Chapter 42
After dinner, Caroline finished clearing the dishes and was heading to her room to organize her work notes. Just as she reached the staircase, two small figures blocked her path.
Logan and Layla stood there in matching teddy bear pajamas, their hair still damp from their baths.
Layla looked up at her, eyes filled with hope. "Mommy, you haven't told us a bedtime story in ages. Will you read to us tonight? Please?"
Logan didn't speak, but he stared at her expectantly, clutching the hem of his pajama top as if afraid of rejection.
Caroline frowned slightly, conflicted. "I still have work to finish tonight. Why don't you ask your daddy instead?"
"No way!" Layla immediately pouted. "Daddy's stories aren't good at all. He's not gentle like you."
Logan nodded in agreement, his voice muffled. "Mommy's stories are better."
Looking at their eager expressions, Caroline felt something gently tug at her heart.
These were, after all, the children she had worked so hard to bring into the world.
Their hostility toward Rena in the car earlier—perhaps it was just simple childish jealousy. She even felt a small thrill of satisfaction that this, at least, showed they still cared about her as their mother.
"All right," she sighed, her tone revealing reluctance but also a hint of tenderness. "Just one story, and then straight to bed."
"Yay! Mommy's the best!" Layla cheered, throwing her arms around Caroline's waist.
Caroline followed them into the children's room, sat on the edge of the bed, and picked up a worn fairy tale book—one she used to read to them often.
"Once upon a time, there was a little rabbit who loved to hop and skip..."
After finishing the story, Caroline was about to leave when Layla suddenly opened her eyes. Her small hand clutched Caroline's sleeve as she mumbled sleepily, "Mom, tomorrow... don't forget to make the BBQ glazed ribs when we get home, okay?"
"I won't forget," Caroline assured her, stroking her hair and placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.
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The next morning, after dropping the children at school, Caroline arrived at the office half an hour early. The reception desk was empty. She set down her bag and began organizing the materials she'd need for the day.
By mid-morning, she had completed all the tasks Edith had assigned her the previous day.
"Ms. Cox, here's the work you requested," she said, presenting the finished files.
Disbelief flashed across Edith's eyes—such a large workload couldn't possibly be completed so quickly. She took the files and began examining them meticulously, almost word by word.
Caroline watched Edith's tense profile with calm detachment. Though she'd been a stay-at-home mother for seven years, handling simple paperwork like this was hardly a challenge for her.
Sure enough, after checking three times without finding any errors, Edith reluctantly stuffed the documents back into the folder. "Acceptable," she muttered before walking away.
Caroline watched her retreating figure and exhaled softly. She knew this was just the beginning—such difficulties would only increase in the days ahead.
At noon, as Caroline was heading to the employee cafeteria for lunch, her colleague Jessie suddenly grabbed her arm. "Caroline, come with me, quick!"
Jessie's grip was surprisingly strong. Caroline felt almost dragged along as they ran.
The cafeteria was already packed, but Jessie seemed to have radar, immediately spotting a window seat and pulling Caroline over to claim it. A woman who had been about to sit there sighed and moved elsewhere.
"What are you doing?" Caroline asked with a bemused smile.
Jessie gestured excitedly toward the window with a coy expression. "Look over there."
Following her gaze, Caroline saw the company's executive dining room through the large floor-to-ceiling windows, which offered a clear view inside.
"If Mr. Windsor isn't busy, he usually eats lunch here," Jessie whispered excitedly. "This spot gives us the perfect view."
Caroline suddenly understood, noticing the disappointed looks from employees who hadn't secured window seats. "I see the company has many admirers of Mr. Windsor."
"Of course!" Jessie's eyes sparkled. "Mr. Windsor isn't just handsome and capable—he's incredibly kind. Last time I delivered some files, I accidentally spilled coffee on his suit. Not only didn't he get angry, he actually comforted me! Tell me, who wouldn't like a man like that?"
She paused, leaning in closer with a conspiratorial air. "Actually, I sit here not just to see Mr. Windsor, but also Ms. White."
"Ms. White?" Caroline's heart skipped a beat.
"Heidi, of course," Jessie said matter-of-factly. "She's a genius artist and famous designer, plus she's helped Mr. Windsor tremendously. I'm a huge fan of them as a pair. I suspect they're secretly dating but can't go public because of their positions."
Jessie continued enthusiastically, her voice full of admiration. "Think about it—a business prodigy and an artistic genius. They're absolutely perfect for each other. If they got together, the Windsor family would be even more formidable."
Caroline lowered her head, stirring her soup gently with her spoon. The vegetables swirled in the broth, mirroring her turbulent emotions.
She knew Arthur was exceptional and that Heidi was remarkable, but hearing others describe them as "perfect for each other" felt like countless tiny needles pricking her heart.
Taking a deep breath to suppress the bitterness rising within her, she pulled out her phone. "I should call the children. I promised them this morning I would."
The call connected quickly, and a cacophony of noise came through the speaker.
Caroline frowned. "Logan, where are you? Why is it so noisy?"
"In the school cafeteria," Logan replied, sounding impatient. "There are lots of people here, of course it's noisy."
"What did you have for lunch? Is Layla with you?" Caroline was about to ask more when Jessie suddenly nudged her with an elbow.
"Look! Mr. Windsor and Ms. White just arrived!" Jessie whispered excitedly. "And there are two kids with them!"
Caroline instinctively looked up. In the executive dining room, Arthur and Heidi were walking in side by side.
Heidi wore a cream-colored dress, her long hair flowing over her shoulders, her face radiant with laughter.
Arthur was listening to her, his head tilted toward her, a gentle smile on his lips—a tenderness Caroline hadn't seen in a long time.
And then Caroline spotted them—two small figures walking alongside the adults. Logan and Layla.