Chapter 24
Isaac frowned at Heidi, clearly annoyed. "He can't find his own stuff, then he can just make a phone call. Why drag you into it and waste your personal time? Seems like he's tired of being a CEO and just wants to exploit his employees!"
Heidi quickly waved her hand, looking a bit flustered. "Oh, Mr. Isaac Windsor, please don't say that. It's an honor to help Mr. Arthur Windsor."
She lowered her eyes slightly, her long lashes casting a small shadow beneath them.
"Actually, I'm really happy to have this chance to visit you. I was so impressed by your demeanor at the birthday banquet last time. I've been wanting to bring you a small gift but never found the right moment. This time, I finally got my wish."
As she spoke, she took out a beautifully crafted purple clay teapot from a delicate gift box by the sofa. The teapot's body was smooth, and the spout's curve was just right, clearly a rare piece.
"I heard from Mr. Arthur Windsor that you enjoy tea, so I specially picked out this teapot. They say it best preserves the original flavor of the tea."
Caroline's gaze fell on the teapot, her pupils contracting slightly.
Though she wasn't an expert in tea, she recognized the signature on the bottom of the teapot. It was the work of a contemporary master potter, a piece that was nearly impossible to find on the market and of immeasurable value.
Heidi had indeed gone to great lengths to please Isaac.
Isaac was obviously very pleased with the gift, handling the teapot with care, his fingers gently tracing the patterns on its surface. "You are very thoughtful, going out of your way like this."
At that moment, the kitchen door opened, and Tiffany walked out wearing a cream-colored lace apron, with a bit of flour still on it. "Heidi, wash your hands and get ready for dinner. I made some of your favorite dishes."
Her tone was affectionate, like she was speaking to a younger family member, and the smile in her eyes was unmistakable.
Caroline's gaze landed on Tiffany, and she was stunned.
She had been married into the Windsor family for seven years, and Tiffany had never cooked. Meals were either handled by the servants or her, or they went out to eat.
The times Tiffany had personally cooked were few and far between, the last being for Arthur's birthday.
Now, just because Heidi was here, Tiffany was willing to put on an apron and cook in the smoky kitchen?
A wave of indescribable sadness washed over Caroline, making her feel like an outsider, awkwardly standing in someone else's lively scene.
She instinctively wanted to turn and go upstairs. Rather than staying here watching others enjoy themselves, it would be better to retreat to her room and work on her thesis in peace.
But before she could move, Isaac called out to her. "Caroline, why are you just standing there?"
Caroline stopped and turned to look at Isaac, waiting for him to continue.
"You are Arthur's wife and the mistress of the Windsor family," Isaac's gaze lingered on her for a few seconds, his tone carrying undeniable authority.
"When there are guests at home, it's only right for you to entertain them. Heidi, you should sit with Caroline at dinner. It's good for young people to chat."
Heidi's smile froze for a moment, a flicker of surprise and embarrassment flashing in her eyes.
But the emotion quickly disappeared, and she returned to her gentle demeanor, nodding slightly at Caroline. "Then I'll trouble Caroline. I've been wanting to catch up with her."
Caroline didn't say anything, just nodded, her gaze calmly sweeping over everyone in the living room.
In the bathroom, warm water flowed from the faucet as Caroline held Layla's small hand under the stream, lathering soap into a fine foam.
Layla kept her head down, her long lashes drooping like a frightened fawn, her fingers nervously picking at the grout between the tiles.
"Mommy," she finally spoke timidly, her voice barely audible, "are you mad?"
Caroline didn't stop her movements, carefully cleaning the dirt from her daughter's fingers. "Why do you ask?"
"Because... because we made Ms. White come."
Layla's shoulders trembled slightly, tears falling like broken pearls onto the sink.
"It was Logan and I who hid Dad's USB drive so Ms. White would have to come get it. We just wanted her to come over and take us to the art exhibit tomorrow."
Warm water slipped through her fingers as Caroline looked at her daughter's tear-streaked face, feeling a sharp pain in her heart.
She had suspected something when Logan said, "You can come because of me," but hearing Layla admit it still felt like a tidal wave of disappointment.
She knelt down, gently drying her daughter's hands with a towel, her voice calm and emotionless. "Layla, you shouldn't lie, and you definitely shouldn't mess with your dad's work. What if something important was on that USB drive and it caused problems?"
Layla bit her lip hard, her vision blurred by tears. "We know we were wrong, Mommy. Please forgive us. We won't do it again."
She reached out and hugged Caroline's neck tightly, her small body shaking with sobs.
"Mom, please don't be mad at Ms. White. She's really nice. She tells us stories and teaches us to draw. And please don't stop us from going to the art exhibit. We really want to go."
Caroline's heart sank, feeling like a heavy stone was pressing down on her, making it hard to breathe.
Layla's eagerness to apologize wasn't because she realized her mistake but because she feared Caroline would be angry with Heidi and stop them from going to the exhibit.
In Layla's mind, Heidi's feelings were more important than her own mother's emotions.
She gently pushed Layla away, looking at her tear-streaked face, feeling utterly exhausted.
The line in the divorce agreement where she agreed to give up custody now felt like a needle in her eye.
Maybe her decision back then was the right one.
If even her own daughter felt closer to another woman, what right did she have to fight for custody?
"It's good that you know you were wrong." Caroline's voice had a barely noticeable rasp. She wiped the tears from her daughter's face. "I'll forgive you this time, but don't do it again. You can go to the art exhibit if you want."
Layla's face lit up instantly, her eyes shining like stars. "Thank you, Mommy! You're the best!"
She gave Caroline a big kiss on the cheek and then bounced out of the bathroom, not noticing the fleeting sadness in Caroline's eyes.
Caroline stood there, looking at her pale face in the mirror, a bitter smile tugging at her lips.
She took a deep breath, trying to suppress the swirling emotions, but her chest still felt empty, like a piece had been carved out.