Chapter 351

Chapter 351

Even so, life still hadn't spared Becky.

What Becky found most unbearable about today's incident was that her parents, along with the people closest to her, had all lied to her—kept things from her.

She clung to Caroline, eyes red. "Caroline, you're all I have left. Don't abandon me."

Caroline patted her back soothingly. "I'm here."

The phone rang over and over. Without thinking, Becky threw it across the room.

After a brief moment of peace, Caroline's phone started ringing too.

Stanley had her contact information.

She glanced at Becky awkwardly. Becky sniffled. "Don't you dare answer his calls either!"

"Okay." Caroline silenced it, but the phone kept vibrating.

Becky grabbed the phone. Caroline made a halfhearted attempt to stop her. "Are you throwing mine too?"

Becky nodded. "Yes! I don't want to hear anything about him!"

Faced with her best friend's glistening eyes, Caroline sighed and handed over the phone.

Without hesitation, Becky hurled it outside, then turned to Caroline. "I won't let you lose out. There's six hundred and eighty thousand dollars on this card—consider it compensation, plus my food expenses for however long I'm staying."

"Why would I take your money?" Caroline pushed the card back and stroked her hair. "Just stay here. Don't worry about anything else. I've got you."

"Caroline, you're the best!" Becky threw her arms around her. Another knock came at the door. Becky reflexively looked at Caroline. "Don't let him in!"

"I won't." Caroline nodded.

The knocking continued for a while before finally stopping.

Becky finally relaxed, curling up as she rambled to Caroline.

It was all about how she'd noticed something was off with Stanley for a while now—coming home late, barely paying attention when she went out, acting mysterious all the time. Turns out he'd been seeing someone.

Caroline listened and agreed with her, though doubts lingered in her mind.

According to the Powell parents, that girl was an accident. Stanley hadn't been in contact with her since.

So how had she tracked down the Powell family home so precisely?

This looked more like someone had set Stanley up.

"I'm hungry." After crying for a while, Becky finally stopped and looked at Caroline hopefully.

Caroline instinctively reached for her phone to order takeout, then remembered Becky had thrown it away. Faced with her friend's pleading eyes, she sighed. "Let's go out to eat then."

Becky cheered and followed her to the door.

But the moment they opened it, a bright little voice called out.

"Mommy's opening the door!"

It was Logan.

The door across the hall opened in response, revealing Layla, Arthur, and Blake.

"What are you doing here?" Seeing them all lined up, Caroline looked surprised.

"I called but couldn't get through, rang the doorbell but got no answer. Thought you weren't home, so I went next door with the kids." Blake explained.

He hadn't wanted to get involved with Arthur.

But these two children were Caroline's flesh and blood. As their uncle, the more he saw them, the more he adored them.

Caroline realized what had happened.

So it had been Blake knocking, not Stanley.

Becky visibly looked guilty.

Caroline didn't call her out. She cleared her throat lightly. "My phone broke. I was planning to get a new one. That's my fault. Here—let me set up your fingerprint so you can come in directly next time instead of waiting outside."

"Sounds good." Blake readily agreed.

"Mommy, can we get fingerprints too?" The two children looked at Caroline hopefully.

"Me too!" Becky joined the queue.

Caroline looked at the line of people somewhat helplessly, but still nodded. "One at a time."

After she spoke, she noticed Arthur standing at the back of the group.

He pressed his lips together, watching silently, looking especially forlorn.

Caroline looked away.

She had no intention of registering Arthur's fingerprint.

"Caroline, have you eaten yet? I made reservations at a really nice home-style restaurant." After finishing with the fingerprints, Blake spoke up.

Becky's eyes lit up. "Perfect! Caroline and I were just about to go eat!"

"Let's all go together then." Caroline quickly made the decision.

The two children held Caroline's hands on either side. Blake and Becky walked ahead to call the elevator.

Caroline glanced back. Arthur still stood in the corner, unmoving.

She paused. "Want to come eat with us?"

Arthur lifted his head, his eyes finally showing light.

"Can I?" He asked carefully, his expression even carrying a hint of hope.

The mighty president of the Windsor Group—when had he ever been reduced to begging like this?

"You're the kids' father. Since both of them are going, you should come too." Caroline nodded.

A smile finally appeared on Arthur's face. "Okay."

He walked over, standing shoulder to shoulder with Caroline as they both held the children's hands.

From a distance, they looked like a perfectly harmonious family of four.

Blake spotted this scene from afar and frowned.

"Caroline, ride in my car." He remembered how Arthur had wronged Caroline before. He squeezed between them, blocking them, and took Caroline's hand.

Caroline was pulled away. Becky didn't hesitate to climb in too.

The two children, meeting their uncle for the first time, found it all fascinating and insisted on riding with them as well.

So on the way to dinner, Blake's car was packed full while Arthur rode alone.

Arthur had been repeatedly ignored today. Caroline occasionally turned to check his expression, only to find him looking perfectly normal—apparently not angry about any of it.

Since when had his temper become so good?

As president of the Windsor Group, Arthur had always been the center of attention. Being ignored like this had never happened before, yet he managed to stay composed.

Arthur had originally wanted to come over and hold the children's hands, but Blake noticed this and deliberately blocked him.

"Don't think just because Caroline tolerates you for the kids' sake that you can exploit her kindness."

"The things you did—Caroline will never forgive you. You'd better stay away from her!"

Blake's gaze was icy. Caroline had already taken the kids and Becky into the private dining room. Only the two men remained outside.

Arthur looked at him, then spoke suddenly. "Does Caroline know about your contract dispute with your agency? You want to leave the company, but now that you're a Best Actor, they won't let go of their cash cow. You've been cutting back on appearances this past year, thinking you can strong-arm your agency into giving up on you?"

"That's none of your business!"

After the last scandal broke, Blake had developed friction with his agency. They hadn't provided any help, and afterward had even considered shelving him or making him take the fall.