Chapter 251 Asking You About Something
Caroline was lying in bed—it was already past ten at night. She grabbed her phone, charging on the nightstand, and only then saw Leopold's WhatsApp message.
She replied: [Just finished watching TV with my parents, just checked my phone. Are you done with work?]
Hearing the notification, Leopold opened WhatsApp.
North: [I'm coming back Saturday.]
Caroline was delighted: [Saturday flight?]
North: [Yeah, getting home Sunday afternoon.]
Three more days—something to look forward to.
Caroline asked: [Is Dash's situation resolved?]
North: [Sort of. He's currently under the local prosecutor's protection, waiting for the trial.]
Caroline asked: [Is the local prosecutor safe?]
Leopold had the same concern, but through Jack and information he found online about Federico, he learned that Federico's parents and siblings had all died because of criminal organizations. He hated these people with a passion and was trustworthy.
North: [Safe.]
Although Caroline had never met the prosecutor, she trusted Leopold's judgment.
Caroline: [Mom was just asking me when you're coming back. I told her I didn't know. You really can't escape being talked about.]
Leopold checked the time—it should be past ten in Seaside City.
North: [Staying there tonight?]
Caroline: [Yeah.]
This wasn't his first business trip, but it was the first time Caroline had stayed at her parents' house.
North: [Why the sudden decision to stay there?]
Caroline sent him the same answer she'd given Elysia: [Being home alone is boring. Staying at my parents' is great—no worries about food or anything.]
The reason made sense, so Leopold didn't think much of it.
Over the next few days, Nash noticed he wasn't running into Caroline during commute times anymore. Her parking spot was always empty—she clearly wasn't coming back, deliberately avoiding him.
He found out Leopold was on a business trip and had deliberately tried to create a chance encounter in the elevator, but Caroline obviously wasn't buying it.
He drove past the security booth at the entrance of the community, parked his car by the roadside, took two packs of cigarettes from the trunk, and walked straight in.
At the moment, there was only one security guard on duty. Nash walked up with a friendly smile.
"Hi, I'm a resident of Building 22. I want to ask you something."
The guard had seen him get out of a luxury car on the monitor, but didn't recognize his face—probably a new resident.
"What is it?"
Nash said, "I want to buy the parking space 39E. I haven't seen that female owner these two days. Have you seen her these two days?"
The guard had an impression of certain special residents and their parking spots. Hearing it was 39E, he immediately said, "I haven't seen her either. She hasn't been back for several days."
Nash raised an eyebrow with a smile. "How do you know she hasn't been back?"
The guard said, "The parcel locker was full the day before yesterday. She had a courier that I temporarily accepted on her behalf. It's already been three days, and she still hasn't come to pick it up."
Nash understood. He spoke in a friendly, negotiating tone, "Can you do me a favor? If you see the resident from 39E come back, contact me right away."
"That's against the rules," the guard had just refused when Nash put two premium cigarettes in his arms. The security guard repeatedly pushed them away, saying, "This won't do, this won't do."
Nash put his hand on the guard's shoulder, smiling. "I really have my eye on that parking spot. Just let me know when she's back. I absolutely won't cause you any trouble otherwise. I'm not someone who's short on money or looking for problems."
The guard looked at the cigarettes—enough for half a month's salary—then glanced at the luxury car on the monitor. He couldn't afford to offend this person. Besides, it was just about buying a parking spot, it wouldn't harm the resident. He nodded, "Alright, as soon as I see her come back, I'll contact you."
"Great, let me give you my number."
Nash left the security booth, got in his car, honked the horn, and drove off.
Seaside City Power Company.
Caroline was worried about Erica and Maddox's situation. As soon as she got to work, she called Erica.
"At work?"
Erica sounded like nothing was wrong. "Yeah, what's up?"
Caroline asked, "Is it okay to talk?"
At the moment, she was alone in the office.
"It's fine."
Caroline asked, "Did you contact Maddox again last night?"
Erica replied, "No, one of his workers got injured at the construction site. He was probably at the hospital all night, so I didn't want to add to his troubles." Today's Erica was clearly much calmer.
"You two should find time to talk soon. I don't think Maddox is the type to avoid responsibility."
Erica said, "I'm not planning to keep it. Whether I talk to him or not, I don't want it."
Caroline asked, "You've thought it through?"
Erica was silent for a few seconds. "Yeah, thought about it all night."
Caroline felt somewhat helpless. After all, this was Erica's private matter—she couldn't interfere or make decisions for her.
"Are you going to tell your family?"
"No."
"All right, you should contact Maddox before going to the hospital, and you two can talk again. Even if you don't want it, he has the right to know. After all, you couldn't have gotten pregnant with this child all by yourself. Besides, a family member's signature is required."
After hanging up, Caroline worried that Erica wouldn't contact Maddox, so she called him.
The line rang for a long time before Maddox answered.
"Hello?" His voice was hoarse, as if he hadn't slept all night.
Caroline said, "Maddox, where are you right now?"
Maddox adjusted his seat back and sat up straight. "At the hospital."
"Why'd you end up at the hospital?"
"A worker got injured—hit his head and broke his arm. I'm the boss, so I had to sign papers and pay the hospital fees. It got too late, so I slept in my car."
Hearing this, Caroline also felt that Maddox's situation was really difficult, but she still had to say what needed to be said.
"What's up?"
Caroline said, "I'm calling about something important, about Erica."
Maddox rubbed his messy hair. "Erica—what's wrong with her? She called me last night."
Caroline said, "This isn't really my place to tell you, but as Erica's friend, I can't just stand by. Do you know she's pregnant?"
Maddox suddenly recalled that Erica had been acting a bit unusual these two days, and the topic had turned to children several times.
The line went quiet for a while, until Caroline called out, "Maddox, are you listening?"
"Yes, I am." Maddox quickly responded.
Caroline said, "Do you want this child?"
Maddox wanted it in his heart, but then he remembered Erica had sworn to him that she was childfree.
"What exactly is your attitude?" Caroline was anxious. His silence seemed to represent an attitude—that he didn't want it either.
In that case, in the end, only Erica's body would be harmed.
Maddox stammered, "Would... would my opinion even matter?"
"How would it not matter? If you don't say anything, Erica will have to deal with all this alone. Whether you want it or not, you need to have a proper talk with Erica. At the very least, you should be responsible for her physical health, right? If you don't say anything, does that mean you don't want it? Are you that heartless? That's your child, your own flesh and blood."
Only then did Maddox say urgently, "I want it, but Erica has to be willing to have it, right? She said she wants to be childfree. What can I do? Force her to have it?"
Caroline could hear that Maddox wasn't just saying this casually. "You really want it?"
Maddox gave a muffled response.
"If you want it, then hurry up and go find Erica. Tell her what's really in your heart."