Chapter 108
One week later, at Celestial University's faculty apartments.
The door opened, and a tall figure appeared in the doorway.
"Caroline, people from Vanguard Enterprises Group have been looking for you," Alton said hesitantly.
He had wanted to suppress this matter, but some decisions only Caroline herself could make. He had no right to decide what she should surrender.
By the window, Caroline stood in a pale blue outfit, her long hair cascading loosely to her waist. A single strand of silver-white hair on her right side gave her an otherworldly beauty, starkly contrasting with her serene eyes.
Pain flickered across Alton's face. This was a side effect of the chemotherapy drugs. Eventually, Caroline's hair might turn completely white.
"If you don't want to go, I'll handle it for you," he offered.
Caroline smiled and shook her head, her voice as calm as still water. "Alton, don't trouble yourself. Just arrange a meeting."
She had originally thought she had more time—time to leave something meaningful behind, to prove her value in her final days.
But fate had other plans.
The emotional turmoil at her grandmother's birthday had accelerated her condition.
If her professor hadn't collaborated with other specialists to risk an experimental chemotherapy and targeted treatment, she would likely be dead already.
Yet Caroline knew her own body. Her time was limited.
In these final days, even picking up laboratory equipment was difficult, let alone performing the precise operations required for experiments.
She couldn't do it anymore.
She was still alive, but in many ways, it felt like she was already gone.
The room fell into silence.
After a long hesitation, Alton awkwardly offered, "You don't need to worry about what's happening online. I'll have it handled."
He noticed Caroline's phone on the table, its screen displaying news headlines:
#Famous Neuroscience Lab Consultant Caught Practicing Medicine Illegally? Crackdown on Illegal Medical Practice Urgently Needed!
#Female Researcher Who Claims to Care for Alzheimer's Patients Ignores Her Own Mother for Years—A True Viper!
#Granddaughter Attempts Murder Under Medical Pretense at Grandmother's 70th Birthday!
Each headline was accompanied by Caroline's photos and vicious comments.
Someone was deliberately guiding public opinion, resulting in an avalanche of online abuse against Caroline.
Alton had already ordered his team to remove these articles, specifically to prevent Caroline from seeing them.
But the news hadn't been taken down, and Caroline had already seen everything.
The increasing popularity of these stories indicated that the removal attempts had failed.
He had used the Brooks family's influence, which should have been sufficient to remove the content immediately. This resistance could only mean someone was countering their efforts.
In Sovereign City, only one person wielded such power: Arthur.
Only his intervention could produce such a result.
Realizing this possibility, Alton's expression darkened.
"Alton, don't worry," Caroline said, her gentle voice somehow soothing. "They're doing this to make me give up what I have—things they want but can't obtain through legitimate means."
"If that's what they want, they can have it."
She was curious, though—if Arthur knew Heidi's true nature, would he still be so devoted to her?
Though she'd been staying at Gabriel's place these past few days, she hadn't been idle.
Her investigation revealed another reason for Arthur's deep attachment to Heidi, apparently related to a dangerous situation Arthur had faced abroad.
This added another layer of mystery to Caroline's understanding of the situation.
But her investigation had made one thing clear: Heidi was no helpless victim. This news campaign was just one example.
Meanwhile, at the Windsor Group Building, Arthur threw down a file in anger. "Who authorized you to expose Caroline online?"
Heidi bit her lip, her innocent eyes brimming with tears.
"Arthur, I... I only wanted what's best for the Windsor Group!"
"Vanguard Enterprises Group was perfectly content in Orchid City, yet suddenly they're expanding into Sovereign City, even stealing Windsor Group projects. The experimental program that could have raised our profile was taken by them—all because of Caroline."
"As your wife, she not only refuses to help advance the Windsor Group but actively works against it. I hate her! How dare she hold the position of your wife while undermining you?"
Seeing Arthur's expression gradually soften, Heidi threw herself into his arms with a passionate declaration.
"Arthur, I only did it because I love you so much. And I don't regret it one bit."
"Caroline is afraid to show her face now. This is our chance to take over those two projects. The Windsor Group is at a critical juncture—securing these projects would elevate us to the next level."
Arthur's brow relaxed slightly, though he didn't explicitly agree.
"Even without these projects, the Windsor Group won't lose."
Heidi nestled obediently against him, calculation swirling in her eyes.
She knew the Windsor Group wouldn't fail, but her ambitions went further. With the deputy manager position at Windsor Group headquarters recently vacated, she no longer wanted to disguise her aspirations.
She wanted to become the general manager, to truly control the Windsor Group—not just be a talented, pretty woman at Arthur's side.
Men of Arthur's status were surrounded by beautiful women. Even the brilliant Caroline had been discarded. Heidi couldn't afford to relax her vigilance.
She needed to become Arthur's irreplaceable partner.
But facing Arthur, she merely answered with docile agreement.
For some reason, though, Arthur felt a strange discomfort in his heart.
---
It was midnight when Arthur returned home.
The mansion was shrouded in darkness, with only a single light illuminating the second-floor hallway.
Arthur felt a flicker of expectation. "Caroline?"
As soon as he spoke, a small, tousled head emerged from the shadows. "Daddy, it's me."
Arthur paused. "Layla? Why aren't you asleep? Are you feeling unwell?"
Layla shook her head, her large eyes looking at him with solemn intensity. "Daddy, is Mommy never coming back?"
Arthur's lips tightened as he tried to comfort her gently.
"Are you bored at home, Layla? Tomorrow, your Ms. White and I will take you to the amusement park. How does that sound?"
Layla shook her head again. "Ms. White is nice, but she's not Mommy."
She liked Heidi—every moment with her was carefree, without constant reminders and nagging.
But these past few days, she missed her mother.
She missed her mother's bedtime stories and the mini breakfast sandwiches she made each morning. But her mother wasn't there.