Chapter 133
Heidi couldn't let the matter rest. Her eyes briefly met Connor's across the room before quickly darting away.
Shortly after, one of the researchers seated near Connor quietly slipped out of the private room.
Caroline noticed the exchange but gave no indication she had seen anything.
Throughout the meal, Arthur's phone kept ringing. Caroline glanced at the screen and saw Alton's name.
What business could Alton possibly have with Arthur?
"Aren't you going to answer that, Mr. Windsor?" she remarked casually. "Whoever's calling seems rather persistent."
Irritation flashed across Arthur's face, but he finally answered. "Alton, what do you want?"
Surprisingly, Alton's voice was unnervingly calm. "Stop looking for Caroline. She's never coming back."
Arthur's brow furrowed. "What do you mean? Where are you taking her?"
"If you want to see her one last time," Alton replied with a cold, bitter laugh, "come to the Grand Hall tomorrow at ten."
With that, he hung up.
Though the call wasn't on speaker, Caroline was sitting close enough to hear everything clearly. So was Heidi.
"What did Professor Brooks mean?" Heidi asked, blinking in confusion. "That Caroline will never return? Is she planning to abandon her children and run away with him?"
She shook her head sadly. "Poor Layla and Logan would be heartbroken if they knew."
The momentary confusion in Arthur's expression quickly gave way to anger. "She can go wherever she wants. No one in the Windsor family cares whether she stays or goes! Even if she dies, it makes no difference to me!"
Caroline's grip tightened around her water glass, her knuckles turning white, though her voice remained casual. "You seem to have very little trust in your wife."
"Wife?" Arthur's lips curled coldly. "She doesn't deserve that title. She's nothing but a liar who doesn't deserve to be a mother to those children!"
Heidi sighed, her expression full of practiced concern. "Dr. Q, you've only recently returned to the country, so you may not know my sister well. She's gone to extreme lengths for Arthur's attention—not only using the children, but even pretending to have cancer just to make him visit her."
She continued with a pained expression. "I understand loving Arthur, but how could she use innocent children like that? It breaks my heart."
"Oh?" Caroline traced the rim of her glass, unmistakable coldness in her tone. "So such a person would deserve whatever fate befalls them?"
Heidi missed the dangerous edge in Caroline's voice. "Please don't say that. She is my sister, after all. I hope she'll be alright. If she would just properly care for those children, I'd willingly step aside."
Sophia could no longer remain silent. "Ms. White, Caroline Hamilton is Mr. Windsor's wife and the mother of his children. It seems inappropriate for you to speak of 'stepping aside.'"
Heidi bit her lip, her eyes immediately welling with tears. "I'm sorry, I misspoke. You're right—I don't even have the right to step aside."
Caroline clicked her toungue, looking Heidi up and down dismissively. "You're average-looking, incompetent, arrogant, and not particularly bright. It's understandable you'd say such things. You have my deepest sympathy."
Heidi trembled with rage, tears streaming down her face as she looked to Arthur for support. She said nothing, simply sitting there—the perfect picture of wounded vulnerability.
Arthur, still on his phone, hadn't noticed her distress.
"I do apologize for my harshness," Caroline added with obvious insincerity. "You'll get used to it after a while."
She had wanted to confront Heidi for a long time.
Before, she had always considered her mother's position in the White family, her image in Arthur's eyes, and her children's education. Every word maintained the facade of Arthur's perfect wife.
But what had it gotten her? Everyone had wanted her gone while she made herself sick with stress.
Now, she wouldn't back down an inch.
When Arthur finally noticed, he tenderly wiped away Heidi's tears and shot Caroline an icy look. "Dr. Q, please mind your words."
Caroline's expression cooled, refusing to be intimidated. "Since my presence is unwelcome at the Windsor Group, I see no reason to remain at this so-called welcome dinner."
---
After leaving the private room, Caroline intended to contact Alton, but a female server "accidentally" spilled something on her dress.
"I'm so sorry!" The server looked terrified. "I'll take you somewhere to change right away."
Caroline sensed something was off but agreed anyway. She followed the server to a rest area, but just as they entered, someone called out behind her.
"Dr. Q, wait."
The door closed, and Caroline instinctively stepped back as Arthur entered.
"Is there something you need?" she asked coolly.
"The cancer drug is a joint project between Mr. Barnes and the Windsor Group," Arthur said, his brow slightly furrowed. "Our goal is to develop a treatment that can completely cure cancer."
"And?" Caroline seemed unimpressed.
"Heidi is young and sometimes speaks without thinking. I hope you won't hold it against her. She greatly admires Mr. Barnes and has been hoping to meet him again."
Caroline understood immediately. He was interceding on Heidi's behalf, worried she might speak ill of Heidi to her teacher. Arthur, who prided himself on never apologizing, was willing to humble himself for Heidi's sake.
You really do love her, don't you? Enough to set aside your own pride.
With this realization, Caroline suddenly turned around, nearly colliding with Arthur who stood right behind her. They were now mere inches apart.
She didn't back away but looked directly into his eyes. "If you love Heidi so much, why did you marry that Caroline?"
She still couldn't understand how their seven-year marriage could mean less than the few months he'd known Heidi.
"Marrying her was never my wish," Arthur replied, his voice glacial. "Merely a way to appease my family."
So that was it—just to satisfy family expectations?
Caroline felt as if a giant hand were squeezing her heart, making it impossible to breathe.
"Arthur, you're truly despicable," she murmured.
At that moment, this man had finally, completely exited her world. She decided to leave without even changing her dress, but when she pulled the door, it didn't open. It was locked.
That server had been suspicious after all. "Arthur, call someone to open the door," she commanded.
She received no answer. Instead, she felt his warmth at her back as Arthur wrapped his arms around her, his body heat making her want to escape.
"Arthur, what are you doing?" Her voice trembled slightly despite herself.
His response was a trail of burning kisses along her neck.
Caroline's eyes turned cold as she raised her hand and slapped his breathtaking face.
"Have you come to your senses now?"