Chapter 129
"Could this be a test result Caroline deliberately had forged?" Heidi asked as she walked in, carrying breakfast she'd specifically bought for Arthur.
Her appearance successfully diverted his attention. His lips tightened, his voice cold. "What did you say?"
Heidi covered her mouth, feigning surprise. "Arthur, don't you know? Caroline visited the basement level of the Windsor Group Building and deliberately leaked information about having cancer."
She continued, her voice laced with doubt. "I find it strange. Caroline has always been in excellent health—how could she suddenly develop cancer? Advanced cancer, no less?
"We knew nothing about this before, yet right when the Windsor Group develops a cancer drug, her illness conveniently appears. Don't you think this timing is too perfect?"
Arthur's thin lips pressed together, his brow furrowed. "What are you suggesting?"
Heidi sat beside him, leaning delicately against his shoulder. "I hate to think this way, but Caroline's appearance is too convenient. You discover she's become a test subject, then the facility immediately suffers a fire that destroys crucial data and even causes casualties. It's all too convenient."
"I suspect someone is deliberately orchestrating this to steal internal Windsor Group documents," she said softly.
"As for this test result, perhaps Caroline left it intentionally so we'd discover her cancer—making it seem like she sacrificed herself for the Windsor Group's experiment."
Her voice was gentle, but every word planted reasonable doubt.
Layla, who had been listening nearby, finally grasped the meaning. Her mother had a serious illness? No, that couldn't be possible.
"Daddy, Mommy wouldn't get sick," she protested. "She loves Logan and me too much to leave us behind."
This time, Arthur remained silent. He clutched the test results tightly, his expression unreadable as he instructed the housekeeper to take Layla away. Only then did he turn to Heidi.
"Your injuries haven't healed. Why aren't you resting at the hospital?"
Heidi's cheeks flushed slightly. "I wanted to help you. With the Deputy General Manager position vacant, you're handling everything personally. And after what happened at the facility, of course I needed to come help."
Hearing this, Arthur's eyes briefly turned cold. "Then head back to the company. Remember not to overwork yourself."
Heidi's eyes immediately lit up with excitement. Did this mean he'd decided to give her the Deputy General Manager position?
Perfect. After all her efforts, she was finally getting what she wanted.
---
Caroline knew nothing of the changes in the Windsor household. She was currently standing in her teacher's study, being scolded.
"You've grown too bold," Gabriel reprimanded her. "Making decisions without consulting us old folks, volunteering for experiments—have you considered what would happen to us if something went wrong?"
"Mr. Barnes, I know I was wrong," Caroline soothed while dutifully preparing tea, as docile as a lamb.
The more Gabriel looked at her, the more his anger grew. He raised his hand as if to strike her, but ultimately just affectionately stroked her hair.
"Caroline, I just want you to know that whatever decision you make, I'm always behind you. But I absolutely forbid you to give up on yourself. Understand?"
Caroline nodded, her eyes reddening. "Thank you, Mr. Barnes."
Sophia sat in a corner of the living room, trying to make herself invisible as angry shouts periodically emerged from the study.
This was the first time she'd witnessed Gabriel's fiery temper.
It indirectly confirmed Caroline's special status. As the saying goes, the deeper the love, the harsher the scolding. Gabriel's anger proved how much he cared for Caroline.
Perhaps they really could catch the mole at the facility after all.
A few minutes later, Gabriel opened the study door with Caroline obediently following behind.
He sat down and got straight to the point. "Sophia, I've heard about what happened at the facility. But I'm getting old—this is a young person's world now. I can only offer advice."
"You should know that Caroline is my student. I'll arrange for her to join the facility, but how you proceed is up to you."
His meaning was clear: the only reason he'd agreed to collaborate with the Windsor Group on this project was to treat Caroline's illness.
Now that Caroline wanted to participate herself, he would step back and become her strongest supporter.
Sophia smiled slightly. "You're very thoughtful, Mr. Barnes. Ms. Hamilton is clever and perceptive. I'm confident our collaboration won't disappoint you."
Gabriel nodded. "Caroline, what do you want to do?"
Caroline's gaze darkened. "If you want someone to fall, first drive them to madness. Since someone wants me dead, let's give them what they want."
"Mr. Barnes, Ms. Griffith—I need your help."
---
At the Windsor Group Building's top floor, in the CEO's office, Arthur had just sat down when he received a call from an unknown number.
"Hello, is this Mr. Arthur Windsor, Caroline Hamilton's husband? Sorry for your loss, sir. We've confirmed Ms. Hamilton died in an accidental fire. We'd appreciate it if you could come—"
Arthur's abrupt laugh cut them off. "What? You want me to collect Caroline's remains?"
The staff member paused, then continued seriously. "You're Caroline's husband. This responsibility naturally falls to you."
But Arthur hadn't believed a word from the beginning. "Enough. How much did she pay you to lie for her?"
The staff member sounded confused. "Sir, we deeply regret Ms. Hamilton's accident. You'll receive compensation according to our agreement."
Arthur hung up and unblocked Caroline's number from his blacklist.
[Caroline, what's the point of this charade? Did you think I'd believe you're dead just because someone told me so? Let me tell you—even if you died right in front of me, I wouldn't care.]
With that, he blocked her number again.
Beside him, Heidi appeared concerned. "Arthur, maybe you should go check. What if Caroline really is hurt?"
"Even if she's dead, I won't spare her a glance," Arthur replied, his voice carrying an unmistakable chill, his brow furrowed with irritation.
Heidi sighed. "Caroline is being so unreasonable. Layla and Logan have been looking for her for days, calling her repeatedly only to find her phone turned off. Those are her children—how can she be so heartless?"
This was precisely why Arthur was angry. Caroline had abandoned even her own children, and he no longer wanted to hear anything about her.
Dismissing the interruption, he inquired about progress at the experimental facility.
When told that Gabriel had sent a student there, Arthur's brow furrowed. "Dr. Q? Is this person reliable?"