Chapter 15
Self-doubt engulfed Caroline like a rising tide.
Just then, the receptionist came running over, breathless, holding a small medicine box. "Ma'am, are you alright? Our company keeps allergy medication on hand since some people might be sensitive to pollen. Mr. Windsor said that if anyone has a severe reaction, the company can cover the hospital expenses."
Heidi's gaze fell on Caroline's red, swollen face, and understanding dawned on her.
She looked apologetic and reached out to touch Caroline's arm, but Caroline instinctively pulled away.
"I'm so sorry," Heidi withdrew her hand, her tone sincere. "I had no idea you were allergic to pollen. Arthur never mentioned it. This is all my fault—I kept telling Arthur how much I love flowers, never thinking he'd take it so seriously and arrange all this. When I see him, I'll definitely scold him about it."
Caroline's heart clenched painfully. This kind of playful complaint was something she had never dared express to Arthur.
All she ever did was carefully serve him reheated soup when he came home late, or silently make mental notes to use less salt next time when he frowned and said the food was too salty.
She didn't even have the right to be playfully cross with him.
Heidi, noticing her silence, suddenly seemed to remember something. "Oh right, you came to see Arthur today. Did you need something?"
She paused, her smile becoming meaningful. "I'm heading up to see him now. If you don't mind, I could take you with me? I know you've never been to his office before."
Those words were like a needle, precisely hitting Caroline's most sensitive nerve.
She was Arthur's lawfully wedded wife, yet she needed Heidi to escort her into his office.
Caroline abruptly looked up. Despite her red-rimmed eyes, there was new defiance in her gaze. "That won't be necessary."
She took a deep breath, striving to keep her voice steady. "I came here on Grandpa's suggestion."
Heidi raised an eyebrow, prompting her to continue.
"Grandpa said that as Arthur's wife," Caroline's fingers fidgeted with her purse strap, "I should be fighting alongside him, helping manage the Windsor family business."
"After all, I am part of the Windsor family. The Windsor family's assets naturally shouldn't fall into outsiders' hands."
As she said this, she felt the lack of conviction in her own words.
Even she knew this was just an excuse to preserve what little dignity she had left.
The smile on Heidi's face faded slightly. A flash of displeasure crossed her eyes, almost imperceptible, but she quickly regained her composure. "I understand. Don't worry, I'll pass your message to Arthur."
She stood up, smoothing her skirt. "I'll head up now. If you're feeling unwell, take some of that allergy medication."
Caroline didn't look up, just murmured a soft acknowledgment.
"Oh, and one more thing," Heidi turned back, smiling at Caroline. "I'm holding a personal art exhibition at the New Hope Building in a few days. Layla and Logan will be there too. If you're interested, I can send you an invitation."
Caroline frowned. "On the weekend?"
Heidi casually took an invitation from her purse. "Thursday at three in the afternoon. I originally didn't want the children to come, worried it might interfere with their studies, but they insisted. They said they wanted to witness my first solo exhibition."
Caroline stared at the pale yellow invitation card with a portrait on it—a dignified, smiling image that perfectly matched the woman standing before her.
Heidi seemed unaware of any issue with what she'd said.
Caroline smiled bitterly to herself. Previously, when the children wanted to take time off school, they would spend ages sweet-talking her, even competing to do housework, all to impress her enough to grant permission. Yet now they hadn't even mentioned it to her.
Caroline accepted the invitation, forcing a smile. "Congratulations. I may not be able to make it that day, but I'll entrust my children to your care."
Heidi tilted her head with a smile. "Of course. You've raised them well—they're very sociable."
Watching Heidi walk toward the private elevator in her high heels, Caroline suddenly felt drained of all energy.
She had seen Heidi's reaction clearly.
It wasn't mere politeness, but the composure of someone who knew they had won.
Of course Heidi could afford to be composed—she had earned her place beside Arthur.
Caroline slowly stood up. She didn't look again at the carefully arranged flowers, nor did she acknowledge the lingering glances around her. She straightened her back and walked step by step toward the revolving door.
Her high heels made soft but determined sounds against the floor.
At the entrance, she glanced back once. The elevator indicator light had stopped at the top floor—where Arthur's office was located.
The revolving door turned slowly, shutting out that world of flowers and laughter.
Caroline stood in the sunlight, taking a deep breath of air free from floral scents, feeling her tense nerves finally relax a little.
She took out the allergy medication the receptionist had given her and swallowed it with bottled water purchased from a nearby stand.
Her phone vibrated in her bag—it was her best friend, Becky Powell, calling.
Caroline answered, her voice still a bit hoarse. "Hello?"
"Caroline, where are you? I was on that international business trip, remember? But I closed the deal early and I'm back now," Becky's voice was unusually cheerful. "I brought you a gift. I'll come find you."
Hearing Becky's familiar voice, Caroline gradually came back to her senses. "I'll come to you. Just text me your address."
Caroline arranged to meet Becky at the mall next to Arthur's company building.
Since Becky left on her business trip, they hadn't seen each other for over three months.
So much had happened in those three months.
At a window table in the coffee shop, Caroline twirled the stirrer in her latte twice, leaving chaotic patterns of foam on the sides of the cup.
Becky had just sat down when Caroline looked up, her eyes red-rimmed but remarkably determined. "Becky, I want to divorce Arthur."
Becky nearly spilled her caramel macchiato.
She opened and closed her mouth, taking a moment to find her voice. "Are you serious?"
Caroline nodded, her fingertip tracing circles on the rim of her cup. "Seven years. I've had enough."
Becky looked at the dark circles under her friend's eyes, remembering countless late nights and Caroline's suppressed grievances—like rain that had been held back too long, finally ready to pour down.
"It's about time. You should have done this sooner," Becky squeezed her hand warmly.
"You've been willingly serving the Windsor family all this time, while Arthur only has eyes for Heidi. At our last class reunion, when you said he'd forgotten your birthday, I knew this marriage couldn't continue."
Caroline laughed at her words, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I was so foolish then, always thinking I just needed to endure a little longer."
"Don't dwell on the past," Becky took a sip of her coffee.
"So, what's your plan now? I may not be as influential as Arthur, but I do have some connections in the business world."
"If you don't want to work, we could travel together. I'm getting tired of my job anyway."
Caroline smiled at Becky, knowing she would always be her most solid support. No matter what Caroline decided to do, Becky would back her unconditionally.
"First, I want to learn about business operations. Going to the Windsor Group today made me realize how disconnected I've been from society for too long."
She paused, her fingers tightening slightly. "I need to understand how to read financial reports, how contracts work. Even if I just open a small studio later, I need to know what I'm doing."
Becky raised an eyebrow. "So you're planning to build a career?"
"Yes," Caroline smiled—looking ten times more alive than she had in the Windsor Group Building lobby. "I can't just fall apart after a divorce. I'm more than just someone who belongs in the kitchen."