Chapter 138
Caroline said nothing in response.
She knew Arthur's suspicion had momentarily subsided, but a seed had been planted in his mind. Until her plan was complete, she preferred not to antagonize him openly.
Glancing at her watch, she said, "It's 9:45 AM. If you intend to go, there's still time."
She was curious about what Alton needed to say that required Arthur's presence.
Just then, Arthur's phone rang again. He answered, and Heidi's weak, plaintive voice came through.
"Arthur, I feel terrible. I can barely breathe. Could you come see me?"
Arthur reassured her gently, "Rest well. I'll be right there."
Covering the receiver, he gave Caroline a cold look. "Dr. Q, you should return to the facility and monitor the experiment's progress."
Caroline didn't move. "Didn't you plan to remove me from the research team? What use would I be there? You've already selected my replacement—are you sending me back just to humiliate me?"
Arthur's fist clenched, his eyes flaring with anger.
Caroline laughed softly. "Let me guess—you weren't successful, were you? The cancer drug formula isn't in your possession."
"The Windsor Group's researchers can only observe the drug's effects but can't reproduce it. So you're forced to compromise. How difficult this must be for you, Mr. Windsor—"
Before she could finish, Arthur suddenly grabbed her chin and pushed her against the wall, the impact sending pain through her back.
"You talk too much."
"Struck a nerve, did I?" Caroline smiled calmly. "I'm merely reminding you that Celestial University isn't limited to working with you alone. If you can't handle your personal affairs, I can collaborate with others."
Arthur's cool composure wavered momentarily—not from her words, but from that strange sense of familiarity washing over him again. Even her scent seemed familiar.
His grip loosened, his restraining hold unconsciously shifting to a gentle caress.
Caroline didn't notice this change, assuming he was persuaded by her argument.
"If you truly see Ms. White as a sister, you should be mindful of how you interact with her."
As she spoke these words, Caroline's heart contracted painfully. The irony wasn't lost on her—Arthur's legal wife giving advice about his relationship with another woman.
Her heart had grown numb, yet situations like this still caused ripples of pain.
Initially, Caroline had focused solely on developing the cancer drug to benefit society.
But after witnessing Heidi's treatment of the children, her perspective shifted.
While she might not want to raise them herself, she couldn't stand by and watch them being mistreated—especially when it might eventually implicate her.
If Arthur was too blind to see beyond Heidi's facade, then Caroline would ensure Heidi couldn't remain in the Windsor family.
She couldn't risk Heidi jeopardizing the drug's development.
"Since you have made your decision, shall we go? Any more delay and you might miss your appointment entirely."
Over the phone, Heidi's fragile voice continued with soft sobs. "Arthur, when are you coming back? I feel so terrible... my chest hurts so much..."
Arthur released Caroline, his dark eyes unreadable.
Caroline remarked casually, "Ms. White's condition sounds serious. I know an excellent cardiothoracic specialist—shall I call him to examine her?"
"Or are you more effective than a doctor? Will your presence alone ease her discomfort?"
Perhaps influenced by Caroline's words, Arthur finally refused Heidi's plea. "If you're unwell, see a doctor. I have urgent business to attend to."
With that, he hung up and drove toward the Grand Hall himself, with Caroline in the passenger seat.
---
In the hospital room, Heidi smashed her phone, her beautiful face contorting with rage.
This was the first time Arthur had abandoned her for another woman—someone he'd known for less than three days.
A sense of threat grew within her. Seeing Layla quietly reading in the corner only increased her irritation, though she maintained an outwardly gentle demeanor.
"Be a good girl, Layla. No crying."
She tore the book from Layla's hands and deliberately pinched her in a sensitive spot where no one would notice, her voice remaining sweet.
"You're such a sensible child, aren't you? Surely you wouldn't want Logan to suffer like this? Or would you prefer that Logan ends up in the same situation as you?"
Layla bit her lip to stay silent. Only after Heidi had vented her frustration did she dare huddle in the corner, crying softly.
Thankfully, the servants had taken Logan downstairs to play, sparing him from witnessing this scene.
Mommy had told her she was the big sister, responsible for protecting Logan. Today, she believed she was doing just that.
"Stop crying!" Heidi, who had just lain down, grew agitated again.
She grabbed a water glass from the table and hurled it toward the corner. Shards of porcelain sliced across Layla's hand.
"What's that noise?" Outside the room, the voices of doctors and nurses approached, their footsteps growing louder.
Heidi's expression changed instantly. She rushed to Layla and carefully embraced her, kneeling on the broken porcelain as if she didn't feel the pain.
"Layla, are you hurt? Let me see."
Layla's small body trembled. "Ms. White, I'm fine. I'll be more careful in the future. I won't make you unhappy again."
Heidi finally smiled. "That's a good girl."
She turned to the entering medical staff with an apologetic expression. "I'm sorry, doctor. Children can be mischievous sometimes. We've caused you trouble."
The nurse was moved by how protectively she held the child, especially when she noticed the cuts on Heidi's knees.
"Ms. White, you're so good to these children."
Heidi smiled shyly. "Arthur has entrusted them to me. Of course I'll take care of them."
While the medical staff anxiously treated Heidi's wounds, Layla slipped into the bathroom. There, she stared at an old photo of her mother with her and Logan.
Daddy had said Heidi was feeling down and asked them to keep her company. But this Heidi was terrifying, and she was too afraid to tell Daddy.
Heidi had threatened that if she said anything, she would never see her brother again.
She had to protect her little brother.
She found Caroline's number in her phone watch and called again, but it remained switched off. Unable to contain herself any longer, Layla began to cry.