Chapter 74
"Your mom would appreciate your attention too," Heidi suggested, her voice sweet. "Logan, be a good boy and serve your mother some food, won't you?"
The calculated gesture wasn't lost on Caroline. Heidi deliberately positioned herself as the gracious benefactor—Caroline could receive attention only through Heidi's explicit permission. Otherwise, Caroline wasn't even worthy of acknowledgment.
This dynamic felt painfully familiar. Despite years of struggle and achievement, Caroline found herself trapped in the same childhood pattern of subordination.
Her nails dug into her palms as she used every ounce of self-control not to overturn the table in frustration.
Arthur, meanwhile, remained coldly detached, as though the tension were invisible to him.
Caroline looked up with a practiced smile. "Layla, Logan, please focus on your dinner. It's kind to serve guests, but don't disturb Ms. White's meal."
Whatever else had changed, she remained the children's mother and the Windsor family's rightful mistress—not Heidi.
Logan, who had briefly considered following Heidi's suggestion, lost interest and returned to his meal in silence.
After dinner, Caroline prepared to leave immediately.
But Layla begged for a bedtime story, and Logan awkwardly added, "Mommy, since we didn't like your birthday presents, you can make it up to us by reading tonight."
Their motivation was transparent. When their mother was absent, Heidi couldn't stay overnight. If they kept Caroline at the mansion, they could justify Heidi's presence too.
Isaac joined the conversation. "Caroline, even with work demands, you must consider your health. It's late—stay here tonight."
Caroline hesitated.
She knew that despite Isaac's support for her career, her extended separation from Arthur had likely raised questions in his mind.
She considered using this opportunity to mention the divorce, preparing Isaac for the court date just a month away.
But looking at her children's hopeful expressions, she realized this wasn't the right moment for such a discussion.
Eventually, unable to resist the children's pleas and Isaac's concern, Caroline relented. It was just one night, after all, and she wouldn't see them again until next week.
Logan and Layla exchanged triumphant glances—with their mother staying, they now had justification for Heidi to remain too.
Layla approached and hugged Caroline. "Thank you, Mommy. I actually loved your birthday gift. It was just the same as Ms. White's, so it wasn't as surprising."
Caroline stroked her hair. "I understand, sweetie. You're always so thoughtful."
Relieved that her mother wasn't upset, Layla relaxed. Perhaps she wouldn't make things difficult for Heidi after all.
After escorting Layla to her room, Caroline retreated to the master bedroom, gathered some clothes, and entered the bathroom.
She didn't notice Layla sneaking out to find Heidi moments after she left.
Half an hour later, as Caroline prepared to exit the bathroom, she heard the bedroom door open.
Guessing it was Arthur, she emerged with composed indifference.
Arthur wasn't looking at her but at the medical book she'd left on the table. His eyebrow arched questioningly.
"When did you develop an interest in cancer?"
Caroline's fingers curled involuntarily. She wasn't interested in cancer—she had cancer.
Late-stage ovarian cancer that would kill her without intervention.
She pressed her lips together. "Medical disciplines are interconnected. Continuous learning leads to breakthroughs."
"I see." Arthur's noncommittal response came as he casually flipped through the book.
Noticing Caroline's annotations, he paused. "Your notes are quite distinctive."
"It's my book." Caroline reclaimed it from his hands. "Taking without permission seems rather impolite, Mr. Windsor."
Arthur's expression darkened momentarily. "Very well. Next time I'll ask first."
Caroline placed the book deliberately out of reach. She disliked others examining her personal items.
Joining Alton's research team required preparation. She'd studied this book extensively, marking it with observations and ideas that could inspire future research directions.
Cancer treatment differed vastly from her work on glial neurons, demanding significant additional study and energy.
She couldn't afford distractions—especially from Arthur.
Arthur's brow furrowed as he gave her an inscrutable look before gathering his clothes to leave.
Apparently, he couldn't even bear sharing bathroom space with Caroline.
"Your grandfather is still here," Caroline said suddenly. "Use this bathroom. I'll go read to the children."
As she passed Arthur, she caught an unmistakable scent of gardenia—Heidi's signature perfume—clinging to him.
Her heart stuttered momentarily as she quickened her pace out of the room.
When Caroline reached the children's bedroom, Layla had just finished bathing. Heidi sat with Logan, helping him arrange his toys.
Seeing Caroline, Heidi rose to leave.
"Now that your mom here, she can read you stories. She surely tells better stories than I do. Goodnight!"
Logan looked instantly regretful.
He found Heidi's stories far more entertaining than his mother's. If only his mother hadn't arrived so quickly.
But they had insisted their mother stay specifically to read to them, and without her presence, his great-grandfather would never have allowed Heidi to remain overnight.
He reluctantly bid Heidi goodbye with a dejected expression.
Heidi glanced at Caroline before departing. Outside, Tiffany's voice carried through the door as they walked away together, their intimate conversation punctuated by faint criticisms of Caroline.
Logan regarded Caroline unhappily. "Mommy."
As Caroline approached, she detected Heidi's strong perfume on him. Layla probably smelled the same.
Heidi was staying overnight at Windsor Manor again—they must be delighted.
While the nanny took Logan for his bath, Caroline began reading to Layla.
Midway through the story, Layla nestled against her, asking to sleep together.
Caroline nearly agreed—with her current relationship with Arthur, separate sleeping arrangements seemed appropriate.
But then she remembered Isaac's earlier words. When she'd entered the children's room, Isaac had specifically advised her to return to her bedroom early and not exhaust herself for the children's sake.
Caroline understood the subtext: Isaac wanted her to nurture her relationship with Arthur.