Chapter 64 Chapter 64
Fernanda and Ianca exchanged smug glances, looking satisfied.
For them, one lap would be bad enough—three would be torture.
But Tania deserved it, they thought.
Still, the fact that Caroline had not been punished bothered them deeply.
After all, she was the one who really infuriated them.
However, they knew they couldn't challenge the counselor's decision.
They cast one last look of contempt and walked away, heads held high.
Caroline, however, stood still. After a few seconds, she looked up and said:
“Counselor, I am willing to receive the same punishment as Tania. I will run three laps around the track too.”
Tania was stunned.
“Honey, why are you doing this? Come back first.”
Caroline took her hand and replied firmly:
“I'll accompany you. I won't leave you alone. It's only three laps around the track—I'll consider it exercise.”
Later, at ten o'clock at night.
The huge field was almost deserted, lit only by the gym's floodlights.
Two small silhouettes ran around the track, side by side.
After three complete laps, even Caroline—athletic and disciplined—was panting.
She sat down on the grass, sweat dripping from her forehead, her chest rising and falling rapidly.
Her hair, tied back in a loose bun, was completely soaked.
Tania, meanwhile, fell backward onto the grass, breathing heavily.
“Honey... y-you shouldn't have... come with me...” she gasped.
Caroline laughed softly and lay down beside her. “You only got into this fight because of me. I couldn't leave you alone.”
She turned her face to the sky, a slight smile on her lips.
“Besides, it's been a while since I've had a real workout. It feels pretty good, actually.”
Tania let out a weak laugh.
“Hahaha... good? I'm dying.”
The two lay there, side by side, watching the night sky. Their breathing gradually calmed down, until they decided to sit up.
A sound broke the silence: beep.
Caroline pulled her cell phone out of her bag—a message from Nicholas.
Nicholas: \[Have you moved rooms yet? How's the room with the double bed?\]
Caroline typed quickly:
Caroline: \[Not yet.\]
The reply came almost instantly.
Nicholas: \[Why not?\]
Caroline hesitated, thinking about what to say.
Caroline: \[Something happened, so there was a delay.\]
Nicholas: \[What happened?\]
She bit her lip, unsure whether to tell him or not.
But before she could answer, Tania grabbed the phone from her hands.
“Prince Charming, Carol has been bullied! Come defend her!” she said, recording a voice message with total conviction.
“Tania!” Caroline reached out, somewhat exasperated.
But it was too late. The message had been sent.
Tania returned the phone, looking at her seriously.
“Carol, you have an amazing boyfriend. Use him when you need to! We didn't do anything wrong today, and yet we had to pay the price. The more I think about it, the angrier I get. They started it!”
Caroline didn't know whether to laugh or sigh.
And for the first time that night, a small smile appeared on her lips — tired, but full of tenderness.
“Didn't you see the look on their faces just now? They were so convinced.”
As soon as Caroline got her phone back, it started vibrating in her hand. Nicholas was calling.
Caroline froze for a second.
Of course... he must have heard the voicemail Tania had sent.
She shot her friend a reproachful look—who just shrugged with a mischievous smile—before answering.
Nicholas's voice sounded on the other end of the line, deep and menacingly calm:
“Did someone intimidate you?”
Caroline hesitated.
“Um...”
In fact, she didn't think she had been intimidated.
After all, in the fight, she had gotten the better of them before the attendant showed up.
“Say something,” his voice sounded firmer, the tone laden with authority.
Caroline decided to be honest.
“I fought with them... and they ended up a little worse off than I did.” So, technically, I wouldn't say I was intimidated.
There was a brief silence on the other end of the line.
And when he spoke again, his tone was different—cold, controlled, but with something about to explode.
“You... actually got into a fight with someone?”
Caroline swallowed hard.
“Um... yes.”
She could feel the displeasure in his voice, and her heart sank.
Maybe he was angry—and if he was, she wouldn't blame him.
Since their marriage, it seemed like she only brought him trouble.
And he always ended up fixing everything.
She bit her lip, unsure.
“Are you... angry?”
The answer came coldly. “We just got separated, and something like this happens already. Do you think I shouldn't be angry?”
Caroline clutched her phone between her fingers, her heart racing.
So that was it... he thought she was too much trouble.
In a low voice, almost ashamed, she said:
“I'm sorry. I didn't do it on purpose. I know I've caused too many problems already...”
But he interrupted her before she could continue:
“Honey, I'm not mad at you.
She was speechless.
Nicholas's voice softened, but there was a dark firmness behind it.
”I'm angry because you were bullied and I wasn't there. I said I would protect you, that I wouldn't let anyone hurt you. And I failed at that."
Caroline's eyes widened.
He... wasn't angry with her.
He was frustrated for her.
A gentle warmth filled her chest—a mixture of surprise and tenderness.
She smiled slightly, her voice delicate.
“This has nothing to do with you. You can't be by my side all the time. It's not your fault.”
Pause.
And, on impulse, she added playfully:
“Besides, I wasn't intimidated. I'm so good at fighting that I think I was the one who intimidated the others.”
As soon as she said it, she realized her mistake.
On the other end, Nicholas let out a low laugh.
“Good at fighting, huh? Honey, did you used to fight a lot?”
Caroline was speechless.
A silence hung between them—a silence that, for some reason, made her heart race even faster.
Then his voice returned, softer, almost a whisper:
“My dear, I really wish you could be by my side twenty-four hours a day. That way, I could see you every minute and every second. Otherwise... I can't find peace.”
Caroline pressed the phone to her chest, her heart beating too fast.
The man on the other end of the line could sound cold, authoritative, and relentless —
but at that moment, his voice was pure tenderness.