Chapter 159 Chapter 159
Later, at the mansion.
As soon as she opened the box, Caroline felt the air rush out of her lungs.
She was paralyzed, shaken.
It wasn't jewelry. It wasn't diamonds.
The box was full of papers. Deeds.
They were property deeds for real estate located in the most prestigious and expensive neighborhoods of the capital. Commercial areas, residential penthouses, valuable land.
Caroline stared at the documents with her mouth open for a long time, unable to process the numbers. Finally, she looked up at Nicholas, her eyes wide with shock.
Her heart was beating so fast it felt like it was going to jump out of her mouth.
“Are these... property transfer deeds?” she stammered.
Nicholas glanced casually at the contents of the box, showing no surprise.
"Hmm. I think Grandma had prepared this a long time ago, waiting for the day I got married. She transferred some of her personal property to your name. Just hand me the documents tomorrow and I'll have the legal department finalize the paperwork.
Caroline was speechless.
“Some property”?
She was having trouble breathing because of the excitement.
“For me?” she asked, her voice failing.
“Yes.”
“All of this... for me?”
“Yes. Exclusively yours.”
Caroline felt like she was going to faint right there.
It was overwhelming.
Elisabeth wasn't just being “generous.” She was practically pouring a river of money into Caroline's lap—a fortune so vast that she couldn't spend it in a lifetime, even if she tried.
The old lady was literally the God of Prosperity in human form.
Any one of those properties was worth tens of millions. All together? The value exceeded hundreds of millions.
It was such a colossal gift that it seemed unreal.
Her hands trembled as she tried to close the box, as if its contents were radioactive.
It felt like a dream. A very expensive dream.
“No... Nicholas, this is too much...” Caroline took a deep breath, trying to regain her sanity. “This gift is too valuable. It's a fortune! I can't accept something like this.”
“Since Grandma gave it to you, you should accept it. Refusing would be rude.”
Nicholas looked at her, noticing the blush on her cheeks and the panic in her eyes. He smiled, finding her reaction adorable.
He took the box from her trembling hands, placed it on the table, and then ruffled her hair affectionately.
"Caroline, understand one thing: you are the daughter-in-law of the Wolf family now.
You are my wife. You are worthy of all this and much more.
He held her chin, forcing her to look at him.
“Besides, this is our family tradition. Every daughter-in-law receives her share of the matriarch's personal estate. If you are the only one who does not accept it, it will seem as if my family does not consider you one of us. Do you want to hurt Grandma?”
All right, then...
Put that way, Caroline had no arguments. She had no reason, nor the courage, to reject the matriarch's goodwill.
Anyway... she had to admit that it wasn't a bad feeling to become a multimillionaire in the blink of an eye.
It was obvious that Elisabeth had accepted her with open arms as part of the family.
But... what about Cecille?
The memory of her mother-in-law's cold stare during dinner cast a small shadow over her new fortune.
Caroline was a sensitive person by nature. It didn't take her long to realize the inconvenient truth: Cecille, her mother-in-law, didn't like her one bit.
It seemed that Nicholas had also noticed the tension. In the car, he held her hand and whispered,
“You don't need to worry about my mother. I'll find time to have a serious talk with her. If you don't feel comfortable there, we can simply visit the mansion less often.”
Caroline shook her head quickly, refusing the offer.
“I have nothing against your mother, Nicholas. Besides, didn't you say that your brother rarely comes home? If we stop going too, Grandma and your mother will be very lonely and sad.”
She was being sincere. She liked Elisabeth very much.
The matriarch was such a hospitable, affectionate, and vibrant lady that she treated her as if she were her own flesh and blood.
Caroline wanted to repay that affection by visiting her whenever possible.
Especially after Elisabeth gave her that stack of property deeds!
Caroline felt even closer and more grateful. Who wouldn't want a grandmother who loved and cared for her grandchildren so generously, without asking for anything in return?
“Don't worry.” Nicholas looked at her with overflowing affection, leaned over, and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. “I know how to handle this. I'll protect you.”
Back home.
The mansion was silent. Sara called to say she would spend the night in the school dormitory because she would have a study session and chat with friends.
That meant they had the house—and the night—to themselves.
Caroline talked with Nicholas for a while in the living room before going upstairs to take a relaxing bath. When she came out of the bathroom, perfumed and in her pajamas, she found Nicholas waiting with another bowl of brown sugar water, which he had prepared himself.
After drinking it and fiddling with her cell phone for a few minutes, sleep began to weigh heavily on her.
Next to her, Nicholas was leaning against the headboard, reading a book. Caroline peeked over his shoulder and saw that it was a complex work in English, full of technical terms she didn't recognize.
“Sleepy?” he asked, closing the book as soon as he noticed her eyelids drooping.
He placed the volume on the nightstand and turned off the lights.
The room was plunged into darkness, lit only by the moonlight filtering through the curtains.
Nicholas lay down slowly. Under the comforter, he stretched out his strong arm and pulled her close, nestling her against his body.
With one hand stroking her hair, he kissed her on the top of her head and whispered in the darkness:
“Sleep if you're tired.”
It was only ten o'clock at night.
For a man like him, accustomed to working until two or three in the morning, that was unthinkable. It had been years since he had gone to bed so early.
He wasn't sleepy at all. But seeing that she was almost asleep, he decided that his place was there, keeping her company.
“Mmm...” Caroline murmured, already half asleep.
She closed her eyes and instinctively sought a more comfortable position in his arms. She fidgeted, rubbing her face against his chest and throwing one leg over his, until she found the ideal spot.
Then she settled down and lay still.
But for Nicholas, that little movement was sweet torture.
The way she rubbed against him aroused an instant and fierce desire.
She was like a sweet-smelling angel, her soft, warm body pressed against his. The fragrance of her bath invaded his senses, testing his self-control to the limit.
He had been suppressing his desires in front of her all this time. He tried not to pay attention to these thoughts, knowing that she needed time—and now, physical care.
But the more he tried to ignore it, the harder it became.
And now, in that situation, he knew he couldn't touch her that way.