<b>Chapter </b><b>142 </b>
Caitlin raced around the track again, catching up to Howard’s little horse as she slowed down.
“Did you see that, Howard? Like mommy just did, squeeze with your legs, hold the reins tight, and keep your bnce! You can also ride like me<b>, </b><b>cutting </b>through the wind!”
Howard listened carefully, following his mother’s instructions. He pulled the reins and nudged the horse. The reddish–brown pony sped <b>up </b>in response.
Seeing her son mastering the technique, Caitlin smiled with satisfaction and spurred her horse to follow him.
At that moment, Sebastian stood by the track, watching. When he saw Caitlin on her white horse, he noticed Howard riding alongside her on the little reddish–brown pony. The boy was dressed in ck riding gear, and it was unmistakably his son.
So, Caitlin had taken him out for riding lessons!
What else could she do, besides riding? Sebastian felt an unexpected sense of wonder. The woman seemed to be full of mysteries he had yet to uncover, and he found himself wanting to get closer, to understand more.
Howard had been riding well, enjoying the lesson with his mom. But as they neared a bend in the track, he suddenly noticed someone standing by <b>the </b>side of the road–his father.
Oh no!
Is Dad here to take him away?
He didn’t want to leave Mommy.
Distracted by his father’s sudden appearance, Howard lost his focus. The little pony panicked and started to run off course.
“Howard!” Caitlin cried, her voice filled with rm, immediately chasing after him.
“Howard!” Sebastian also saw the horse panicking. Instinctively, he rushed toward the horse, attempting to stop it.
“Ahh…” Howard screamed in fear.
Caitlin saw her son nearly falling off and reacted without thinking–she jumped off her own horse and caught Howard mid–air.
Both of them tumbled <b>to </b>the ground, with Howardnding on top of Caitlin. The two of them stayed there, lying on <b>the </b>ground for <b>a </b>while, trying to
recover.
Caitlin looked down at Howard, <i>her </i>face filled with concern. “Howard, are you alright<b>?</b><b>” </b>
Howard nodded and shook his head, signaling he was fine.
“Thank goodness,” Caitlin sighed, relieved. “You scared Mommy half to death!”
Just as she was about to help Howard up, a pair of arms suddenly grabbed them from behind, followed by a low groan.
“Let go!<b>” </b>Caitlin ordered sharply.
The arms released their hold, and she carefully pulled Howard up. She turned around to see Sebastian lying on the ground<b>, </b>having been <b>used </b>as a
cushion for the fall.
“Sebastian?” Caitlin frowned<b>, </b>realizing that it had been him she saw darting across the track earlier. What was he doing <b>here</b><b>? </b>
Sebastian groaned<b>, </b>getting up slowly. The weight of both mother and child had <b>hit </b>him hard.
Chapter <b>142 </b>
Howard<b>, </b>still a little annoyed, walked over and kicked Sebastian’s leg.
“Little brat! Stop kicking!” Sebastian snapped, brushing dirt off his suit and standing up. He turned to face the <b>pair</b>.
“Howard, how could you sneak out like that? Do you know how dangerous it is outside? People are malicious!” He scolded, his gaze turning cold the shot Caitlin a nce. The subtle implication wasn’t lost on her.
Howard red at his father, not wanting to go home. He didn’t want to be separated from his mom again<i>. </i>
“I said, no more sneaking out without telling anyone. Do you understand? Now, I’m having someone take you home,” Sebastian said sternly<b>. </b>
Howard, with a defiant look, clung to Caitlin’s leg. “I don’t want to go home!”
“I don’t want to be with Dad!” he cried inwardly. He wanted to stay with Mommy, learning new things.
Sebastian’s face hardened. He called over Vaughn and King, instructing them, “Take him back home.”
Howard looked up at Caitlin, pleading with his eyes.
Caitlin hesitated for a moment but then spoke softly, “Alright, Howard. Go with them. Mommy will visit youter. Be good.”
Reluctantly, Howard nodded, still looking at his mom as he followed Vaughn and King away.
With Howard gone, the track was empty. Caitlin turned to leave, but Sebastian followed her.
“Hey! If I hadn’t saved you just now, you could’ve been seriously hurt. Don’t you have anything to say?<i>” </i>Sebastian called out, trying to start <b>a </b>conversation.
Without responding, Caitlin took the reins of her white horse, pausing for a moment before turning to face him.
“If I’m not mistaken, if you hadn’t appeared, Howard wouldn’t have panicked, and I wouldn’t have had to jump off my horse to save him. So you’re the reason this happened. You should be the one apologizing,” she said, <i>her </i>tone steady and direct.
Sebastian was stunned. This woman always had an answer for everything, a counterpoint for every remark. It seemed impossible to out–argue her.
“Fine! That was an ident!” he finally said, unwilling to get caught up in a petty argument.
Caitlin led the horse toward the stables, but Sebastian continued to follow her, undeterred.
“What do you want now?” Caitlin asked, clearly annoyed.
Sebastian handed her a document. “I need to ask you something.”
Caitlin looked at the document and frowned when she saw the paternity report.
“Now that you’ve seen it, there’s no denying it. You are Howard’s biological mother. You’re Camellia, aren’t you?” He stared <b>at </b><b>her </b>intently, looking for any sign of hesitation.
Caitlin stared at the report and then tossed it back at him. “Yes, I’m Camellia. So what?”
She didn’t shy away <i>from </i>the truth. While she had hoped to keep her identity hidden, now that he knew, there was <b>no </b>point in <b>denying </b><b>it </b><b>anymore</b>.
“Why did you deny it when I asked you before?” Sebastian’s voice turned bitter, his eyes shing with frustration.
“If I had admitted it back then, would we have avoided the divorce<b>?</b><b>” </b>Caitlin asked in return, her tone sharp.
“Do you think I should’ve admitted it?” she pressed him, challenging his <b>logic</b>.
“Of course you should have! Do you have any idea how long I’ve been looking for you? Five <b>years</b>! <b>I </b><b>searched </b><b>for </b><b>you </b><b>for </b><b>five </b><b>whole </b><b>years</b><b>, </b><b>but </b><b>you </b>
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deceived me with false information!” Sebastian’s emotions red. His eyes darkened, reflecting years of pain, disappointment, and longing. “And the child we had together–is that a lie too?”
Caitlin exhaled deeply and looked at him squarely. “Now that you’ve found me, what will you do? Are you nning to take responsibility for me?”