Chapter 136: I Know Her Escape Route

Charles was in an exceptionally good mood today, which even improved his attitude toward Caroline.

Normally, he wouldn't allow her into his study.

Caroline tiptoed in and closed the door behind her, then approached Charles with a flattering smile.

"Uncle, I just saw your assistant leaving. It looked like he was going to transfer some money. What's that about?"

Charles's expression tightened, his eyes filling with wariness.

"Who told you that?"

"Oh, I just happened to overhear," Caroline said casually.

Charles observed her innocent demeanor, and his guard lowered somewhat.

Why was he being so paranoid?

Caroline ate his food, used his things, lived under his roof, and had always been obedient and sensible around him.

Most importantly, she and Grace were enemies.

So what if Caroline knew the truth?

Would she really run to Grace and tell her?

And even if she did, given how much those two despised each other—would Grace even believe her?

Caroline quickly poured Charles a cup of tea and handed it to him respectfully.

"Uncle, I'm just curious. Someone like you, with all that money, must be handling enormous business deals."

"But you mentioned transferring money to someone without any mention of business, so I found it a bit strange. I was just asking out of curiosity."

"If you don't want to talk about it, I won't press. It's not a big deal."

Charles accepted the tea and gently skimmed the surface with the lid.

"Someone did a job for me. But now she's being watched, so naturally I have to help her out."

"At the very least, I need to get her out of the country to find somewhere safe to live out her days, never to return. Don't you think?"

"Yes, yes." Caroline nodded eagerly.

"Everything you say is right, Uncle."

"Who is this person? Do I know her?"

"Of course you don't know her."

"I see."

Caroline nodded lightly, though her eyes darted back and forth.

Paying someone to flee the country, never to return.

That sounded awfully familiar—like the mole Grace had discovered at the institute.

Caroline had already pieced together most of the story.

So that meant the research institute mole was being sent away by Charles?

Caroline's expression shifted slightly.

Her uncle had some serious nerve.

Then again, money made the world go round. Who would turn down cash?

That mole had gone through all that trouble for exactly this—the payout.

"Why do you keep bringing this up? What's your angle?"

Charles noticed Caroline's prolonged silence and looked down at her.

Was she fishing for information?

"Uncle, please don't misunderstand me!"

Caroline quickly protested her loyalty, though inwardly she was startled.

Was I that obvious?

No, she couldn't let Charles catch on.

Grace had promised to help her get together with Jonathan.

For that goal, she'd sacrifice anything. She couldn't drop the ball at such a critical moment.

"Uncle, I'm really just curious."

Caroline forced herself to sound relaxed. "Fine, I won't ask so many questions. I just wonder who this person is and what they did."

"What could they have done?" Charles sneered dismissively. "It's all about targeting Grace, of course."

"This is the price Grace pays for not listening to me."

"If Grace had cooperated and just sold me her research findings, I wouldn't have had to go through all this trouble."

"But no—Grace treats that research like it's her precious baby."

"Well, I successfully stole it and handed it over to Dr. Carter. What can Grace do about it now?"

"She can be as furious as she wants, she can practically die of rage—but without evidence, it's all just talk."

Caroline finally heard something useful and covered her mouth in mock shock.

"Uncle, are you talking about Grace's stolen research?"

"If that's the case, then that's wonderful! Grace deserves it—this is what she gets for crossing me!"

Caroline laughed coldly with satisfaction.

Charles couldn't help but give her an appraising look.

He had to admit, Caroline's smug expression bore a striking resemblance to his own.

They were family, after all.

No matter what, they shared blood. This was practically hereditary.

"I can't wait to see Grace's face when she realizes what happened."

Caroline's eyes gleamed with anticipation.

"Uncle, you're absolutely brilliant! I've been fighting with Grace for so long and never managed to take her down."

"And now, with just a little scheme from you, Grace loses her research and can't do anything about it. This is amazing!"

Charles closed his eyes contentedly, clearly enjoying the flattery.

Caroline might lack other virtues, but she had a gift for reading people and saying exactly what they wanted to hear.

That's how she'd hooked Jonathan in the first place.

And now, using the same tactics on Charles, he was equally susceptible.

Within half an hour, Caroline had extracted a wealth of intelligence from Charles.

How Carol had left the country, when she'd left, how much money she'd received, which country she'd gone to, how long she'd stay—Caroline learned it all.

The more she heard, the more alarmed she became, and her gaze toward Charles grew wary.

She'd never imagined that her uncle, who appeared so refined and harmless on the surface, practically dripping with wealth—

—could be this kind of person behind closed doors.

What was even more terrifying was that Charles recounted all of this without the slightest emotional fluctuation.

It was as if he'd done this sort of thing many times before and had long since grown accustomed to it.

Caroline couldn't help but wonder.

If that were true, then how exactly had her uncle acquired his wealth? The implications were deeply unsettling.

Most chilling of all was this: if Charles really had done such things, and done them repeatedly, amassing his fortune through these methods—

Why had no one ever held him accountable?

Just what kind of powerful, well-connected figure was he?

Caroline had gotten all the information she needed and quietly slipped out of the study.

Returning to her room, she pulled out her phone to call Grace. But just as she was about to dial, she stopped herself.

No, this house is probably crawling with surveillance. There might even be cameras in my room. I should tell Grace somewhere else.

This time, she wanted to see what excuse Grace could possibly have for not helping her.

As long as she could be with Jonathan, she'd pay any price, offend anyone—she'd do it willingly.

Grace was in the depths of despair.

Both Michael and Professor Williams had taken turns trying to comfort her, but nothing worked.

Grace just sat there with her head down, saying nothing. Michael was beside himself with worry.

He'd called the police, but clearly that hadn't accomplished anything—otherwise they'd have found a solution by now.

Then Caroline's call came through. Grace glanced at the screen, and a flicker of interest crossed her eyes.