Chapter 48: Go Back Naked
Landon roared, cutting her off mid-sentence.
"It's precisely because we can't afford to offend them that we need to beg!"
"Gilbert and Daryl are members of the Collins family. If they're just left hanging naked at the entrance like that, how will the Collins family maintain any standing in Silvermoon City?"
His eyes glared viciously at Doyle and Bronte, his tone harsh and furious.
"You two go find Caroline right now and have her beg James to take Gilbert and Daryl down!"
"No matter what she has to do, she must get James to agree. Otherwise, don't bother coming back!"
Doyle frowned, looking troubled.
"Dad, Caroline is with James now. If we go looking for her, what if she ignores us?"
"Don't make excuses!"
Landon snapped sharply.
"She's your daughter. No matter how heartless she is, she can't just stand by and watch her own family be humiliated!"
Doyle and Bronte exchanged glances, both seeing helplessness and fear in each other's eyes.
They knew Landon meant what he said. If they didn't go, they'd definitely face consequences.
Bronte bit her lip and could only agree along with Doyle.
After leaving the Collins Villa, Bronte took out her phone and dialed Caroline's number.
At that moment, James and Caroline were together.
Seeing the caller ID, Caroline's brow furrowed slightly, but she still answered.
"Mom."
Caroline's tone was flat, without much emotion.
On the other end, Bronte's voice was unusually warm, even carrying a hint of flattery.
"Caroline dear, where are you? Your father and I need to talk to you about something."
Caroline sneered inwardly. She knew Bronte all too well.
Usually she paid her no attention, but now suddenly being so warm—it definitely wasn't good news.
"I'm at home. Whatever it is, just say it."
Seeing her cold tone, Bronte didn't mind and quickly said,
"Caroline, here's the thing. Daryl and Gilbert have been hung up at the company entrance by James's people."
"Please go talk to James and ask him to let them down. We're all family—why make things so extreme?"
Caroline's eyes instantly turned cold, her tone becoming stern.
"They got hung up because they brought it on themselves! Daryl deliberately made things difficult for me at the company and joined outsiders in slandering me."
"He even had Allan assault me. James just gave them a small lesson—they got what they deserved!"
"It's not that big a deal!"
Bronte said dismissively.
"Daryl is still young and doesn't know better. Don't hold it against him. Besides, he's your cousin. How can you just watch him be humiliated like this?"
"Not a big deal?"
Caroline trembled with anger.
"Mom, he treated me like that and you still think it's nothing? In your eyes, as long as they're Collins family members, no matter what terrible things they do, it's all trivial? And I'm just supposed to let them bully me?"
"That's not what I meant."
Bronte quickly explained.
"Caroline, I know you've been wronged, but Daryl is your cousin after all. Just help us out this once."
"If Gilbert and Daryl keep hanging there, the Collins family will become the laughingstock of the entire city."
"Just for your father's and my sake, help us this one time, okay?"
Caroline gripped her phone, feeling so hurt her whole body shook.
She took a deep breath, let out a cold laugh, and a look of resolve appeared in her eyes.
"I'll help you this one last time."
Caroline's voice carried a trace of weariness.
"From now on, don't come to me about anything related to the Collins family. I don't want to be dragged into your mess anymore."
Hearing this, Bronte was overjoyed and quickly said,
"Okay, okay, Caroline, thank you, thank you! I knew you were the most sensible one."
"Oh, Caroline, since James is with you, we'd like to invite you both over for dinner, to apologize to him in person and to you as well. Would that work?"
Caroline frowned. She didn't want to return to the Collins Villa at all, but since she'd agreed to help them, she could only nod.
"I'll ask James. If he's willing to go, we'll go. If not, there's nothing I can do."
"Good, good, please ask him. Tell him we've specially prepared fine wine and food, all his favorites. Please ask him to come."
Bronte said hurriedly, her tone full of flattery, afraid Caroline would change her mind.
After hanging up, Caroline turned to look at James, her eyes showing some difficulty.
"James, my parents want to invite us to the Collins Villa for dinner. They say they want to apologize to you and release Gilbert and Daryl."
"Are you willing? If you don't want to go, I'll just decline."
James had been sitting beside her the whole time. His fingertips gently brushed across her reddened eyes as he spoke gently,
"I know you're soft-hearted and don't want to push things too far. If you want to go, I'll go with you. No matter what tricks they pull, with me there, no one can bully you."
Caroline froze for a moment, looked up at James, and her eyes immediately reddened.
"James, thank you for always going along with me."
"Silly girl, no need to thank me."
James pinched her cheek.
"As long as you're happy, this small matter is nothing. However, if they want me to let Gilbert and Daryl go, it won't be that easy. They need to pay some price."
Caroline understood that James was backing her up, worried she'd be bullied by the Collins family again.
The two of them got ready and drove to the Collins Villa.
Throughout the journey, Caroline barely spoke, thinking about how to handle things once they arrived at the Collins Villa.
James noticed what was on her mind and freed one hand to gently pat the back of her hand.
"Don't overthink it. I'm here, I'll handle everything."
Caroline looked up at him, showing a faint smile, feeling much less anxious.
When they arrived at the Collins Villa, they could see from afar that Landon, Doyle, and Bronte were standing at the entrance waiting, each wearing an ingratiating smile.
As soon as the car stopped, Bronte hurried forward, reaching out to grab Caroline's hand, her face creased with smiles.
"Caroline, Mr. Anderson, you're finally here! Please come in, please come in! We've specially prepared fine wine and food, just waiting for you."
Caroline calmly avoided her hand and followed James forward, her tone flat.
"No need to be so polite. We're just here to clear things up."
Bronte's smile froze for a moment, then returned to its ingratiating state.
"Right, right, clear things up, clear things up. Mr. Anderson, please sit, please sit."
Landon also came forward quickly with his cane, bowing repeatedly to James.
"Mr. Anderson, I'm truly sorry. It's my fault for not disciplining them properly, letting Gilbert and Daryl anger you. I apologize to you here."
James just gave him a brief glance without speaking, and walked straight to the main seat in the living room with Caroline.
His presence was too strong. Once he sat there, the atmosphere in the entire living room became oppressive. Landon and the others stood to the side, not even daring to breathe heavily.
Doyle rubbed his hands together and said carefully,
"Mr. Anderson, look, Gilbert and Daryl have already been taught a lesson. Could you please show mercy and let them go? We'll definitely discipline them properly from now on and never let them anger you again."