Chapter 135
Minutes later, shouting echoed through the corridor.
"Arthur, get the hell out here now!" Alton pounded furiously on the door.
The message he'd received had ignited his rage. Caroline's body was barely cold, yet here was Arthur with another woman.
The knocking grew louder, accompanied by angry shouts and commotion.
Arthur's gaze settled on Caroline, his eyes darkening. He had expected her to panic, to desperately explain herself, to distance herself from him.
But to his surprise, she did nothing. She sat there calmly, as if the chaos around her existed in another world entirely.
Noticing his stare, Caroline smiled faintly. "What is it? Are you seeking my assistance?"
Arthur immediately looked away. "Not necessary."
He opened the door to face Alton and Blake, who looked ready to tear him apart.
"How could you do this to Caroline?" Alton demanded.
Arthur replied coolly, "Caroline wanted a divorce. We were already in the process."
Alton's fists clenched tightly. "You bastard! Did you know she had cancer? She sacrificed her health for your career!"
"That was her choice. It had nothing to do with me."
His cold indifference, devoid of any emotion, pierced Caroline's heart. She clenched her fists, using the sharp pain in her palms to distract from the deeper ache inside.
She had always known she meant nothing to Arthur. She shouldn't feel this pain.
"You're her husband!" Blake shouted, red-eyed with fury. "If you didn't love her, why did you marry her in the first place?"
He couldn't imagine what kind of life his sister had endured all these years. His only regret was not finding her sooner.
Caroline stared at him, confused and bewildered. In all these years, apart from Alton and Gabriel, no one had ever stood up for her like this.
Why would this stranger defend her so passionately?
Arthur's expression darkened as he fixed Blake with an intimidating stare. "Who are you to question my actions?"
Seeing this, Caroline tensed. She knew Arthur well enough to recognize the warning signs of his anger. She didn't want anyone suffering on her behalf.
"Mr. Windsor," she said with a calculated smile, "aren't you curious about what really happened tonight? By now, any evidence has likely been destroyed."
Her words successfully diverted Arthur's attention.
But Blake was like a machine gun, firing indiscriminately at everyone. He turned his anger toward Caroline.
"Don't you know you're involved with a married man? And you're defending him? He's nothing but a con artist who uses women!"
Caroline remained silent. This kid was stubborn—she shouldn't have spoken up.
Meanwhile, Heidi had been monitoring the situation. When she saw Alton arrive with Blake, she immediately followed, her eyes deliberately reddened with tears.
So when Blake finished his accusation, her confused voice quickly followed.
"Arthur, why are you two in a room together?"
Suddenly, she noticed the marks on Caroline's neck and her breathing quickened.
"You... you two..."
Before she could finish, Heidi swayed and began to collapse.
"Heidi!" Arthur pushed past Caroline and rushed to catch her.
"Are you alright?" he asked urgently.
Heidi responded weakly, her words full of consideration for Arthur. "I'm fine. Dr. Q doesn't look well—you should check on her. She's more important."
Arthur's priorities were already clear. He lifted Heidi into his arms and declared firmly, "No one is more important than you."
Heidi looked touched, flashing Caroline a triumphant smile as she wrapped her arms around Arthur's neck and nestled against him.
"Thank you, Arthur."
Arthur gave Alton a cool glance. "You asked me to see her tomorrow morning at ten. I agreed. Now stop interfering with others."
Alton blocked his path. "Arthur, are you really going to be this cruel? She bore your children and was your wife for seven years!"
"There is nothing between us. Nothing at all."
With that, Arthur left with Heidi in his arms.
In the rest area, Caroline's thoroughly chilled heart remained undisturbed. She looked at Alton, debating whether to reveal the truth.
Alton turned to her. "See that? The man you chose is heartless. You'll have no future with him."
Caroline smiled faintly. "I have no relationship with him whatsoever."
"Who'd believe that?" Blake scoffed. "Don't think you'll get anything from Arthur. He'll use you until there's nothing left. You should leave him as soon as possible."
"Thanks for the advice," Caroline replied with a smile.
Blake faltered. "Are you still planning to be with him? Have you no—"
Before he could finish, Alton covered his mouth and dragged him away.
Caroline swallowed her words, deciding to find another opportunity to tell Alton she was alright.
"Are you okay?" Sophia pushed through the crowd to support Caroline carefully.
She nodded. "I'm fine. The experimental drug worked well."
Otherwise, her body might not have held out this long. This indirectly confirmed that the drug could be effective even for late-stage cancer.
"You stay here and handle the Windsor Group matters. I need to leave."
Leaving Sophia behind, Caroline headed in the direction Alton had gone.
From a corner, Oliver watched Caroline's retreating figure thoughtfully. Seeing her familiar interaction with Sophia, a calculating look crossed his face.
Just then, Sophia happened to walk past him.
"Stop right there!"
Sophia jumped, her tone immediately becoming unnatural. "Oliver? What are you doing here?"
Had he seen her talking with Caroline?
She had only recently learned that almost everyone in Sovereign City's elite circles knew Caroline, which explained why Caroline wore a mask. But she wasn't sure if Caroline could fool her perceptive brother.
Oliver gave her a penetrating look. "Made a new friend? This Dr. Q reminds me strongly of someone we used to know."
Cold sweat formed on Sophia's forehead as she struggled to appear calm. "You're mistaken, Oliver. Dr. Q just returned to the country. This is the first time you've seen her."
Oliver smiled meaningfully. "Invite her to dinner at our home sometime. Grandfather has been missing a worthy chess opponent lately."
Sophia listened in confusion, but before she could ask more, Oliver had already turned to leave.
She would need to carefully consider this invitation to the Griffith Manor.
---
Downstairs in the hotel, Alton had just lit a cigarette when he noticed Caroline approaching.
"What do you want? Do you think I won't hit a woman?" His tone was hostile.
Caroline had intended to reveal her identity, but she noticed Blake still at Alton's side.
She didn't know why this young man was always with him, but the news that she was still alive couldn't be shared with outsiders.
With this in mind, she changed the subject. "Why did you ask Arthur to go to the Grand Hall tomorrow morning at ten?"
Blake glared at her with reddened eyes. "How is that any of your business? Who are you anyway? Don't think I'm intimidated because you're wearing a mask!"