Chapter 33
Arthur searched every corner of the place but couldn't find Caroline anywhere.
"Maybe she found the exhibition boring and left early?" Heidi suggested. "After all, Caroline doesn't understand art. Coming here today was probably difficult for her."
Arthur glanced at his phone and shook his head. "If she were leaving, she would definitely have told me first. She's probably just not hungry yet. Don't worry about her."
Arthur didn't dwell on Caroline's whereabouts, and Heidi certainly wasn't going to press the issue. The group soon forgot about Caroline altogether.
Meanwhile, Caroline arrived at the coffee shop as planned.
Libbie greeted her with enthusiasm, "I told my brother about what you mentioned, and he's absolutely thrilled. He's on his way here now."
Caroline sat down and ordered a coffee. "No rush. By the way, how is Rena adjusting to her new school?"
At the mention of her daughter, Libbie's face softened with a tender smile. "I was worried at first—Rena's so gentle, I thought she might get bullied. But it turns out her classmates are quite nice. She's actually quite popular there."
Libbie continued, "What about your two kids? No school today?"
"That's right," Caroline's tone cooled slightly at the mention of her children. "Arthur took them to Heidi White's art exhibition."
"Heidi White?" Libbie paused, then her expression cleared. "Come to think of it, my brother also went to an exhibition today—I think it was this Heidi's. Small world, isn't it?"
Caroline was surprised. "Had I known your brother was there, I should have introduced myself."
Libbie wiped her hands. "No worries, you're about to meet him anyway."
Back at the exhibition, Heidi's showcase was finally wrapping up for the afternoon. In the car on the way home, Logan had initially been in good spirits despite not seeing Caroline, chattering excitedly to Heidi about the interesting things he'd seen.
But as they approached home, realizing he might not see Heidi for several days, his little face fell, and he slumped dejectedly against the car window.
"Ms. White, when will I see you again? Couldn't you just live at our house?"
Heidi noticed his disappointment and gently consoled him, "Don't be sad, Logan. Look, your great-grandfather likes me more and more now, and your grandmother and aunt also appreciate me. I'll have more opportunities to visit your home in the future. We'll definitely see each other often."
Logan's eyes brightened as he lifted his little head. "Really? You will come to our house often?"
"Of course," Heidi smiled, ruffling his hair. "As long as you welcome me."
"Welcome! Of course I welcome you!" Logan immediately perked up, making sure to include Layla. "You feel the same way, right?"
Though Layla didn't speak, she nodded, her small face showing anticipation.
Arthur sat in the passenger seat, his eyes filled with tenderness.
The car pulled into the Windsor Villa as evening fell. Arthur led the two children out of the car, and Heidi followed, standing beside the vehicle to say goodbye.
"Arthur, thank you for today," Heidi looked at him, her gaze gentle.
"You're welcome," Arthur replied softly. "Get some rest soon."
Only after Heidi's car disappeared into the night did Arthur lead the children into the villa.
The living room was empty and dark, with no lights on. Arthur pressed the switch, and warm yellow light instantly illuminated the entire room, but the familiar figure he expected wasn't there.
He frowned. Caroline hadn't returned yet?
She had clearly said this morning she was going to the exhibition, but apart from those few deliberately avoided encounters at the event, he hadn't seen her since. He had assumed she'd come home early.
Where could she be?
Arthur suddenly recalled the scene he'd witnessed at the exhibition earlier that day—Caroline chatting animatedly with that man, her face bearing a relaxed smile he'd never seen before.
At this thought, an unsettling feeling crept into Arthur's mind. He took out his phone, his finger hovering over the screen for a moment before finally sending Caroline a message: [Where are you?]
The message was sent successfully, but no reply came.