Chapter 122 Chapter 122
Dining Room.
Caroline descended the stairs, trying to normalize her breathing and fanning her face with her hands.
As soon as she entered the dining room, Sara's eyes fell on her like a scanner.
“Sister?” Sara frowned, curious. “Why is your face so red? Do you have a fever again?”
“No!” Caroline replied too quickly, sitting down abruptly at the table.
Under Sara's inquisitive and innocent gaze, Caroline felt overwhelming guilt. It was as if “I did indecent things in the bathroom” was written on her forehead.
Even though Sara was inexperienced in relationships, the redness on Caroline's face was too suspicious.
“Um... where's my brother-in-law?” Sara asked, looking at the empty staircase.
“Cough, cough...” Caroline choked on her own breath. “Your brother-in-law... he'll be here soon. He's getting changed.”
She blinked several times, looking away at the silver cutlery, unable to face her sister. Just mentioning “him” brought back the image of her hands on him.
Sara narrowed her eyes.
“Sister...” Sara's voice became slow and suspicious. “Are you hiding something from me? Were you fighting? Or... making up?”
“I'm not hiding anything!”
Caroline panicked. She needed to change the subject, fast.
She picked up her chopsticks and attacked a piece of broccoli as if it were the most interesting thing in the world. “Sara, eat! Your brother-in-law's chef's food is divine. You have to try this vegetable, it's... it's crunchy!”
Sara was speechless, her chopsticks frozen in midair.
Something was definitely wrong.
The host hadn't even come down yet, and her sister—who had always been the epitome of etiquette—was already eating desperately? That erratic behavior was an obvious smokescreen.
“Sister, you...”
Sara opened her mouth to press the issue, but was interrupted by a shrill sound.
Trrrrim! Trrrrim!
Caroline's cell phone, resting on the table, began to vibrate violently.
Caroline let out an audible sigh of relief. The phone had saved her from interrogation!
She quickly picked up the device, ready to answer in her most professional tone.
But when her eyes focused on the name flashing on the screen, her relief evaporated. The blood drained from her face, taking away the blush of embarrassment and leaving her pale.
The phone continued to ring, insistent and irritating, but Caroline's finger hovered over the screen, hesitating.
Sara noticed the drastic change in the atmosphere. Her sister looked as if she had seen a ghost.
“Sister?” Sara asked, her voice tense. “Who is it?”
Caroline stared at the phone as if it were a bomb about to explode.
“It's Mrs. Cassano,” she whispered.
Sara's expression immediately changed from curious to defensive. “Edward's mother? Sister, you're done with that trash. Why is she calling you now?”
“I... I haven't formally told them about our breakup yet,” Caroline admitted, sighing. “Maybe she's calling because she's heard rumors.”
The phone rang twice more, insistently. Caroline took a deep breath, composed her expression, and answered.
“Hello, Mrs. Cassano.”
“Caroline!” The middle-aged woman's voice on the other end of the line sounded agitated and shaky. “Thank God you answered. Edward just told me that you two broke up. Is that... is that true?”
After a few seconds of respectful silence, Caroline replied firmly, “Yes, Mrs. Cassano. It's true.”
“What?” The woman gasped. “But... how? When did this happen? Why didn't Mr. Cassano and I know anything about it? Caroline, dear, you were about to get married! You've known each other since childhood!”
Mrs. Cassano's voice broke, becoming a sad whisper. “Everything was going so well...” I already considered you my daughter. How could you throw it all away like this? Did Edward do something? Did he disappoint you? Tell me, dear. If that boy did something wrong, I'll teach him a lesson right now!
Caroline felt a tightness in her heart.
She knew Edward's parents were decent people. They always treated her well, even when the Ford family ignored her. It was hard to hear the pain in that woman's voice.
“Caroline, listen to me...” Mrs. Cassano pleaded. “My husband and I are on your side, always. But ending an engagement is not a trivial matter. You can't be impulsive. Let's talk, okay?”
Caroline closed her eyes for a moment. As much as it hurt, she needed to be clear.
“Mrs. Cassano, I'm not being impulsive,” she said, her voice soft but unwavering. “This is a decision I made after much thought and pain. Edward and I... can never be together again. There's no going back.”
Behind her, at the top of the stairs, silent footsteps stopped abruptly.
Caroline didn't notice. She remained focused on the call.
“Mrs. Cassano, please don't be so upset. Although my relationship with Edward is over, my respect for you and Mr. Cassano remains.”
“Caroline... come over to our house,” the woman asked, tearfully. “We need to talk in person. We have to formally resolve the engagement contract. We can't leave it like this. Please come have lunch with us.”
Caroline hesitated. Returning to that house meant seeing Edward. But she needed to end this properly. The engagement had been an agreement between families; the breakup required a formal closure.
“All right,” Caroline relented. “I'll come.”
“Thank you, dear. I'll be waiting.”
Caroline hung up the phone and let out a long sigh, feeling exhausted.
She turned to Sara, frowning. “Sara, I need to go to the Cassano mansion. Edward and I had an old marriage contract... I'd better talk formally with his parents to terminate everything and put an end to it.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, the temperature in the dining room plummeted.
Sara, who was facing the stairs, saw the figure standing behind Caroline. Her eyes widened in panic.
Nicholas's face was impassive, but his eyes were pools of darkness. The aura he emanated was so cold it could freeze hell.
Sara desperately tried to send a signal. She blinked frantically, contorted her face, and made discreet gestures with her head.
Shut up, sister! Look behind you!
Caroline, oblivious to the impending danger, noticed her sister's grimaces and frowned with concern. “Sara? What's wrong? Are your eyes okay? Are you having a spasm?”
Sara was speechless. She wanted to hit herself on the forehead.
“Sister...” Sara whispered, pointing discreetly with her trembling finger. “Your brother-in-law... he's behind you.”
Caroline froze.
The blood ran cold in her veins.
Slowly, very slowly, she turned around.
Nicholas was there. Standing less than a meter away.