"Brother, I..."
"Hold it. Don't call me 'Brother.' You bullied my sister, and you expect us to act like nothing happened?"
"Caleb Forrest, you'd better watch yourself."
Nolan Winslow left him with those words and departed with Grace Winslow.
Brandon Winslow spat in Caleb Forrest's direction, then hopped on his bike with Lily Callahan and left as well.
Caleb Forrest watched them disappear into the distance. He opened his mouth, wanting to call out, but he couldn't find the words.
The thought of Ivy White being taken away spurred him into action. He couldn't afford to rest, immediately rushing off to pull some strings, intent on getting her out first before figuring out anything else.
'Someone as fragile as Ivy White wouldn't survive in a place like that.'
'He couldn't just stand by and watch something happen to Ivy White.'
Back home, Timothy had cried himself hoarse. In her small room, the noise agitated Old Mrs. Forrest, who kept slapping her bed and endlessly cursing—cursing Grace Winslow, cursing the incessantly crying child.
The neighbors next door heard the commotion coming from Caleb Forrest's home and exchanged bewildered glances.
By now, everyone knew. Caleb Forrest's private life was a mess; he'd even brought his mistress home.
This was a factory-assigned staff dormitory, not his own private house.
Given the bad influence this behavior had, many people reported him directly to the factory office.
Caleb Forrest ran around all day, calling on connections from his time in the military. He finally managed to get someone to issue a backdated letter of introduction and used it to get Ivy White released.
Ivy White was terrified. Her face was deathly pale, and her body was covered in injuries.
The moment she saw Caleb Forrest, she burst into tears and threw herself into his arms. "Caleb, SOB... I thought I'd never see you again."
"I don't know what I did wrong... Why does Sister-in-law hate me so much? I-I was just at the end of my rope, looking for a place to live. Why would she do this to me? Why be so ruthless?"
Caleb Forrest patted Ivy White on the back.
Sensing the stares of the people around them, he gently pushed Ivy White away. "Grace isn't that kind of person."
Ivy White sobbed, her voice fragile and broken. "I-I'm not trying to speak ill of Sister-in-law, but... only you and she knew I was staying at your house without a letter of introduction. If she didn't report me, who did?"
"How would those people have known I was at your house and didn't have a letter of introduction?"
"Besides, Sister-in-law was so sick. Did she really have to come home so late at night? And what a coincidence that she just happened to return at the exact moment those people came to check..."
"Caleb, I can't help but overthink it. Did she... did she misunderstand our relationship? Is that why she...?"
Listening to Ivy White's words and considering all the suspicious points, doubts began to form in Caleb Forrest's mind.
'But Grace has such a gentle nature. Would she really resort to such a vile and vicious tactic?'
Seeing Ivy White's miserable state, Caleb Forrest didn't say much more, only comforting her in a low voice, "Alright, I'll take you somewhere for now. Get some rest. I'll arrange a place for you to stay."
"It's true that an unmarried man and woman living together will easily arouse suspicion."
Ivy White opened her mouth to speak, a flash of venomous resentment in her eyes, but it was gone in an instant. She nodded obediently. "I-I'll do whatever you say."
"Brother Caleb, you won't abandon me, will you?"
She timidly clutched the corner of Caleb Forrest's shirt, her voice filled with fear and unease.
Seeing her like this, how could Caleb Forrest possibly bring himself to refuse? He nodded. "Yeah. I won't abandon you."
"I knew it. You're the kindest to me. Thank you, Brother Caleb. Otherwise, I don't know what I would've done."
But at that moment, Caleb Forrest's thoughts were consumed by something else: Grace Winslow wanted to divorce him.
'Ivy White's situation is resolved for now. Once I sort out a job for her, she'll have work and be able to earn money. It won't be a problem for her to support herself and her child.'
'At that point, I'll be able to prove there's really nothing going on between me and Ivy White. Surely Grace will come back then, right?'