Chapter 32 Pretentious"Caitlin, you are truly foolish, do you know that? You can't even grasp your husband's intentions. It's pathetic," Gianna said, crossing her arms with a haughty expression. "From the very beginning, your husband planned to send your daughter into the Robinson family, to become their relative. He didn't divorce you just so he could manipulate your daughter. Yet, you naively believed he still had feelings for you. If he really cared about you, why would he have been with me for twenty years? And how could he bear to let your daughter marry into the Robinson family?
Sure, the Robinson family is wealthy, but Shane is notorious for his bad temper. Your daughter was practically forced on him. Do you think her life will be easy?
If you were smart, you'd divorce Rafael immediately. That way, your daughter could escape this misery sooner."
"You're lying!" Caitlin shouted, but her voice lacked strength.
Her words carried no weight!
Callie felt her body waver as she listened.
From a young age, Rafael had demanded she learn many things—piano, dance, painting, and various other skills.
At first, she thought Rafael wanted her to become a star.
Thinking back, it was clear now. Her father had planned this all along—cultivating her talents to please or seduce Shane.
Her father was truly calculating! To be used and manipulated by her own father! She should have been numb to it by now, but her heart still ached.
"If you know what's good for you, get a divorce quickly..."
Callie suddenly pushed the door open, her emotions hidden behind a calm facade. "If there's going to be a divorce, let Rafael come."
Gianna was startled, turning to see Callie, her face turning pale with fear.
"Y-you, why are you here?"
Callie walked in, "Isn't this a place you shouldn't be?"
Gianna quickly steadied herself. After all, it was Callie who heard her, not Rafael. It didn't matter. If Callie knew, it was even better. She could persuade her mother to divorce Rafael.
She didn't want to be the other woman for the rest of her life.
She wasn't young anymore; she needed a legitimate status.
"Did you hear what I said? I think you know very well whether what I said is true or not. If you want to get rid of your father, have your mom divorce your dad quickly."
Callie's face turned cold. "You're not welcome here. Please leave!" Callie, I'm doing this for your own good..."
"If you don't leave right now, I'll call Rafael and tell him everything you said to my mom. If my mom agrees to the divorce, I won't be under Rafael's control anymore, and he won't be able to use me to get benefits from the Robinson Family. Do you think he cares more about you or his career?"
Callie knew very well that Rafael cared more about his career; otherwise, he wouldn't have been stringing her mother along for so long.
If he truly loved Gianna, he would have given her a proper status by now.
"You think I'm being used? Aren't you being used too? Rafael wanted a son, you gave him one, but he still hasn't given you any status. Aren't you just a tool for him to have a son? What do you have to brag about in front of me and my mom?"
Callie had finally seen through it all. Rafael didn't love anyone; he loved power and status.
He used everyone.
Gianna's face turned from pale to green, and finally to a deep red,
resembling a liver. Her delicate makeup couldn't hide the anger twisting her features.
"You..." Gianna pointed at her, too furious to speak.
Because she had no words to refute!
Callie ignored her completely. "I'll count to three. If you don't leave, I'll call Rafael right now!"
Gianna had initially planned to reveal Rafael's true intentions to Caitlin, hoping Caitlin would agree to a divorce, allowing Gianna to take her place.
Unexpectedly, Callie turned the tables on her.
Fuming with anger, Gianna let out a cold snort and left the hospital room, trying to maintain her composure. Callie closed the door behind her and walked over. "Mom."
Caitlin, her eyes red from crying, looked at her daughter. "I'm sorry."
Callie sat down beside the hospital bed and looked at her mother. "Mom, you have nothing to apologize for. You gave me life and the chance to be in this world..."
Caitlin reached out and grasped her daughter's hand, choking up with sorrow. "Because of me, you've had to endure so much hardship and suffering."
She pressed her lips together. "I should have realized sooner."
Callie tried to comfort her mother. "It's really not a big deal. I was always going to get married eventually, and it doesn't really matter to whom."
But Caitlin couldn't let it go. "He's your father. How could he see you only as a tool, without any basic kindness or love?"
Years had passed, and though her heart still ached, she had come to terms with it.
She changed the subject. "Mom, I heard you're getting discharged?"
Caitlin nodded. "Yes, I'm feeling much better now. I've been in the hospital for too long, and I want to leave."
Callie didn't agree immediately. Instead, she went to consult her mother's attending doctor. The doctor said that her mother could be discharged as long as she took care of herself and came back for regular check-ups.
However, Callie didn't tell Caitlin this. Instead, she said, "Mom, just hold on for a couple more days."
She went out to look for a place to stay so that her mother would have somewhere to go once she was discharged.
Caitlin nodded in agreement.
"Mom," Callie hesitated for a moment before deciding to ask, "Do you want to divorce Dad?"
Caitlin replied, "...Yes."
Callie pressed her lips together. Although she had always hoped her mother would get a divorce, it had never happened all these years.
When she asked just now, Caitlin only said "yes," not "I want to."
"Mom, you don't have to worry about me. I've grown up. I have a job and can make my own money. Rafael can't control me with money anymore. He used to threaten me by withholding tuition or not treating you well if I didn't listen to him. Now that you're better, he can't control me anymore. If you don't really want to get a divorce, then don't."
She respected Caitlin's decision.
After all, Caitlin had spent most of her life with that man, and there were definitely feelings involved.
Caitlin felt even more guilty seeing how considerate and understanding her daughter was.
Feeling she owed her daughter a lot, Caitlin spoke earnestly, "I want a divorce. These past years with your father, we've only been married in name. There's no need to keep this up."
Callie nodded, "Alright, once I'm discharged from the hospital, I'll go back with you to see Dad."
Caitlin nodded in agreement.
"I have to go to work now, but I'll come back to see you after my shift," Callie said.
"No need, you focus on your work. Just come when I'm discharged," Caitlin replied with a smile.
Callie gave a soft "hmm" in response.
Leaving the hospital, she found the driver waiting outside. She got into the car and instructed, "Take me to the Second Military General Hospital."
The driver quickly drove off.
When they arrived, Callie got out of the car.
At that moment, Belinda was about to leave. She had just received a call from Shane asking to meet her.
They crossed paths in the hallway.
"Callie," Belinda called out, stopping Callie in her tracks.
Callie turned with a cold expression, "What do you want?"
Belinda knew that Shane wanted to meet her because he had likely already done a test and now believed she was carrying his child.
"Shane wants to see me. Guess what he’s going to do?" Belinda smirked, having dressed up especially beautifully today.
She lifted her chin arrogantly and said, "You may be married to Shane, but soon he’ll divorce you."
Callie refused to believe it. "Shane doesn’t love you. There’s no need to put on airs in front of me!"
Belinda felt like she had punched air, her anger rising as she glared at Callie. "Just you wait!"
She was full of confidence. "I’ll make sure you’re out of the picture!"
"I’ll be waiting," Callie replied, unafraid.
Belinda huffed and walked away in her high heels.
As Callie was about to change her clothes, Gabriel grabbed her hand.
"What are you doing?" Callie struggled a bit, unable to move quickly.
Gabriel led her to a quieter spot before stopping and looking at her seriously. "You need to divorce Shane as soon as possible. Belinda is pregnant."
Callie's eyes widened in shock. "Belinda is pregnant? With Shane’s baby?!?"
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