face so dark it looked like it could wring out water.

Dinner began, and Caleb busied himself serving me food and handing me napkins.

Not long after, Daisy arrived.

Eleanor's face immediately lit up. She stood to greet Daisy, taking her hand and smiling warmly, "Daisy, you're here? Is it cold outside? Are you hungry? Come, sit down."

She then turned to urge Caleb, "What are you waiting for? Get Daisy a glass of freshly squeezed juice, there's some in the fridge."

Caleb put down his cutlery, stood up, and went to get it.

At the dinner table, Eleanor's gaze remained fixated on Daisy's swollen belly, her joy evident.

She suddenly spoke, "Caleb, since you two are already divorced, I don't think you need to remarry."

"Daisy is all alone, and besides, this child is yours, the Owen's."

"You've already announced publicly that you're with Daisy, haven't you? Why don't you marry her? Take good care of her child. Everyone will be happy."

Caleb put his cutlery down on the table with a clatter and said coldly, "Eleanor!"

Eleanor huffed in displeasure but didn't say anything more.

Caleb squeezed my hand, lowering his voice, "Willow, Eleanor's getting old and confused. She just said that. Don't take it to heart."

I looked at his earnest apology, and my heart ached as if someone was clutching and twisting it.

It was then that I realized Eleanor had never cried, never even talked about her eldest son. She didn't act like a mother who had lost a child.

So, Eleanor knew the truth. She knew the child was Caleb's.

In the end, everyone knew the truth, and I was the only one being fooled. They were making a fool of me.

"Oh, dear." Daisy suddenly let out a soft cry.

Caleb immediately turned, "What's wrong?"

Daisy's small face was crumpled, "Nothing, the bowl was too hot."

Caleb quickly went over, took her hand, and examined it thoroughly, "You're pregnant, how can you be so careless?"

He called Mr. Jenkins for burn cream and personally applied it carefully to Daisy's hand several times.

After that, he continued eating, constantly serving Daisy food, spooning soup for her, and testing its temperature, terrified she might get hurt again.

He never thought of me again.

That night, we all stayed at the family estate.

Back in the room, Caleb took my hand and apologized earnestly again, "Willow, Daisy is carrying Oliver's child. Oliver passed away, so Eleanor and I both have to protect her. Please don't be mad."

Listening to that familiar excuse, my heart felt submerged in ice water, chilling me to the bone.

I avoided his gaze and whispered, "Yeah, you said that."

Caleb leaned closer, his hand resting on my waist, intending to kiss me.

I turned my head, "I'm too tired today."

I turned over and lay down, my back to him.

Caleb didn't insist but still wrapped his arms around my waist from behind.

I don't know how long passed, but I woke up thirsty.

The space behind me was empty. Caleb wasn't there.

I got up, intending to get some water.

As I reached the hallway, the door to the next room was ajar, and muffled sounds came from within.

"No, Willow is right next door. It wouldn't be good if she heard us," Daisy's voice was sweet and soft.

Caleb let out a low, husky laugh, "Then you'll have to bear it. Be quiet, okay?"

A series of hurried gasps.

"Don't, Caleb, the baby..."

"It's already four months." Caleb's urgency was barely contained, "I asked the doctor; it's fine. I've missed you terribly lately."

Then came the rhythmic thudding sounds and the woman's suppressed moans.

I was frozen solid, losing sensation inch by inch from my feet upwards.

I remembered our wedding night, Caleb holding me, saying, "Willow, I'll never want anyone else in my life. You're all I need."

And now, just a wall away, he was giving the same tenderness and intimacy to another woman.

I was chilled to the bone, and my stomach churned violently.

I clutched my mouth and stumbled back to my room, dry-heaving over the toilet.