Chapter 110
Heidi strode into Arthur's office with a spring in her step, proudly clutching two freshly signed contracts.
"Arthur, I have a surprise for you," she announced, offering them like trophies deserving recognition.
Arthur had just learned that Caroline was withdrawing from the Neural Laboratory. With online controversy escalating, he'd arranged for someone to suppress the trending topic.
Before he could get an update, Heidi had interrupted his call.
He ended the conversation and turned to her with a practiced gentle expression. "What surprise?"
As he reached for the documents, Heidi quickly intercepted. "Wait a second." She perched deliberately on the edge of his desk, strategically covering the contracts.
Her voice dripped honey but calculated every syllable. "Arthur, I've prepared such a wonderful surprise for you. Could you grant me one tiny request in return?"
Arthur raised an eyebrow questioningly.
Heidi trailed her finger suggestively across his chest. "The Windsor Group's Deputy General Manager is being transferred overseas. They're short-staffed right now."
Her smile widened. "After bringing in such valuable contracts, is it too much to ask for that little Deputy Manager position? That way, I can help you manage the company even better, taking the Windsor Group to new heights."
A shadow passed through Arthur's eyes, but he maintained his patient tone. "The Deputy Manager position isn't that simple. Even if I wanted to give it to you, I couldn't without board approval."
Heidi's smile turned knowing. "We'll see about that. You'll understand once you read these contracts."
As she stood, Arthur grabbed the documents and flipped them open.
One glance transformed his expression, his handsome features instantly hardening with frost. "I warned you not to go after those two projects."
Heidi's eyes immediately welled with tears. "Why not? I was only thinking of the Windsor Group's best interests."
A terrible suspicion dawned on her face. "Arthur, have you actually fallen in love with Caroline?"
Arthur's gaze faltered before turning knife-like, cutting right through her.
Heidi bit her lip and lowered her eyes. "Arthur, I'm sorry. I shouldn't doubt your feelings for me."
His cold demeanor softened slightly as he embraced her. "The Deputy Manager position requires board approval, but don't worry—I won't let you be undervalued."
Heidi nodded obediently, emotions swirling behind her eyes. She opened her mouth to speak, but Arthur had already released her and left the office.
Hatred flashed across her face just as her phone rang.
Naomi's excited voice burst through the speaker, "Heidi! That bitch is actually going to visit her grandmother. Should I stop her?"
A twisted expression distorted Heidi's features. "Hold her there. I'm on my way."
Though Arthur hadn't said anything explicitly, her instincts screamed that this had everything to do with Caroline.
She had sacrificed so much just to stand legitimately by Arthur's side, yet there were always people who didn't know their place.
---
At the hospital, Naomi stood guard like a sentry, her face contorted with righteous anger. "Caroline, how dare you show up? Haven't you done enough? Are you trying to send your grandmother to an early grave?"
Caroline's expression remained cold. "I'm here to see my grandma. It has nothing to do with you."
She stepped forward, but Naomi planted herself firmly in front of the hospital room door. "I told you, your grandmother is recovering. You can't disturb her."
"Move," Caroline commanded, her usually gentle eyes now filled with icy disdain.
Naomi flinched at the intensity of her stare, her bluster faltering. "Y-you can't intimidate me! I'm protecting your grandmother. You already sent her to the hospital last time. Are you back to finish the job?"
Her dramatic outburst had started drawing attention from nearby visitors and staff.
Caroline fixed her with a frigid stare. "Naomi, I'll say this one last time. Move."
Just then, a mocking female voice cut through the tension. "Caroline, this is a hospital where patients need rest, not a place for your tantrums."
Heidi approached with measured steps. "Or perhaps you really do have sinister intentions? Are you trying to kill your grandmother?"
Caroline's lips curved into a cold smile. "Ms. White, just landed two new projects and still have time to visit the hospital?"
Heidi stiffened momentarily before Naomi jumped in. "Heidi isn't a viper like you! She makes time to visit your grandmother every day, unlike you who hasn't bothered to come home in years!"
Caroline smiled knowingly. She understood now. These two had deliberately blocked her here to humiliate her.
The old Caroline might have swallowed her pride and endured it, but not anymore.
"In that case, Ms. White, I assume you wouldn't mind if the media learned about my relationship with Arthur?" Her voice dropped to a dangerous purr.
"After all, Arthur and I are still legally married, which makes you the other woman—the homewrecker. I imagine the tabloids would find that story quite fascinating."
Heidi's expression soured. "You'd destroy the Windsor Group? Destroy Arthur?"
"Destroy? Hardly." Caroline smiled thinly. "You picked up the man I didn't want. I should be thanking you."
She leaned in slightly. "But on one condition—don't provoke me. I'm not in a good mood, and I don't want anyone disturbing the area around this hospital room."
Heidi's fists clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white, her body trembling with rage. "You—!"
Before she could finish, Naomi rushed to defend her. "Caroline, you ungrateful daughter! I should have strangled you the moment you were born! Why don't you just die already?!"
Caroline whipped around, placing one finger against her lips. Her ice-cold smile sent chills down Naomi's spine. "Grandma doesn't like noisy environments. Keep it down."
Just as her biological mother wished, she was dying soon. Her late-stage cancer had worsened, cutting her already limited time in half again.
She wouldn't even have the chance to care for her grandmother. Today would likely be the last time she could see her.
Inside the room, Marsha lay peacefully in the hospital bed, connected to a ventilator and various tubes.
Caroline's heart ached as she took her grandmother's hand, struggling to keep her voice steady.
"Grandma, I've come to see you." She swallowed hard. "I've missed you so much. I've just been too busy with work to visit..."
Her fingers gently squeezed the frail hand. "Grandma, I've changed jobs again. This position requires confidentiality and I'll need to be away for a long time. You might not see me for a while..."
She rambled on, carefully explaining everything, knowing her grandmother could hear her.
But she didn't dare reveal the truth about her condition, instead offering gentle excuses.
She hoped that when her grandmother woke up, she wouldn't look for her. Perhaps without her, her grandmother would have a better life.