Chapter 700: Father and Daughter’s First Meeting (6)
Chapter 700: Chapter 700: Father and Daughter’s First Meeting (6)
Julian Caldwell let out a soft sigh, his eyes filled with a certain gratification. "Your mother always says you use our family’s influence to slack off and take shortcuts. She really doesn’t understand you. In this whole world, there’s no girl more sensible than you."
"Mom misunderstands me a little, but I don’t blame her," Susan Caldwell said sweetly. "I believe one day she’ll see the good in me."
Julian Caldwell nodded. Susan Caldwell continued, "About Sheldon and Vera Xavier, as long as he doesn’t marry her, I think it’s best you don’t get involved, Dad. I can see that Mom and Sheldon both like her a lot. I’m worried that if you object now, when things are just starting, Vera Xavier will just end up turning our family upside down. Besides, I’m sure my brother is a smart man. He’ll see Vera Xavier’s true colors sooner or later."
Julian Caldwell heaved a long sigh. "You’re just too kind and soft-hearted, my dear. Now that I know about this, how can I not get involved?"
"I’m not saying you shouldn’t get involved, Dad," Susan Caldwell said quietly. "I’ve just heard that people can have a rebellious streak. Sometimes, the more the family objects, the more stubborn my brother will become. I’m afraid it will affect your relationship. It might be better to handle this with a gentler approach. I’m sure that once Sheldon sees Vera Xavier’s true colors, he won’t be fooled by her anymore."
Her words made Julian Caldwell pause and think. Essentially, what she said made sense. He nodded quickly. "You’re the thoughtful one. That brat, your brother... if he were half as sensible as you, I wouldn’t have to worry about him so much."
Susan Caldwell smiled. "Sheldon is just too close to the situation to see clearly. He’s a good person, really."
The father and daughter left the school, chatting and laughing. Along the way, Susan subtly bad-mouthed Vera Xavier a few more times, painting herself as the one being bullied.
Before he knew it, Susan had thoroughly soured Julian Caldwell’s impression of Vera Xavier.
Winter Sullivan was being discharged from the hospital today, and Sheldon Caldwell had come early to pick her up. She asked, feigning casualness, "Where’s your father?"
"I just called Dad’s secretary. He went to the school to pick up Susan," Sheldon replied offhandedly.
Winter Sullivan’s brow furrowed, and her expression instantly turned cold. Sheldon knew what she was thinking and inwardly regretted telling the truth. He quickly tried to reassure her, "Mom, don’t read too much into it. Dad has always spoiled Susan, and she loves to play the obedient daughter for him. It’s only natural that he’d listen to her."
"Does he know I’m being discharged today?" Winter Sullivan asked.
Sheldon cleared his throat. "He... probably knows, I think?"
Winter Sullivan shot him a glare, then let out a long sigh. Over the years, she and Julian Caldwell had disagreed on how to raise Susan. It was because of this initial difference in opinion that she’d come to realize they saw eye-to-eye on very little else.
Cracks had started to show in their relationship eighteen years ago. In recent years, it had deteriorated even further, which was why Winter Sullivan spent more and more time buried in her work at the research institute.
During this hospital stay, Julian Caldwell, citing his busy work schedule, had only visited her once on the very first day. He hadn’t come back since.
In Julian Caldwell’s eyes, Winter Sullivan had always been strong-willed and self-reliant. ’She disdains that sort of childish sentimentality.’
’So, if he got busy and forgot to visit or pick her up, she probably wouldn’t care too much.’