Chapter 46
Caroline sank into deep thought.
"Look at this," Jessie continued scrolling through the chat logs. "Someone pointed out that Mr. Windsor is wearing the same suit today as yesterday. Doesn't that prove he never went home and spent all night taking care of Ms. White?"
"I knew they had something going on!" Jessie wore an "I-told-you-so" expression. "For a workaholic like Mr. Windsor to cancel an important meeting and personally take someone to the hospital? That's no ordinary relationship!"
Caroline's lips twitched in an attempt to smile, but the corners of her eyes stung.
She remembered hiding in the hospital corridor yesterday like a fool, heartbroken over her mother's words, anxious about Arthur's slight change in behavior.
So his hospital visit wasn't for the Hamilton family, and certainly not for her—it was for Heidi.
"Caroline, are you okay?" Jessie noticed something was wrong and touched her arm. "You look terrible."
"I'm fine," Caroline took a deep breath, forcibly pushing down the surge of emotions. "Just tired, I think."
She looked down at her computer screen, where the words had become a blur. That momentary warmth she'd felt earlier was nothing but her own delusional fantasy.
---
With the files on her desk finally processed, Caroline rubbed her throbbing temples. Outside, darkness had fallen. She checked the time on her phone—almost time to leave work.
Caroline didn't plan to return to the villa. Logan's cold had improved significantly yesterday, and with the conference approaching, she wanted to focus more on her own work.
As she gathered her things to leave, her phone suddenly rang. Layla's name flashed on the screen. Caroline's heart clenched, and she immediately answered.
"Mommy!" Layla's tearful voice came through, with intermittent coughing in the background. "Logan's fever came back. The doctor came and gave him a shot, but he keeps crying for you and Daddy..."
Logan had always been physically fragile, especially during seasonal changes, though his illnesses typically came on strong but resolved quickly. She hadn't expected this relapse.
"I'll be right there," Caroline's voice softened unconsciously, with an urgency she didn't even notice herself. "Stay with Logan and don't let him kick off his blankets, okay?"
---
The villa's front door was ajar when Caroline arrived. She found Layla curled up in a corner of the sofa. Hearing Caroline enter, Layla looked up, her eyes red like a frightened little rabbit's.
"Mommy, you're finally home."
Caroline knelt in front of her, wiping the tear tracks from her cheeks. "How's Logan?"
"Just fell asleep. The doctor said he needs lots of rest," Layla's voice was low and tinged with hurt. "But Daddy's not back yet. Mommy, why didn't you come home with him?"
Caroline's heart twisted painfully. She opened her mouth but found her throat tight, unable to utter a word.
"He's... very busy," Caroline finally chose to lie, stroking Layla's head. "Come on, let's go check on Logan."
In the upstairs bedroom, Logan slept restlessly, his little brows tightly knit, his cheeks flushed with fever.
Caroline sat by the bed and, after much deliberation, decided to call Arthur. She was still angry, but she wanted to see what Arthur would choose—caring for his own child or Heidi.
The call was answered after three rings. Arthur's voice came through, carrying a barely detectable weariness.
"What is it?"
"Logan's fever is back—103.1°F. He's been crying for you." Caroline tried to keep her voice steady, but the slight tremor at the end betrayed her emotions.
"I understand." Arthur's response couldn't have been more curt, and he hung up immediately.
Listening to the dial tone, Caroline felt a chill rise from her feet and spread throughout her body. She should have expected this. In Arthur's heart, Heidi would always come first.
Caroline set down the phone and refocused on Logan. She took out the thermometer—100.8°F, lower than before. The fever medication was working.
She sighed in relief, gently stroking her son's forehead, the warmth under her fingertips somewhat reassuring.
Just then, the sound of the front door opening came from downstairs, followed by Layla's excited call, "Daddy!"
Caroline's body stiffened imperceptibly. She didn't turn around, continuing to stroke her son's forehead. It seemed Arthur did care about his children after all.
Footsteps approached and finally stopped at the bedroom door.
Arthur entered, carrying the faint smell of antiseptic—a scent that pierced Caroline's heart like a needle. He had come directly from the hospital.
Arthur crouched by the bed, his gaze falling on Logan's face, brows slightly furrowed.
He was so close that the smell of the antiseptic on him became even stronger. She discreetly moved away, increasing the distance between them.
"Logan's fever has gone down. He should be fine now," she stood up. "I'll go downstairs to make dinner."
With that, she fled the bedroom as if staying a second longer would suffocate her.
In the kitchen, Caroline tied on an apron and took out ribs from the refrigerator. BBQ Glazed Ribs was what she'd promised the children, and she didn't want to delay any longer.
"Layla, tell Logan dinner's ready!" Caroline called up the stairs, not intending to invite Arthur. In her mind, he would soon leave to visit Heidi at the hospital, just as he had countless times before.
Layla helped Logan slowly come downstairs. His energy had improved, though he still looked droopy.
Caroline quickly took him from Layla, carried him to his chair, served both children, and set out the utensils.
"Mommy, where's Daddy?" Layla looked at the empty seat, confused.
"Daddy probably has things to do," Caroline answered vaguely.
"But I want Dad to eat with us," Layla's eyes welled up again. "Mom, you and Dad haven't eaten with us together for so long. Don't you like me and Logan anymore?"
Caroline's heart ached as if pierced by needles. Seeing her daughter's hopeful expression, she finally relented.
"I'll go call him down. You stay here and help Logan eat something."
She went upstairs, and just as she reached the bedroom door, she heard Arthur's voice from inside—gentle in a way that felt foreign to her.
"Heidi, don't worry. Logan's fever has gone down. He'll be fine."
Caroline froze in her tracks. So he was on the phone with Heidi.