Chapter 75
Caroline knew her situation with Arthur couldn't be repaired by simply rekindling affection.
After brief consideration, she declined Layla's request.
"I need to leave early for work tomorrow," she explained gently. "Can we have our sleepover another time?"
Layla was disappointed but didn't want to upset her mother, so she reluctantly agreed.
Something felt different about her mother lately—her frequent absences created a persistent unease in Layla's young heart.
Yet the realization that her mother would leave early for work meant they could spend the entire day with Heidi, which immediately brightened her mood.
By the time Caroline left the children's rooms, over an hour had passed.
Returning to the master bedroom, she found no trace of Arthur except his discarded clothes tossed carelessly on the sofa.
Apparently, he had left in such haste to find Heidi that he hadn't even showered first.
Understandable, Caroline thought. Two people in the honeymoon phase, alone together under one roof—passion was inevitable.
Caroline dismissed the matter, opening her laptop to work on the paper Professor Barnes had assigned.
Fifteen minutes later, the bedroom door opened as Arthur returned, closing it firmly behind him.
Caroline glanced up briefly.
Arthur acted as though she weren't there, gathering clothes before disappearing into the bathroom.
Caroline couldn't help noticing the bright red lipstick mark on his collar—Heidi's signature shade—and the intensified gardenia scent that seemed to permeate his entire being.
Her chest tightened as that familiar suffocating pressure returned, accompanied by a bitter taste in her mouth.
Even after countless similar scenes, she still couldn't grow accustomed to the pain.
When Arthur emerged from the bathroom, Caroline spoke directly, "You don't need to stay here out of obligation. It's late—your grandfather and everyone else are asleep. No one would notice your absence."
Arthur paused mid-motion while drying his hair, his dark gaze settling on her with a mixture of confusion and scrutiny.
Caroline pressed her lips together and stood, intending to approach Arthur. As she moved forward, she collided with him as he walked past, causing her to stumble backward toward the sharp corner of the desk.
She closed her eyes, bracing for the pain in her abdomen.
Unexpectedly, strong hands caught her waist, pulling her against a solid chest. The heartbeat against her back became suddenly, acutely perceptible.
Caroline couldn't distinguish whether the rapid rhythm belonged to him or to her. Her own dormant heart fluttered momentarily before settling back into stillness.
"Thank you," she said quietly, extracting herself from his grasp.
A sideways glance revealed that her collision had loosened Arthur's bathrobe, exposing tanned skin and the defined muscles of his abdomen, with glimpses of darker terrain below.
She averted her eyes, her earlobes warming slightly despite her controlled voice.
"Don't worry. If your grandfather asks, I'll cover for you."
At her words, Arthur's lips curved slightly upward, his dark eyes fixed intently on hers.
Feeling his gaze, Caroline's fingers paused against the desktop.
Just when she expected him to accept her offer, Arthur sat down on the sofa, still toweling his hair.
"I'm sleeping in the bedroom tonight."
On the sofa, he meant.
Caroline opened her mouth, surprised by his decision to stay. Her emotions suddenly became complicated, and ultimately, she said nothing.
She slept soundly through the night.
At six the next morning, Caroline woke habitually on schedule. Glancing toward the sofa, she found it empty, bearing only the imprint of a body.
When had Arthur left? She hadn't heard a sound.
As she drove away from Windsor Manor, she noticed Arthur's car was still there, though she hadn't seen him in the living room.
She supposed Arthur had eventually succumbed to the desire to find Heidi. If so, what had last night's performance meant?
Since the children didn't need her to take them to school, Caroline went directly to the laboratory.
With the government partnership established, the team had resumed their busy schedule.
They had entered the second phase of data verification—even more critical than the first. After confirming the general direction, Caroline began conducting more detailed data screening.
Frank noticed something different about her, as though she had transformed overnight.
Previously, Caroline had worked with desperate intensity, as if racing to leave something behind before time ran out. She had approached unsolvable experiments with almost self-destructive determination.
Now she appeared composed and methodical, truly embodying leadership.
"Are you alright, Ms. Hamilton?" he asked curiously.
Caroline smiled. "I'm fine. I've just gained perspective on some things. People must strive to live."
Even with late-stage cancer, she would fight to survive. She would live while leaving her mark on the world.
As chief advisor, not a laborer, she could solve problems the lab couldn't handle without personally executing every task—her professor had emphasized this point.
Her body simply couldn't sustain such an overwhelming workload.
During lunch, Caroline called her friend Becky, inviting her shopping that evening.
When Becky heard Caroline needed to find a birthday gift for her grandmother, she agreed without hesitation.
After hours of shopping, however, neither had found anything suitable.
Then Becky had a sudden thought. "Didn't you mention your grandmother's health was declining? I heard there's a charity auction tomorrow night—perhaps you could find some valuable medicinal herbs there?"
"It's for underprivileged children, so it's supporting a good cause too."
Caroline understood her suggestion. Certain rare medicinal ingredients could be lifesaving in critical situations.
Alternative therapies often seemed mystical but proved effective.
Caroline had experienced this firsthand—she hadn't suffered abdominal pain since Professor Barnes's acupuncture treatment.
But such precious ingredients were extremely rare.
Moreover...
Caroline pressed her lips together. "Invitations to The Aurelia Gala Auction are difficult to obtain. It's too late to secure one now."
Becky hadn't considered this obstacle. "The auction offers many excellent items. While invitations are typically distributed two weeks in advance, you could..."
She left the sentence unfinished, but Caroline understood her implication: ask Arthur for help.
Becky's family had connections, but not enough to procure last-minute invitations to such an exclusive event.
Only Arthur possessed that level of influence.
That evening, after work, Caroline returned to Windsor Villa.
She had intended to discuss the matter briefly and leave, but when she arrived, Arthur was conducting a meeting in his study. His assistant hurried in and out with documents, leaving no opportunity for conversation.
After consideration, Caroline showered in the master bedroom and settled in with a book, waiting for Arthur to return.