Chapter 100
A few days later, Caroline's grandmother's birthday was approaching. The White family had arranged the celebration at the Royal Hotel.
After much contemplation in her apartment, Caroline finally called Arthur.
"Tomorrow is my grandmar's birthday. I want to bring the children with me."
Arthur seemed busy and merely responded with a cold acknowledgment, as if reluctant to speak even one extra word.
Caroline pressed her lips together before adding, "I'll come pick them up later, and we'll go directly to the hotel tomorrow."
At this, Arthur finally spoke up, his tone cold and decisive. "You should stay at the house with the children. We'll go together tomorrow."
"Alright," Caroline agreed.
The children were accustomed to living at the Windsor Villa, and departing from there to the hotel would be more convenient.
As for Arthur's mention of going "together," she didn't dwell on it.
After work, Caroline drove directly to the Windsor Villa. When she opened the door, the children were building with blocks in the living room.
Seeing her, Logan snorted angrily and ran off, abandoning his toys.
Layla initially wanted to leave too, but she truly missed her mom—especially the mom who had once cared for them so attentively. She stayed, looking at Caroline expectantly.
"Mommy, did you come back especially to see us? I'm not angry about what happened last time. Just promise you won't take other children out to play anymore, okay? I want Mommy to be with us every day."
She clung to Caroline's leg, wheedling. "Mommy, promise me, please?"
This was her strategy for getting what she wanted from Caroline.
In the past, whenever she pouted, even if she had asked for stars from the sky, her mother would have found a way to get them for her. She expected the same now.
But this time, Caroline didn't indulge her. She picked Layla up and spoke seriously. "Layla, you have the right to make friends, and so do I. Isn't that fair? Just as I don't stop you from spending time with Ms. White, you shouldn't stop me either. Do you understand?"
Layla seemed to grasp the concept vaguely. Rena was to her mother what Heidi was to them—a good friend.
She began to understand why her mother was so insistent, because she wouldn't want to give up spending time with Heidi either.
She lowered her head dejectedly. "Mommy, I understand what to do now."
Caroline stroked her hair and sat with her on the sofa. "Tomorrow is my grandma's birthday. I've come to take you both to see her. Get ready—we'll need to start early tomorrow."
"Okay." Layla was disappointed. She had thought her mother had come specifically to make up for the camping trip.
"Mommy, will you read us a story tonight?"
"Of course."
After making this promise, Layla went upstairs, and Caroline returned to her room to shower.
After her shower, she heard cheerful laughter from downstairs. When she went down, she saw Heidi building a new block set with the children, all three laughing and talking.
Seeing Caroline, Logan turned away angrily, refusing to even look at her.
Caroline's expression grew serious. She went over and made Logan stand properly.
"Logan, I've taught you that this behavior is very impolite. When you see adults, you should greet them. Have you forgotten all your manners?"
Logan stared at her blankly before suddenly bursting into tears.
"I hate you! You're not my mommy! You take other children out to play but not me. I don't want you as my mommy—I want Ms. White to be my mommy!"
Heidi seized the opportunity to intervene. "Caroline, you need to be more patient with children. They're young—you should teach them what they don't understand."
Caroline's lips curved in a slight sneer. "Ms. White, you seem to have plenty of free time to instruct others. How impressive."
Heidi's face froze, her eyes instantly reddening.
Before she could respond, Logan stepped in front of her protectively. "Mommy, apologize to Ms. White! She's been playing with me, and I won't let you talk to her like that. Apologize to Ms. White now!"
Clearly, in Logan's heart, Caroline was the villain, while Heidi had become more important.
Just then, Tiffany came downstairs and witnessed the scene, her face immediately darkening.
"Caroline, your attitude has gotten worse lately. Not only are you rude to guests, but you dare to scold the children? You're out all day doing who knows what, neglecting the children, and now you think you can yell at my grandson!"
"Let me tell you, you'd better apologize to Logan and Heidi right now, or get out."
Caroline paused.
In the past, she might have continued to tolerate this, but today she didn't want to.
"Mom, that's not right. If disrespecting elders is a good habit, does that mean I can disrespect you too? 'If the child is not taught, it's the parent's fault.' I'm his mother, so I want to teach him and show him right from wrong. I don't see anything wrong with that."
"Are you talking back tome?" Tiffany snapped, "Fine! You've really gone too far today! Do you believe I could make Arthur divorce you right now and throw you out of here?"
Caroline remained silent. She and Arthur were already in the process of divorcing, so there was no point in arguing.
She had come here only because her grandmother had never met the children, and she wanted to bring them to meet her.
But if they were unwilling, she wouldn't force them.
She pressed her lips together. "Mom, are you saying I should never discipline Logan again?" Then she turned to Logan, "You want it, too?"
Hearing that she might stop trying to control him, Logan's face lit up with excitement. "Yes, exactly!"
Caroline nodded. "Fine. From today on, I won't try to manage you anymore."
"Layla, do you feel the same way?"
Layla had initially wanted her mother to stop controlling her too, but looking at her mother's serious expression, she felt a sudden fear of losing her.
She quickly shook her head. "No, Mommy. I'll listen to you."
Logan's eyes widened in disbelief, as if she were a traitor.
But Layla clung to Caroline, unable to shake the feeling that she might lose her mother.
Tiffany was about to say something else when Arthur cleared his throat. She paused, swallowing her words with displeasure.
That night, Caroline read a bedtime story to Layla but not to Logan.
Logan was initially upset, but his disappointment quickly turned to excitement when he learned that Heidi would read to him instead.
Early the next morning, Caroline didn't help the servants prepare breakfast as usual. Instead, she went to help Layla pack her things.
Once everything was ready, it was time for breakfast. The meal passed peacefully without incident.