My Mysterious Hidden Husband-Chapter 468: Why Don’t I Have a Mom

Isaac Sheffield nodded, pushed the car door open and got out. He stood in front of Sheila Yardley and said, "Alright, you must be exhausted today. Go back and rest early. Let’s have lunch together tomorrow at noon, I’ll come to pick you up."

"Tomorrow at noon... I’ve already planned to have lunch with a friend."

"Oh, that’s fine. There will be more opportunities anyway. It’s cold outside, you should go up first."

Sheila Yardley nodded, paused, and said, "Take care on your way."

"Mm, goodnight."

Sheila Yardley had just turned around and hadn’t taken a step when Isaac Sheffield reached out, grabbed her arm, and pulled her into his embrace.

"Elaine..." He opened his mouth as if to speak, but then hesitated, gazing at her tenderly, and slowly leaned down his head.

The warm breath brushed against Sheila Yardley’s face. She took a deep breath and slowly closed her eyes.

But in the end, she couldn’t convince herself, lowered her head to avoid him, and reached out to push him away.

Isaac Sheffield was stunned, slightly frowning, feeling a bit frustrated and confused. He sighed and softly said, "Sorry, I was too hasty."

Sheila Yardley took a half step back, "Rest early."

Before she finished speaking, she quickly left.

She was the one who should apologize, for she had agreed to date him but couldn’t open her heart.

She didn’t know if she was just not used to such intimacy or if she resisted contact with the opposite sex.

Sheila Yardley returned home, took a shower, lay on the bed, and looked at the small box that Caleb Grant gave her. Then she picked up her phone to browse through the few pictures of Peach inside.

Lying on her side on the bed, looking at Peach’s smiling face in the photo, she couldn’t help but grin.

Caleb Grant was pretty good to Peach, so she should be relieved.

Not being in Peach’s life might be better for her.

After all, she, as a mother, had never existed and had done nothing for Peach. The father-daughter relationship was better than she imagined, so she had no reason to disturb it.

...

In the villa, the living room lighting was dim.

The bedroom door slowly opened, and a child wearing furry pajamas came out, stepping in slippers to the balcony outside the living room and called out in a childish voice to the man sitting with his back to her, "Daddy."

Caleb Grant froze for a moment, turned back, and reached out to hug the little girl over, "Why are you awake?"

Peach glanced at the wine glass on the small round table, frowned, and said, "Why are you drinking again?"

Caleb Grant didn’t explain, just patted his daughter’s head with a lazy and gentle voice, "Go to sleep now, be good."

Peach climbed into his arms, "Daddy, why aren’t you sleeping?"

"Daddy will sleep in a bit." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"Did Elaine reject you again?"

Caleb Grant laughed, pinching Peach’s nose, "This little girl knows so much?"

"Daddy, do you like Elaine?"

Caleb Grant looked into the distant night without answering.

"I like Elaine too."

Seeing Caleb Grant say nothing, Peach turned to look at him and called out, "Daddy."

"Hmm?"

"Can Elaine be my mom?"

Caleb Grant fell into deeper silence, simply holding the child and standing up. As he took her back to the room, he said, "Why are you worrying about adult stuff?"

"The other kids at kindergarten all have moms; I want one too."

Caleb Grant didn’t say anything because he didn’t know how to answer.

He laid Peach on the bed, tucked in the covers, and gently patted her as he leaned over, "Go to sleep, Daddy is here with you."

Peach looked at him for a few seconds, about to speak, but obediently closed her eyes and soon fell asleep.

Caleb Grant sighed softly, slowly stood up, turned off the bedside lamp, and left the room.

The night was cold and long...

Sheila Yardley woke up naturally and when she opened her eyes, it was after nine in the morning.

As she checked the time on her phone, she noticed an unread message on the screen.

From Caleb Grant: Noon at twelve, at that children’s restaurant last time, do you need me to come pick you up?

The message was sent at eight.

Sheila Yardley thought about it and replied: I’ll take a taxi and get there myself.

The screen immediately displayed a reply: Okay, stay safe and keep warm, it’s cold out.

Sheila Yardley didn’t respond further and exited the screen.

Looking at Isaac Sheffield’s message bar, he didn’t say good morning like he usually did.

It’s said that once a man gets the woman he chases, he will change—was Isaac Sheffield going to be like that too?

But indeed, Isaac Sheffield seemed not as passionate as when he first pursued her recently.

She rarely initiated contact; most times, he contacted her after he was done with work.

She wasn’t curious about what kept him busy all day nor cared that much about his matters.

It wasn’t about Isaac Sheffield personally, but she seemed to have lost enthusiasm for dating.

At eleven o’clock, Caleb Grant sent a voice message, which, upon opening, was Peach’s voice: "Elaine, Daddy and I are playing at the plaza. When will you arrive?"

Hearing Peach’s voice, Sheila Yardley couldn’t help but smile and replied with a voice message, "I’m coming right away," and started changing to head out.

The plaza that Peach mentioned was very close to the restaurant where they planned to have lunch.

When Caleb Grant was away on business trips before, she had spent a few days alone with Peach, and they would go play at the plaza every day.

Thinking back to those days, Sheila Yardley felt content.

Although she couldn’t hear her daughter call her "mom," seeing her healthy and happy was enough.

Snow had fallen during the night, covering the road with a layer of white.

The plaza was lively, with many children playing in the snow.

Sheila Yardley glanced around and finally spotted Peach building a snowman with a few other kids.

She was wrapped up in a thick down jacket, looking like a little ball.

She looked around but didn’t see Caleb Grant.

Sheila Yardley walked over, "Peach?"

Peach, who was crouching on the ground, turned her head, saw her, and immediately got up, smiling and running toward her, "Elaine!"

Sheila Yardley squatted down and brushed the snow from the child’s hat, held her icy little hand, and asked, "Where’s Daddy?"

Peach smiled, tugging her hand and pointing in a direction, "Daddy’s over there buying drinks for us."

Sheila Yardley followed where Peach pointed and saw Caleb Grant already at the window making the payment.

Peach led Sheila Yardley in Caleb Grant’s direction. After Caleb Grant finished paying, he turned around and saw them, paused, then continued forward.

Faced with the woman he’d thought about all night, he was tongue-tied on what to say.

He bent down and handed Peach a drink, then gave another to Sheila Yardley, "I bought this for you."

Sheila Yardley looked at him, took the drink, and softly said thank you.

Considering her special time, Caleb Grant said, "It’s cold outside; let’s head to the store first."