Chapter 635



For a moment, Clayton couldn’t find the words to refute her, and he felt a headache coming on. After a moment’s thought, he chose his words carefully. “Cara, maybe you need to let this go. Some things just can’t be forced. The harder you try, the more you’ll push them away.”

Cara’s tears stopped abruptly, replaced by a look of resentment. “What are you saying? Even you don’t want me to be happy? All I want is a happy family. What did I do to deserve this?”

Cara was getting more and more worked up. Clayton had no choice but to pull her away, gently but firmly.

Jake and Elma chatted for a while. After sweating out her fever and getting some fluids, Elma was feeling much better. She hadn’t seen her dad in ages, and she was happy to have him around.

Jake noticed Elma’s fresh hospital gown. “Looks like she does care about you,” he remarked. “Seems like she’s finally learning how to be a mom.”

Elma wanted to correct him. It wasn’t her mom who’d changed her clothes. But she bit her tongue.

Even though Elma was just a kid, she could tell things weren’t right between her parents.

One of the maids had told Elma not to let her parents split up. If they did, she would have to choose one parent to live with, and chances were, it would be Cara.

Elma dreaded that. She didn’t want to live with Cara, so she was desperate for her parents to stay together. But it seemed like her dad wasn’t happy with her mom. Was it wrong of her to want them to stay together, even if they weren’t happy?

Elma’s heart ached with the weight of this dilemma. Lost in her worries, she didn’t notice Jake studying her until he spoke up.

“What happened to your ear?” Jake asked, his voice gentle. The sight of the injury made his heart clench.

Elma shook her head, trying to dismiss it. “It’s nothing.”

But Jake wasn’t buying it. His face hardened. “Who hurt you?” he asked.

Elma wanted to lie, but Jake’s piercing gaze made it impossible.

Elma’s hesitation spoke volumes.

Jake’s blood boiled. Sometimes, he couldn’t help but wonder if Elma was really Cara’s daughter. Who could be so heartless to their own child?

Jake felt Elma’s sudden cold seemed fishy. Elma had a nanny who checked on her every two hours at night, making sure she was tucked in.

But the night before Elma got sick, she’d been left uncovered all night.

The nanny wouldn’t have been so careless unless someone told her not to check on Elma.

Jake’s anger was written all over his face. Elma reached out a tiny hand to touch his cheek, trying to smooth away his frown. “Daddy, don’t be sad,” she said softly. “Don’t worry. You should always be happy.”

A lot of people said Elma was naughty, didn’t listen, and was spoiled.

But only Jake understood Elma was just craving a bit more love and attention.

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