Chapter 30
Arthur handed the car keys to the driver, instructing him to fetch the car from the underground garage.
He glanced at Caroline, then at Heidi, who looked a bit uneasy. Instantly understanding, he reached out and grabbed Caroline's wrist, pulling her aside.
His fingers were cool, but his grip was firm.
"This is Heidi's first solo art exhibition. She's really nervous today." He lowered his voice, making sure Heidi couldn't hear, and spoke with a tone that brooked no argument.
"She doesn't know you well yet, and today is a big day for her. She's already a bit on edge, and having someone else in the car might make her even more uncomfortable."
Arthur paused, then continued with a hint of apology in his voice, "How about you drive yourself there today? I'll text you the address."
Caroline yanked her hand back, a cold smile playing on her lips, her eyes tinged with sadness.
Seven years of marriage, and Arthur had never considered her feelings like this.
She recalled last year's business gala, where she didn't know a single person on the guest list. She hadn't wanted to go, but the event required attendees to bring a partner or spouse.
Thinking of how Arthur needed to network at the gala, Caroline had reluctantly agreed to go, despite her dislike for such events.
Throughout the evening, Arthur was busy socializing with various business moguls, leaving her alone in a corner without even a single introduction.
She had felt like an outsider, awkward and out of place under the flashing lights, while he never once glanced her way.
Back then, she had comforted herself, thinking Arthur was just careless and didn't know how to take care of people.
But now, it was clear that Arthur wasn't clueless; he just didn't care to understand her.
He was incredibly attentive to Heidi, considering even the smallest details like an extra person in the car making her nervous, yet he had never cared about Caroline's discomfort in unfamiliar settings.
Listening to Arthur's considerate words for Heidi, Caroline felt a pang of hurt. But she quickly suppressed the surge of jealousy, forcing a smile and speaking calmly, "Fine, I'll drive myself."
Honestly, she didn't have the energy to squeeze into the same car with Heidi and make small talk. It was better to go their separate ways and avoid the awkwardness.
Caroline turned to look at their two children, about to ask them to come with her, but Arthur's voice cut in first, "Caroline."
She paused, turning back to him with a hint of confusion in her eyes.
Whenever they went out, the kids always rode with her. As their mother, it was her natural duty to take care of them.
"Layla and Logan are close to Heidi," Arthur explained, "Having them in the car might help her relax."
Caroline's brow furrowed slightly.
So, in his mind, even the kids were tools to comfort Heidi.
She opened her mouth to argue, but Arthur glanced at his watch, his tone urging, "It's getting late. If we don't hurry, we'll be late."
Before he finished speaking, he had already taken Logan's hand, while Heidi took Layla's, and they all headed towards the black sedan.
As the car door closed, Caroline clearly saw Logan whispering something to Heidi, making her laugh brightly.
Arthur had been "exceptionally patient" with her.
Caroline knew that if this art exhibition wasn't so important to him and Heidi, he probably wouldn't have bothered to explain anything to her.
A wave of indescribable loneliness crept up her spine, making her fingertips tingle with cold.
But she quickly took a deep breath, smoothed her hair, and forced down those negative emotions.
She turned and walked to her car. As she started the engine, her phone screen lit up with a message from Arthur, giving her the address.
Caroline glanced at it, then pressed the gas pedal, driving smoothly out of the neighborhood.
She hadn't insisted on coming to the exhibition to flaunt her status as Arthur's wife. Instead, she planned to build her own network.
Heidi's exhibition would attract many wealthy and influential people.
Caroline had long decided to start her own company, and the first step was to build connections.
If she used her title as Arthur's wife to network, people might think she was undermining the Windsor Group. If Isaac found out, he would be deeply disappointed in her.
So she had to build her network in her own way, bit by bit.
Perhaps driven by determination, Caroline drove faster than usual.
When she parked at the exhibition center, she saw Arthur's car pulling in from a distance.
She turned off the engine and waited for a moment, watching as Arthur got out first, walked around to the other side, and chivalrously opened the door, helping Heidi out.
Heidi looked up at him with a perfectly grateful smile, and the two of them standing together under the flashlights looked exceptionally well-matched.
Caroline opened her car door, the sound catching the attention of a nearby reporter.
Someone turned to look at her, curiosity in their eyes.
Heidi was already being interviewed by the media, dressed in a champagne-colored gown, her makeup flawless, exuding elegance with every gesture.
"Ms. White, where did you get the inspiration for this exhibition?" a reporter asked loudly.
Heidi glanced at Arthur instinctively, her smile gentle, "A lot of the inspiration came from the little joys in life, like moments with friends. And... Arthur's support."
Another reporter quickly followed up, "We heard Mr. Windsor is the main sponsor of this exhibition?"
"Yes," Heidi expressed her gratitude without hesitation, her tone warm and sincere, "Without Arthur's help, I might not have had the courage to hold this exhibition. He supported me financially and encouraged me to pursue my dreams. Meeting him has been my good fortune."
A murmur of admiration rose around them, with many people looking at Arthur with envy.
"Who would have thought Mr. Windsor would be so devoted to Ms. White?"
"They seem so in sync. Maybe there's good news on the horizon?"
Those comments pricked Caroline's ears like tiny needles.
She forced a smile, letting out a faint, cold laugh, and walked into the exhibition hall, thinking to herself how the media would react if they knew Arthur's wife was someone else, a housewife without her own career.
Caroline had no interest in listening to the media's flattery or hearing Heidi talk about her creative struggles.
Instead of watching their display of affection, she'd rather see if Heidi's paintings were worth the hype.