Chapter 2 Are You Loyal to Me
The contrast between the two families was stark. The Tudor family was well-known and respected in Seaside City, while Atticus came from a small town where his parents ran a modest grocery store, making them relatively well-off for the area.
However, the Grayson family was on a completely different level compared to the Tudors, and Atticus always felt a sense of inferiority.
His relationship with Caroline was largely driven by his desire to climb the social ladder and have a respectable family background. Whether he truly loved Caroline was debatable; he probably loved himself the most.
On the surface, he played the role of the devoted lover, claiming to love her deeply. But in his heart, he was focused on his future success, aiming to thrive in his career and gain social respect.
Caroline brushed her hair aside and turned to look out the car window, clearly not wanting to continue the conversation, but there was a question she needed to ask.
"Atticus, why are you in such a hurry to marry me?"
Sensing the tension, Atticus tried to lighten the mood with a joke. "Why wouldn't I be? Who wouldn't want to marry the woman they love as soon as possible?"
Caroline pressed on, "Marriage should be based on love. Do you love me?"
Atticus had always professed his deep love for her, making it seem like she was the center of his world in front of their parents and friends.
Without hesitation, he replied, "Of course, I love you. Don't you know how much?"
"Tell me, what is love?"
Caroline could accept if he didn't love her. If they were honest with each other, they could marry for the sake of their families and focus on their careers. Love wasn't everything to her; she valued her career highly.
But she was disgusted by Atticus using love as a pretense to cover up his deceitful actions.
Atticus was momentarily speechless. "What's with all the questions today?"
Caroline retorted, "Is it me asking too many questions, or is it you creating too many problems? This morning, you brought up buying a house, getting married, having kids, and even deciding who would take care of them. Aren't those your problems?"
When Caroline got serious, Atticus had no way out. He tried to change the subject. "Think about it. We're the same age, we look good together, our families match well, and we both have respectable jobs. You're a department head, and I'm a law firm partner. If we don't get married, your parents won't agree."
Caroline supported her forehead, thinking how outdated his views on marriage were. Even if they were a good match, his family background wasn't as perfect as he claimed. She had agreed to meet him because the matchmaker assured her of his good character.
But Atticus turned out to be a liar and a philanderer.
The Tudor family valued integrity, while Atticus focused on social status. The more someone lacked something, the more they flaunted it.
Caroline tuned out his words, her mind drifting as she stared at an advertisement outside the car window.
It was an ad for a five-star hotel, and the slogan struck a chord with her.
[Emerald Elegance Hotel, a castle loyal to you alone.]
"Atticus," Caroline murmured, "are you loyal to me?"
If they weren't in the car, Atticus would have found an excuse to dodge her question, but in the confined space, he had no choice but to respond. "Are you about to get your period? Your emotions seem unstable. I'll get you some heat patches from the pharmacy."
"Atticus, have you ever lied to me?"
Seeing her determined look, Atticus felt uneasy, suspecting she might know something. But he reassured himself that he had been discreet. If she knew, she would have confronted him by now.
After a moment of consideration, he confidently said, "Of course not. I'm a lawyer. I have a strong sense of justice and honesty. Lying creates a vicious cycle. I'm too smart to do something so foolish." Caroline had given him a chance, but he blew it.
"Have you ever betrayed me?" She asked again.
Atticus thought she was testing him and declared, "Absolutely not! I would never betray you. My love for you keeps me away from any other women."
Caroline wanted to applaud his performance. As a lawyer, Atticus played the role of a loyal and righteous man perfectly.
She smiled without saying anything.
Seeing her relaxed expression, Atticus became convinced she was testing him. He grinned and said, "Aren't you touched? You should cherish me. Boyfriends as excellent and faithful as I am are rare."
He gently held her hand.
Caroline smiled silently, wondering how much his loyalty was worth.
She wanted to buy it and feed it to the dogs!
She had seen through Atticus's unwillingness to admit his infidelity. Now, she wouldn't hold back.
Caroline took out her phone and pretended to browse. "Someone in the neighborhood group mentioned recent break-ins. I'm thinking of installing a security camera at home. What do you think?"
"Sure, it's safer that way."
He had heard her mention installing cameras before, but didn't expect her to act so quickly.
Atticus had once advised her, from a legal standpoint, to avoid trying to catch someone cheating because of the challenges in obtaining evidence.
But Caroline had learned how to gather legal evidence from him.
She had informed Atticus about installing the cameras, fulfilling her duty to notify him.
The Toyota stopped at the Seaside City highway entrance, where a white Mercedes van was parked. The driver took her luggage and loaded it onto the van. Caroline got in without looking back.
Before the door closed, Atticus reminded her, "Let me know when you'll be back."
"Got it."
Caroline shut the door firmly.
As Atticus drove away, Caroline sat in the van, exiting the recording app on her phone and searching for home security cameras.
The investigation into the explosion at the Emberfall City power plant was quick, and Caroline returned to Seaside City in three days without informing Atticus. She booked a hotel room across from his apartment.
On the fourth morning, she watched Atticus's Toyota leave the complex before heading downstairs with her bag.
To be honest, Atticus's apartment was sparsely furnished, making it difficult to find a discreet spot for the camera. After some searching, she managed to hide a miniature camera inside the air conditioning unit.
That evening, Atticus called to ask when she would return. Caroline feigned exhaustion, saying the investigation was slow and she might need another three to five days.
For the next three days, Caroline went to work as usual, using her lunch breaks to review the footage. After work, she observed Atticus's nightlife from a distance.
Caroline's apartment at Starview Peninsula was bought by her parents after she started working at the power company. It was a spacious 1,500-square-foot unit, with 1,200 square feet of usable space, and the renovation cost $400,000.
For a single woman, her life was quite comfortable.
Half an hour before lunch, someone knocked on her office door.
"Come in."
Leopold entered, closing the door behind him. He approached her desk and greeted her politely.
"Hello, Ms. Tudor. Sorry to interrupt."
He was tall, and Caroline had to tilt her head slightly to look up at him. He had a chiseled face, deep-set eyes, and wore an impeccably tailored suit that exuded sophistication. His clean-cut appearance and well-groomed nails made him stand out as a successful man.
"And you are?" Caroline asked.
Leopold extended his hand and introduced himself. "I'm Leopold Wipere, the manager of the Emerald Elegance Hotel."