Chapter 144 Chapter 144
“What did she do?”
“At the time, she was the girlfriend of one of Nick's friends,” Sheila explained, with a hint of contempt. “She went to a private party and saw Nick. It was love—or ambition—at first sight. She tried everything to win him over, used all her charm, but he didn't even look at her.”
Sheila let out a dry laugh.
“Desperate, she found out where he was staying. She broke into his room, took off her clothes, and hid in his bed, naked, waiting to seduce him when he returned. She thought no man could resist her.”
Caroline was stunned.
“And then?”
“And then...” Sheila's eyes flashed with cruelty. “When Nick found her in his bed, he felt no desire. He felt disgust. He was so furious that he ordered his bodyguards to throw her out, naked and humiliated. And to make sure she never came near him again, he banned her.” If she hadn't voluntarily announced her retirement, he would have destroyed her publicly. Either way, her career ended that night.
Caroline was speechless.
The amount of information was overwhelming. Olivia Culpo, the pop diva, was socially and professionally annihilated just for trying to seduce Nicholas?
“So...” Caroline regained her composure, staring at her rival. “What does this have to do with me?”
“Miss Ford, think about it.” Sheila took a step forward, her soft voice hiding venom. “A sensual and famous beauty like Olivia Culpo threw herself at his feet, offered him everything, and Nick didn't even blink. Do you really think you're more impressive than her? Do you think you have something she didn't have?”
Seeing Sheila's condescending smile, Caroline realized what was happening.
She was being attacked.
Sheila was using Olivia's story to say, “You're nothing. If a goddess like her failed, who are you to succeed?”
Caroline never imagined that her “childhood friend” could be so venomous. But if Sheila wanted war, Caroline wouldn't back down.
She held Sheila's gaze and smiled calmly.
“Are you implying that I'm not good enough for Nicholas, Miss Turner?”
“Oh, don't get me wrong, Miss Ford!” Sheila backed off, feigning innocence, but her eyes remained cold. “I didn't say that. I'm just telling you the truth so you understand what you're getting yourself into.”
After all, he's your husband now, isn't he?
Sheila started walking toward the door, but paused to deliver the final blow.
"You've known each other for such a short time... I assume you don't know who he really is. Since he was young, Nick has demanded perfection. If it's not the best, he discards it. He demands perfection from others and from himself.
She looked at Caroline with feigned pity.
“To be honest, I was shocked to hear that he got married so quickly. With his temperament, he would never make such a decision without a very... specific reason. He is cautious about everything. Especially with the woman who will bear the Wolf name.”
Sheila left the insinuation hanging in the air: You are a mistake. Or a temporary convenience. But never the perfect choice.
“But now that I think about it, it all makes sense.” Sheila took a step forward, her gaze sweeping over Caroline with false understanding. "After all, Miss Ford, you are the only woman in the world who doesn't cause him an allergic reaction. That makes you... useful. If Nick wants to cure this disease, he'll have to use you as “treatment” for quite some time.
Sheila paused deliberately, pretending to be deep in thought, before casting her line:
"By the way, I'm very curious about one detail. You and Nick didn't know each other before, right? How did Nick discover that he wouldn't have a reaction to your touch?
She tilted her head, her eyes sparkling with mischief disguised as innocent curiosity.
“How did you get close enough to him to test that? Could you clarify my doubts?”
Sheila was truly perplexed. She knew Nicholas. He never allowed any woman to invade his personal space. She herself, a childhood friend, had never been given that permission.
So how did Caroline manage it? Without his consent, how did she break through that barrier? Did she use some dirty trick?
Caroline kept her expression calm, listening to the venom dripping from Sheila's sweet words.
She had already noticed the veiled hostility. Sheila was what they called a “white lotus”: pure and gentle on the outside, but rotten on the inside. As a prestigious lady of the Turner family, she couldn't act vulgar or scream like a shrew.
Instead, she used polished words like sharp knives.
Caroline stared into her rival's smiling eyes for a moment. Slowly, her lips curved into a smile that showed no fear, only cold amusement.
“Are you implying, Miss Turner, that Nicholas only married me because I'm a ‘remedy’ for his allergy?” Caroline asked bluntly.
“That if it weren't for this unique biological condition, he wouldn't even give me a second glance?”
Sheila had constructed a perfect argument: first she used Olivia Culpo to humiliate Caroline, comparing her to a failed star; then she reduced the marriage to a medical necessity, suggesting that Caroline was just a temporary tool.
In short: He doesn't love you. You're just useful. And when the cure comes, you'll be discarded.
Sheila expected to see Caroline's face crumble. She expected to see doubt and insecurity erode the new wife's confidence.
But she failed.
Not only was Caroline unshaken, she looked bored.
“Miss Ford, please don't overanalyze my words,” Sheila deflected, refusing to admit her malice. “I'm just presenting logical facts. As for the real reason Nick married you... well, how could I know what goes on in the mind of a man desperate for a cure?”
Caroline almost laughed.
She throws the stone and hides her hand, Caroline thought with disdain.
If Sheila had said, “I hate you, get away from him,” Caroline would have respected her honesty. But this passive-aggressive game was repugnant.
“Is that all Miss Turner wanted to tell me?” Caroline's patience was at an end. Her voice became cold and sharp. “If you're done with your medical and psychological analysis, please leave. I'm tired, and this is my room. I need to rest.”
Sheila was stunned.
She blinked, confused. Caroline's reaction was completely off script.
She had expected tears, shame, or at least a passionate and insecure defense. Any sign of weakness would have satisfied her.
But Caroline acted as if Sheila's words were wind.
Irritated at being ignored, Sheila's mask slipped a little.
“Miss Ford, don't you care at all?” she asked, her voice rising. “Do you really not care?”