Chapter 29 The Kid’s Cry
Beep–a cold mechanical sound echoed in her ears.
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Caroline opened her eyes to find William leaning over her, his face filled with worry.
“Thank God, you’re alive. Oh, thank God!”
Caroline shot him a sideways glance. “What happened to me?”
“You overdid it with all that overtime,” William said, clicking his tongue like an old man. “All those years of luxury made you weaker. Wanting to stay in the gaming industry with a body like that? Seriously, it’s embarrassing.”
Caroline clutched her head, silently wishing he’d shut up already.
But after a few seconds of quiet, he spoke again, “I’m gonna head downstairs and grab you something to eat. The doctor said not to move around too much.”
“Got it. Thanks,” she replied.
William snorted like he was doing her a favor, hands in his pockets as he walked out.
After this scare, Caroline had to admit Anthony had a point.
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There was no way a team of barely a dozen people could keep Supreme Sword at the top of the mobile charts. She knew it was time to make team expansion a priority.
The thought lingered in her head, but her eyelids were already growing heavy.
Just then, a nurse came in to check the IV and said, “You should take this chance to catch up on sleep. If you keep burning yourself out like this, the next stop is the ICU.”
C
Caroline wasn’t planning on dying anytime soon.
She closed her eyes and fell asleep almost instantly.
She had no clue how long she’d been out when her phone started ringing nonstop, pulling her back to reality.
She squinted at the screen, too groggy to really see, and blindly hit accept.
“Hello?”
The second Caleb heard her sleepy voice, he snapped, “Get to the hospital. Now!”
Even half–asleep, Caroline knew exactly who it was. Her mind sharpened in an instant.
“I’m busy,” she replied flatly.
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“Your son is sick, and you’re just sleeping at home?” Caleb roared. “You won’t even come see him? What kind of mother are you? No wonder Dominic doesn’t want anything to do with you. Look at how heartless you are!”
“I’m not a doctor. Even if he dies, there’s nothing I can do about it. You’ve got the wrong person,” Caroline said flatly.
Just as she was about to hang up, a child’s heart–wrenching wail came through the phone.
“It hurts! I don’t want a shot, Daddy; it hurts so much! I want Mommy’s oatmeal… If I can’t have it, I’m gonna die from the pain. Daddy, tell Mommy to bring it, please. It hurts, it hurts so bad!”
At that, Caroline couldn’t help but frown.
After calming Dominic down a little, Caleb spoke into the phone through gritted teeth, “Did you hear what your son just said?”
Despite everything, Caroline had still carried him for ten
months.
She couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt.
“Is his stomach acting up again?” she asked.
Caleb then gave a curt, emotionless hum in response.
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She really wanted to curse Caleb out for how he’d raised the kid.
But Dominic spent his early years with Brianna, where meals were hit or miss. That’s what led to his stomach issues.
Caroline couldn’t stand to see Dominic suffer.
So, despite her demanding job, she brought him to live with her and handled everything herself.
She even went and got certified as a nutritionist.
She did it all. Picked fresh ingredients daily, cooked balanced meals, and banned junk food. She was terrified that one mistake might trigger another episode.
But to Dominic, she was just the mean mom who never let him eat anything fun.
“Dominic hasn’t had a flare–up in a long time,” Caleb said suddenly. “Did you feed him something wrong again?”
That was the last straw.
“You’ve got some nerve,” Caroline snapped. “When have you ever been a real father? Don’t give me that work BS.
“Get a nanny if you’re so swamped. I’ve got just as much on my plate, hell, probably more, but I’m making it work.
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“Face it, you’re the one who’s never around!”
Caleb’s face turned cold.
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“You’re the one who wanted a baby. You trapped me into marriage with that pregnancy, so don’t act surprised that you’re stuck with the childcare.”
“Fine,” Caroline spat. “We’re divorced now anyway. He’s not my problem anymore. Let your precious Michelle handle it.”
Like I give a damn about playing the doting mom to a kid who doesn’t even care.
Just then, Dominic’s tearful voice rang out.
“Daddy, Mommy doesn’t want me anymore. Do you not want me
either?”
Caleb replied, “That’s not true. No one’s giving you up.”
Dominic sniffled. “But Mommy doesn’t want me, right?”
Caleb stayed silent for a few seconds, and Dominic got it.
“She definitely doesn’t want me. If she did, why didn’t she come to see me when I got my shot? She doesn’t even care!” Dominic
cried.
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Caleb sighed, “Don’t overthink it. She’s on her way.”
Turning aside, he lowered his voice and muttered into the phone.
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“Dominic wants oatmeal. Make some and get it here within ten minutes. You’re his mom. Don’t keep the kid waiting.”
He was asking her for help, but his tone was commanding, leaving no room for argument.
Before she could respond, he hung up.
Dominic’s hospital room was just upstairs.
Caroline hesitated, then yanked out her IV, gritting through the
pain.
She leaned on the wall for support, stepping into the elevator.
On the fourth floor, she steadied herself and headed to his room.
As soon as she cracked the door open, she heard the argument
inside.
“Did you sneak snacks again? Answer me!”
Dominic then shot back in his sweet, childish voice, “I didn’t! We don’t even have any snacks at home!”
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Caleb responded, “Your mom said snacks make your stomach hurt. So if you didn’t eat any, then why did you get sick in the middle of the night?”
Dominic pouted and puffed out his cheeks in frustration. “Mean mommy!”
Caleb could tell right away that Dominic was mad because he had hit the nail on the head.
Just then, Michelle held Dominic in her arms and looked up at
Caleb.
“It’s my fault. Don’t yell at Dominic,” she said.
Caleb snapped, “What’s it got to do with you?”
Michelle’s eyes were red with guilt. “Dominic couldn’t eat. I was scared he’d be hungry, so I let him sip soda. He promised to eat properly after, and I thought… I didn’t think…”
Just then, the door slammed against the wall with a loud bang.
Before Michelle could react, a figure in white rushed up–smack!
Caroline had rolled up her sleeves and slapped Michelle–hard,
twice.
Michelle was stunned.
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“You knew Dominic wasn’t well and still spoiled him? He’s not your kid, so you don’t care, right? Even if it kills him, it’s none of your business, huh?” Caroline shouted.
“Caroline, what the hell are you doing?” Caleb barked, furious. “What right do you have to talk to Michelle like that? If you’d been home taking care of him, he wouldn’t be in the hospital. Michelle helped you, and you slapped her? You’re out of line!”
Michelle then broke into aggrieved tears.
Caroline let out a sharp, bitter laugh. She’d seen shameless people before, but this level of twisted logic? This was new.
Caroline frowned, “He’s your son, too, Caleb. Not just mine. You blame me for scheming, for trapping you, but let’s not forget who lost control that night. Honestly, do you think I could’ve gotten pregnant all by myself? What, you think I’m some miracle who can produce both sperm and eggs and knock myself up?”
Caleb’s face darkened. His mind flashed back to that night four
years ago.
The drug wasn’t that strong. I was still half–conscious… but even then, I…
Caleb forcefully cut the memory short and snapped, “You really don’t have any shame, talking about this in front of our son.”
His expression hardened as he grabbed Caroline’s shoulders and
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Chapter 29 The Kid’s Cry
shoved her.
“If you didn’t bring the oatmeal, then get out!” he spat.
Caroline’s legs were still weak, her body barely holding up.
With one hard push, she lost her balance and stumbled backward.
B
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