Chapter 85

Chapter 85

Sarah seemed oblivious to the sarcasm in Adeline's voice, warmly linking arms with her as if they were old friends.

"How long has it been since we last saw each other? Almost three years, right?" Sarah eagerly took Adeline's suitcase and handed it to her assistant, then turned to pat Isabel's head. "You've had a tough time abroad. Now that you're back, I'll make it up to you."

"Make it up to me?" Adeline abruptly shook off Sarah's hand, her eyes blazing with anger. "Sarah, do you think you can repay what you owe me with just some compensation?"

She stared intensely at Sarah, her voice trembling with emotion as she tried to keep her feelings in check for Isabel's sake.

"If it weren't for you pushing me to take the blame, I wouldn't have offended the Anderson family and been exiled abroad to live a miserable life."

Sarah's smile froze. She signaled her assistant to hurry and start the car while pulling Adeline towards the parking lot. "This isn't the place to talk. We'll discuss everything once we're back."

Once inside the car, Sarah dropped her friendly facade, her face now showing impatience and disdain.

"Adeline, let's not bring up the past. If you hadn't embezzled company funds out of greed, I wouldn't have had to spend a fortune to cover it up. I even arranged for you to get pregnant and sent you abroad to protect you. How can you blame me?"

Five years ago, Adeline had secretly embezzled company funds and was caught by internal staff. She had come to Sarah, crying and begging for help.

At the time, Sarah was the company's general manager and had the authority to help. Out of their long-standing friendship, she managed to suppress the issue, only removing Adeline from her position instead of sending her to jail.

Later, a scandal involving the Anderson family erupted. Sarah didn't want to get involved and sent Adeline abroad overnight to avoid offending the Andersons.

"You're shameless!" Adeline trembled with rage. "You told me to transfer that money to smooth things over, and when things went wrong, you pinned all the blame on me! Sarah, you made me bear the guilt for years, and now you have the audacity to talk about the past?"

"Enough!" Sarah interrupted sharply. "I'm now the vice president of the Church Group. Whether you can stay in Luminous City and return to the public eye depends on me. If you want revenge, I can ensure you stay abroad forever, with no chance to rise again."

Adeline looked at Sarah's arrogant demeanor, her hatred growing like wild weeds.

But she knew it wasn't the time for a direct confrontation. She took a deep breath, suppressing her anger for now. "What do you want me to do?"

Seeing Adeline's compliance, Sarah smiled with satisfaction. "That's more like it."

She handed Adeline a file. "This is information on Charles's wife. I want you to start getting close to her."

As Adeline opened the file, she froze, her hands trembling as she gripped the papers tightly.

It was the woman she had met abroad.

She was Charles's wife?

How could that be?

She bit her lip hard, staring at the name “Charles” in the spouse section, the name piercing her eyes.

How could he marry someone else?

Charles couldn't possibly marry anyone but her!

She clenched the papers so tightly that they crumpled, her voice shaking. "You want to go after her?"

Sarah noticed Adeline's reaction, a hint of mockery in her eyes, silently cursing her for being pathetic.

"Isn't she our common enemy? How can you say it's just me going after her?"

"What's in it for me?"

"Benefits?" Sarah chuckled, then spoke in a tempting tone. "Mrs. Anderson should have been you. What more do you want?"

Her words stirred the ambition buried deep in Adeline's heart.

Yes, "Mrs. Anderson" should have been her.

Who was this woman anyway?

Charles had once said she was the one he wanted to marry most.

Adeline looked at Patricia's photo in the file, the woman's gentle smile and serene eyes stabbing her like needles.

She thought of the hardships she endured abroad for five years, Sarah's offer, and after a long pause, she nodded.

"Alright, I'll help you."

The car left the airport, merging into the evening rush hour traffic.

Adeline watched the passing scenery outside, her desire growing and spreading within her.

Meanwhile, Sarah kept a faint smile on her lips. She took out her phone and sent a message to an encrypted number: [The plan has started.]

Soon, the reply came: [Good.]

Three days later, when Charles pushed open the door to Rosewood Estate, he saw only his black leather shoes from before his business trip at the entrance. Patricia's usual shoes and Emily's bear slippers were nowhere to be seen.

He set down his suitcase, tapping his fingers on the cold shoe cabinet, staring blankly at the empty spot.

Didn't they know he was coming back today?

Ellie, who had just finished working in the backyard, saw Charles and couldn't hide her smile. "Mr. Anderson, you're back."

Charles nodded, his voice filled with barely contained urgency. "Where are they?"

Ellie was taken aback. "Mrs. Anderson was called back to the Anderson Mansion the day she returned. They said they needed her to manage things and have kept her there since."

She had informed Charles about this, hadn't he seen the message?

"Really?" Charles felt puzzled but didn't show it. "I'll pick her up later."

Ellie nodded quickly.

Meanwhile, in the Anderson Mansion's living room, Patricia was listening to Thea sighing on the couch, bored enough to silently count the seconds on the quartz clock.

Thea clutched a tissue, occasionally wiping nonexistent tears.

"Patricia, I've been married to Alvin for so many years. I've worked hard, but he hasn't come to see me since I've been here for over half a month."

"And I was managing the accounts, but yesterday I made a mistake, and Mom sighed, thinking I couldn't even handle this small task."

"I really envy you. Charles dotes on you, and you can do your own thing. Unlike me, trapped in Silver Estate, every time I ask Alvin for money, he scolds me."

Thea's endless complaints were wearing Patricia's patience thin.

Since returning to the Anderson Mansion, Thea had been a constant source of trouble, complaining about being scolded by Missy, being ostracized by relatives, and being targeted by the household staff.

Patricia took a sip of tea, her tone flat. "Thea, you're too anxious. Things aren't as bad as you think."

She comforted Thea on the surface, while internally plotting how to escape her constant whining.

In the three days since she arrived at the Anderson Mansion, aside from greeting William, she had been assigned by Missy to keep Thea, a pregnant woman, company. 

Even Emily had been sent to Silver Estate to stay with Rex and Kelly, with a guest room prepared for them at the Anderson Mansion.

She was being treated like Thea's entertainment machine.

For some reason, Thea's attitude towards her had changed after she helped her out last time, suddenly becoming very friendly.

Missy had said, "Thea's pregnancy symptoms are less severe when she sees you."

Patricia couldn't help but roll her eyes at that.

She was frustrated that Missy had tricked her into coming here just to escape herself.

Thea noticed Patricia's lack of response and realized her complaints were annoying. She awkwardly apologized, "Sorry, Patricia, I'm rambling again."

"It's fine."

Patricia's eyes darted around, thinking of an excuse to leave when Thea suddenly lowered her voice, looking around mysteriously.

"Patricia, did you know? A few days ago, Bruce and Glenn had a huge fight. It was so intense that everyone at the Anderson Mansion heard about it."

Patricia, who had been feeling sleepy, perked up instantly, raising an eyebrow. "Oh? What was the fight about?"

"It was the day before you came back," Thea leaned closer, her voice barely audible. "I heard Glenn has a woman outside and even has an illegitimate child."