Chapter 10
Caroline ate quickly. Despite the table full of delicacies, everything tasted like sawdust. She just wanted this awkward gathering to end as soon as possible.
Seated across from her, Irene was smiling and chatting with Tiffany when her gaze casually swept over Caroline's hand. Her smile froze abruptly.
"Caroline," she began with a probing tone, "where's your wedding ring?"
With those words, conversation at the table instantly ceased.
All eyes turned toward Caroline's bare left ring finger, where only a faint, barely noticeable white mark remained.
Caroline's hand, still holding her utensils, paused. She had removed the ring at the hospital that morning.
Though she had anticipated this discovery, she wasn't prepared to address it.
She looked up, forcing a somewhat natural smile to her face. Before she could explain, she met Arthur's gaze.
He had been eating in silence, seemingly indifferent to everything at the table. Now his attention focused on her empty finger.
Arthur knew how important that ring had been to Caroline. Throughout their seven-year marriage, no matter how angry or hurt she felt, even when they were so at odds that they slept in separate rooms, that ring had never left her finger.
But now, she had taken it off herself.
Arthur's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
In the past when Caroline was upset, she would merely simmer quietly, never showing it outwardly. She had never expressed her dissatisfaction by removing her wedding ring.
This wasn't a simple tantrum—it seemed more like a resolute declaration.
His fingertips tapped lightly on the table twice, though he felt little internal turmoil.
What did her dissatisfaction matter? What did her determination matter?
In his eyes, Caroline was merely the Windsor family's nominal mistress, a wife his grandfather had forced upon him. Her emotions and thoughts had never been within his realm of consideration.
He looked away, calmly taking a sip from his water glass, his movements unhurried, as if the situation had nothing to do with him.
He saw no need to placate her, nor did he have any inclination to do so.
Isaac, seated at the head of the table, had also noticed this scene. A flash of concern crossed his cloudy eyes.
Setting down his utensils, he cleared his throat softly and looked at Caroline. "Caroline, did you forget to wear it?"
Before Caroline could answer, Tiffany spoke in a gentle voice that carried undeniable authority.
She placed some food on Caroline's plate. "You're so careless, child. There are so many eyes watching the Windsor family these days. The slightest issue gets magnified countless times. You and Arthur are husband and wife—that ring symbolizes your harmonious relationship."
"If outsiders see you without your ring, who knows what ugly rumors might spread about discord within the Windsor family? What if it affects the company's stock price?"
Her tone sounded concerned, but her message was clear: Caroline needed to be sensible and not let her personal feelings impact the Windsor family's interests.
Caroline lowered her eyes. Though Arthur was clearly in the wrong, everyone was advising her to be patient, to be mature, to swallow all her grievances for the collective benefit of the Windsor family.
She opened her mouth to defend herself, to say this wasn't her fault, but the words died on her lips.
She hadn't yet finalized the divorce. As long as she remained the Windsor family's mistress, she had to consider their reputation and supposed collective interests.
Taking a deep breath to suppress her hurt feelings, she looked up with just the right amount of apology and confusion on her face. "I'm sorry. I probably took it off while showering this afternoon and forgot to put it back on. I'll look for it later."
This excuse was full of holes, but everyone seemed to accept it.
Tiffany nodded with satisfaction. "Find it and put it on quickly. Don't be so careless again."
Caroline finished the rest of her meal without tasting anything. Hastily setting down her utensils, she muttered, "I'm finished," and fled the dining room.
Back in the bedroom, Caroline closed the door behind her.
Some time later, footsteps approached, followed by the sound of the door opening.
Arthur walked in, glanced at Caroline with a slightly furrowed brow, but said nothing as he headed straight for the desk.
The bedroom fell silent except for the crisp, rhythmic sound of Arthur typing on his keyboard—a sound that struck Caroline's heart like a hammer.
They hadn't slept together in a long time. If not for Isaac's illness and his specific request for them to stay at the family home, they would have continued their separate lives.
Caroline sat on the edge of the bed, feeling awkward.
She stole a glance at Arthur, who was focused intently on his computer screen, his expression serious. He hadn't spared her a moment's attention.
Clearly, even sharing a room, he preferred to work through the night.
A bitter smile touched Caroline's lips.
Would he be so focused on work if Heidi were here instead?
She dared not dwell on that thought. Just imagining such scenes caused a dull ache in her chest.
Time passed minute by minute. At midnight, he was still working.
Caroline's eyelids grew increasingly heavy. The fatigue of recent days and her emotional exhaustion were overwhelming.
"I'm going to sleep," she said, her voice heavy with weariness.
In the past, she would have waited for Arthur to finish working, prepared his bath, even made him a glass of warm milk before allowing herself to rest.
But now, she no longer wanted to.
She removed her jacket, slipped under the covers, turned her back to Arthur, and closed her eyes.
She had actually planned to discuss divorce with him tonight.
But seeing his unapproachable demeanor, the words died on her lips.
She turned over, wrapping herself tightly in the blanket, trying to ignore the keyboard sounds behind her as she forced herself to sleep.
Some time later, Caroline heard a phone ring through her drowsy haze. She blearily opened her eyes to see Arthur answering his phone.
He spoke very quietly, with a tenderness she had never heard before. "All right, I'll be right there. Don't worry. Wait for me."
That concern and patience in his voice was something she had never experienced.
After hanging up, Arthur stood, grabbed his jacket from the chair, and quickly put it on. Then he left the room with careful steps, the door making only a soft sound as it closed.
The room fell completely silent, with only Caroline's steady breathing remaining.
The next morning, Caroline was awakened by the chime of incoming messages.
She rubbed her sore eyes and sat up, instinctively looking at the space beside her. It was empty and cold—clearly, no one had lain there all night.