Chapter 230

Caleb waited. Later, Skylar, having finished her work, checked her phone. Seeing Caleb's question, she replied, "Yes, I posted this. I'm married."

Caleb's world crumbled. He was dumbstruck.

"You didn't forgive that jerk because he begged you for forgiveness, did you?" Caleb pressed.

"He's not the one I married; it's someone else my relatives introduced me to. We're happy. Don't worry; I thought this through this time."

Caleb's eyes reddened. He replied, "I wish you all the happiness."

When Alexander and John returned home, they found Caleb with reddened eyes, seemingly on the verge of tears. The books scattered across his bed were neatly stacked in a pile.

Alexander and John exchanged a glance. This was Caleb's first heartbreak. He seemed composed, for now.

"What's wrong?" Alexander asked, though he knew the answer.

Caleb's almond-shaped eyes were hurt. "I'm heartbroken."

"That's no big deal. You can't be a true man without a few heartbreaks," John said casually, as if speaking from experience.

Caleb, speechless, shot him a glance. "Going through many heartbreaks makes you a flirt. How else would you have your heart broken so many times? You and I are different."

"Different or not, you're heartbroken too, right?" Joe almost kicked him, but seeing Caleb's distress, decided against it.

Alexander, speechless, slapped John's head. "Be nice."

How worrisome! John was Caleb's uncle; didn't he know how to act like one?

John felt wronged. "Dad, why did you hit me? He's still young. People his age fall in love; he's bound to get his heart broken a few times."

"It's different. You know how great Skylar is. I'll never find another woman as great as her!"

Caleb's heart ached. Who was this man? He'd moved so quickly!

"There are many women out there. Let's see what you think in ten years," John said, recalling his own similar experience a decade prior, when he'd believed his world had ended after a breakup. Now, he realized he'd been too young to know better.

Alexander added, "As you get older, you'll learn to move on, no matter what happens."

Caleb looked at them, unsure what to say.

"Moving on isn't a problem. I've already moved on! It doesn't matter that she's married. I can be her younger brother or friend; that will last forever. Marriages, in contrast, don't always last."

Alexander and John were surprised. He had moved on? Being a Gardner, a carefree nature came naturally.

"I'll wait for that man to do something foolish and divorce her. By then, I'll be all grown up and able to marry her! I'll just wait for that day!" Caleb narrowed his eyes, envisioning it.

Alexander and John were dazed. Thatwell, that would do. At least he'd moved on.

Joe picked Skylar up from work. In the backseat, with Lucas driving, Joe asked, "Dinner out or in?"

"Let's eat at home. We've eaten out for days; my stomach's uneasy," Skylar replied. Occasional meals out were fine, but too much outside food upset her stomach. Truthfully, Joe missed her cooking. "Alright," he said.