Chapter 15

Dixon was just ridiculous. Our relationship would not last more than two months. In two months, he would become some other girl's groom, and now he was asking me if I loved him?

Moreover, the two-month relationship was going to be an act for the both of us.

It was more like charity to me.

I circled my arms around his neck and said, "I do. You know that. The Shaw family is rich and powerful. Of course I chose to marry into your Gregg family back then because I loved you."

From the beginning until now, I had not concealed the fact that I loved him.

Hearing that, Dixon smiled. He held me tightly in his arms and gently stroked my back with his palm, smiling in a low voice, "Caroline, I love you."

I was stunned and looked at him in disbelief.

After a while, I realized that he had said that he would pretend to fall in love with me, to dote on me, would not upset me, and would even make me feel happy.

Now, he was just keeping his promises.

I could pretend it was real, but I could not be a chatterbox and ask him if it was true. I knew that he really would only keep me entertained for two months.

Because the Dixon Gregg I knew had never failed to keep his promises.

He had promised Gwen Worth that he would marry her, and so he would definitely keep his promise.

Just like how he said he loved me when he clearly hated me.

I smiled lightly and placed my head on his chest, saying nothing. He held me tightly and asked, "When did you fall in love with me?"

I mumbled. "A long time ago, so long ago that I've forgotten when it was."

Dixon just held me lightly in his arms for the night.

I could not sleep that night. I woke up very early to have a bath and took some painkillers before he woke up. Then, I also carefully made myself up.

It was light makeup but it could cover my pale face.

Just as I finished my makeup, Dixon woke up. He woke up and stared at me with unfocused eyes. After a long while, he finally collected himself. "I slept here last night?"

I gently hummed in response. "You haven't gotten used to it."

We had been married for three years, yet he still was not used to...

He curved his lips and smiled. "Yes, I have. I'm just a little happy."

I asked curiously, "About what?"

Dixon did not answer, instead, he got up. "I'll make breakfast for you. Then, we'll go on a date. Where do you want to go?"

I dropped my gaze. "I don't know."

Dixon stayed silent for a while and asked, "What about Jin Ling?"

"This is..."

"My mom has been living in a small town in Nanjing."

I knew his parents had divorced when Dixon was little, but I had never met his mother. She had not even attended our wedding.

Dixon had not acknowledged the marriage, therefore, it was not strange for him not to inform his mother. Perhaps Director Gregg had wanted to inform her but Dixon had stopped it.

"Oh, yes. What should I bring?"

Maybe he knew that I was at a loss over what to do, as he Dixon gently stroked my hair and said, "Don't be nervous. My mom is a really easy-going person."

"Oh, but I'll bring a gift anyway."

Dixon could totally understand my being nervous. After breakfast, he took me downtown to get some gifts and then booked the latest flight tickets online. We hung around on the streets before hurrying to the airport.

On the plane, Dixon was silent. This was as it should be. Both of us liked being quiet and we did not seem to have a common topic.

Upon arrival in Nanjing, Dixon hailed a taxi and we headed for the small town while the sun was still in the sky.

By the time we arrived, it was nearly dusk.

It was exceptionally quiet in the town. The round sun was setting in the trees, giving them a golden hue. Dixon asked the driver to pull over at the entrance of the town and took me out of the car. We walked for about eight minutes before arriving at his mother's house.

Standing before the door, Dixon suddenly appeared hesitant. He seemed to look a little nervous.

I asked him in a low voice, "What? Your mom doesn't know you're coming?"

Dixon nodded and explained, "No. I didn't tell her. Actually, since her divorce with my dad, she seldom contacts me. Though I don't blame her, I'm not too close to her. Every time she calls, the things she says sound quite official. She just tells me to take care of myself and not stay up late, things like that."

Those words sounded very much like what a normal mom would say to her kids.

"Actually I kind of envy you. At least you have someone nagging at you, but I... I haven't found my parents' bodies even now. The rescuers said the sea is too broad and they didn't know the exact location of the plane. Some lucky ones landed on a nearby island, and the others... They didn't tell me, but I know they were eaten by the sharks in the sea, because that's exactly where sharks gather."

He seemed to have made me remember those bad things, so Dixon said apologetically, "Sorry, I didn't mean to make you remember it."

I smiled, "It's OK. It was a long time ago."

Dixon paused and suddenly called my name. "Caroline."

I looked at him in puzzled. "Yes?"

His eyes looked deep. "Your smile has always looked fake, both in the past and now. That's why I hated you."

The sun was setting slowly in the distance. I squinted and stared at the soft light and asked, "What about now? Do you still hate me?"

Dixon did some sweet talk for me. "No, I love you now."

His love now was just acting.

I smiled and said, "Let's get in."

Dixon knocked on the door, and a woman who looked to be in her 40s opened it. Though there were many wrinkles on her face, she still looked elegant. She was stunned when she saw Dixon, but then she smiled and said, "What brought you here? You didn't even call me. This must be my daughter-in-law, right?"

Dixon gently gave a "hum" and explained. "I suddenly wanted to see you, especially to let you meet her. How's it going?"

She led us in and smiled, "Very good. Your brother also visited me a few days ago. He only left last night. He just left when you came. My house is really lively. What do you want for dinner?"

I was surprised. "Does Dixon also have a brother?!"

I looked at Dixon in bewilderment. He remained calm and answered her mother in a gentle voice, "I asked you to move to Wu City to live with me, but you refused me and insisted on living here. My brother has always been jetting off to places all around the world. How can he take good care of you? Think about my suggestion. Don't get stuck here."

Hearing that, his mother smiled, "I know you care about me, but I'm used to living here. I know people on the streets. I don't feel lonely actually."

Dixon sighed. "I'm just worried that you might feel lonesome."

"Don't be. If I feel that way, I'll call you and your brother. What do you want to eat? I'll buy it for you and my daughter-in-law."

They actually had quite a good relationship, unlike what Dixon had said.

Moreover, he really cared about his mother's life.

"Nothing special. Don't make it big. Just something simple."

"Okay. Then wait here with my daughter-in-law. I'll go get groceries." She thought for a second and then suddenly asked, "Dix, what should I call my daughter-in-law?"

Dixon replied, "Dad calls her Carol."

"Then I'll go with Carol too. Carol, wait here for a while. I'll go get groceries from the market. Dix, get a basin of warm water and put it at the door for Cabbage."

After that, Dixon's mother quickly left.

After she left, I asked him in a low voice, "Haven't you told your mom that we're divorced? Right, what's the Cabbage she mentioned?"

"I haven't told her about it." Dixon stood at the center of the yard and called for "Cabbage". A German Shepherd Dog swooshed out, and I subconsciously retreated and wanted to run. He grabbed my wrist and stroked the dog's head with his other hand while explaining to me. "I can't let my mom live alone, so I got her a German Shepherd to protect her. He can really protect his master well."

I asked in a flustered way, "Does it bite people?"

Dixon smiled, "Not if he recognizes you."

"Well it's the first time that he's seen me..."

"Yes, but you smell a little like me."

I couldn't come up with any suitable response for that.

After the small talk, I forgot to ask him about his brother. I only remembered while we were taking Cabbage out for a walk after dinner, so I asked him curiously and he said honestly, "Yes, I have a brother called Lance Gregg, but he's been living with my mom since I was little."

"After divorce, your parents took one kid each. You were with your dad, and he was with your mom. Why haven't I heard from your dad about this all these years?"

"My brother doesn't really want anything. He doesn't come to Wu City often, so he gradually lost contact with my dad. Actually, he looks down upon my family, and my dad has a big ego, so he didn't get in touch with Lance either."

The brothers were alike. Dixon was also not interested in the family fortune or anything.

He looked uninterested so I dropped the topic.

After the walk, it started to snow in the town. Dixon stroked my cheek. When his warm fingers touched my cold skin, I couldn't help shivering. He frowned and asked, "Do you feel cold?"

I shook my head. "Not really."

It was dark, and Dixon suddenly released the leash in his hand and held me in his arms. I got stunned and looked at the clear moon in the distance.

He said in a bland voice, "You've worn so little clothing. Don't you feel cold?"

I blinked and suppressed the emotion in the heart. I put my head on his shoulder and lightly smiled, "I don't feel cold by your side."

When he heard that, Dixon's body stiffened. He just froze like that and Cabbage did not run around. I stared at the falling snowflakes, feeling something in my heart.

I thought how great it would be if only he really loved me.

Humans were just greedy. We always wanted more!

I sighed and Dixon suddenly picked me up and carried me. I subconsciously circled my arms around his neck. He strode forward and carried me back into the room.

Cabbage was obedient and followed us to lie beside the bed. Dixon put me on the bed and stroked my head. Recently, he loved to put on this kind of intimate act.

"I've been here many times, but it's the first time that I've seen it snow. You really came at a good time. I guess after a sleep, you'll see things outside covered in snow tomorrow."

I lay on the bed and grabbed his palm, saying gently, "Is that so? Then I'm really lucky. Wu City is humid, and it often rains and snows in summer and winter. I've seen so much of that but I haven't seen it snowing in an ancient town. Dixon, promise me now that you'll build a snowman with me tomorrow, okay?"

Dixon stroked my head and answered in a low voice, "Hum. You take a rest first. I'll boil some water to wash your feet with. Will you remove your makeup?"

I shook my head and refused. "I don't feel like it."

"Okay, then don't."

Dixon left the room and I touched my face. There were a few ugly scars, and I did not really want him to see them.

Maybe I thought that since I had only a short time to live, I could start to hurt myself and it would not really matter. Anyway, in a few months, I would be dead and buried, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. However, I still felt bitter in my heart.

I sat up and stared at the falling snowflakes and couldn't help thinking that if he had not aborted my child two years ago, then I would at least have been able to leave something in the world, right?

At least, I would have my own child.

Suddenly, I felt that I had failed my parents and the Shaw family because I had given the Shaw Corporations to a man who had nothing to do with the Shaw family.

In the end, there was not even a heir for the Shaw family.

Thinking about that, I felt sad in my heart.

Both for the Shaw family and for myself.

20 minutes later, Dixon finished showering and returned to the room. He was carrying a basin of hot water. After he washed my feet, he held me until I fell asleep.

I woke up in the morning, but the snow had not built up and I could not build a snowman. I felt a little disappointed, but Dixon tried to comfort me by saying that we would still stay there for a while.

During the next few days, the snow still did not build up, but Dixon acted exceptionally gently. He took care of me and thought of everything for me, just like how he promised that he would not upset me. He would give me everything I wanted. I thought my following days would always be like that until Gwen Worth called him.

At that time, we were cuddling up in the room, watching some detective movie and occasionally talking about the plot. On the other end of the phone, she cried desperately, "Dixon, I miss you."

Just as she said that, Dixon rose up and walked out of the room.

I looked away and stared at the snow outside the windows.

"Today's snow will definitely build up, right?"