Chapter 4 Stop Him
Helena's POV
"Ms. Lockwood is back."
Returning to The Lockwood Manor and seeing every familiar brick and tile before me, I felt excited inside. I turned to the butler who came to greet me and asked, "Where are my parents?"
"Mr. Lockwood and Mrs. Lockwood are in the garden."
Before the butler could finish speaking, I was already rushing toward the garden like an arrow.
"Dad, Mom."
My voice startled the two people in the gazebo. My mom Maria Lockwood smiled and waved at me, "Helena, slow down."
I ran over and threw myself into Maria's arms, but images from my past life flashed through my mind—the horrible scene after Dad Henry Lockwood and Maria's car accident. Maria, who loved beauty so much, had been disfigured beyond recognition.
Thinking of this, my hatred for Knox grew even stronger.
In this life, I would never let the tragedy of my past life happen again. Knox would never harm a single hair on my family's head!
And my dear cousin Natasha Lockwood—you two despicable people just wait. I would never let either of you off!
Maria saw my face darken and teased with a smile, "What's wrong with my precious daughter? Did someone upset you?"
"No, I just missed you both."
I hugged Maria tightly, then walked over to Henry and acted cute, "Dad, hug."
I hadn't acted this way around Henry since I became an adult. Seeing me like this, a flash of surprise crossed Henry's stern face.
Then he frowned and grunted, "Still clinging to me like when you were a kid?"
"Yeah, I'm still your precious little girl."
I threw myself into Henry's arms. His embrace was broad and warm.
Thinking of my willfulness and recklessness in my past life, my eyes immediately reddened.
After I married Knox in my past life, I sacrificed everything to become the woman behind him.
To help Knox's career, I used plenty of family resources to pave his way. When Henry found out about these things, he warned me to be careful around the Pemberton family.
At that time, I was too absorbed in Knox's sweet words to take Henry's warnings seriously. I even thought he was being too controlling.
Perhaps Henry had already sensed something was wrong back then, but unfortunately, I was too lost in Knox's lies to see it.
If I had been more alert then, Henry and Maria wouldn't have suffered that terrible disaster.
I failed them, but I won't make the same mistake in this life.
"What's gotten into you today?"
Maria smiled and pulled me back, looking me over before saying to Henry, "Don't tell me she's been wronged out there. If so, you need to stand up for Helena."
Henry's stern gaze fell on my face. After a long moment, he gave a slight nod and pushed a cup of coffee toward me.
I picked up the cup and smiled at Henry, "Thank you, Dad."
Then I turned to Maria and said seriously, "Mom, I've grown up now. From now on, it's my turn to protect you both."
Hearing my words, Maria smiled with relief, "Helena's turning into such a wonderful young woman."
Before Maria could finish speaking, a woman's voice came from the distance.
"What's there to brag about? She's still just a woman."
As she spoke, a woman in a black fur coat with a low-cut neckline swayed over. It was my aunt Willow Ashton.
Behind her followed a young man in his twenties.
The moment I saw the man, my pupils widened. Caleb Bridgerton, Willow's nephew—what were they doing here?
I suddenly remembered that in my past life, around this same time, Willow had brought Caleb to our house, asking Henry to arrange a position for him at the company.
It was obvious they had their eyes on my parents' company.
After my grandfather passed away, he divided the family business in two.
My uncle John Lockwood chose the thriving manufacturing business first, leaving Henry with the newly started new energy industry.
Fortunately, through my parents' efforts, the company gradually improved and eventually went public successfully.
But the company John took over kept declining, and now could only survive on Henry's support.
Because of this, Willow always spoke with a sarcastic tone.
Was she bringing Caleb here now about a job?
In my past life, after Caleb joined the company, he used his relationship with Willow to profit privately.
After I discovered this and suspended him, he spread sexual rumors about me and him.
At that time, I was already married to Knox. When the rumors reached Knox's ears, he flew into a rage and demanded I quit working and stay home.
To appease Knox, I had to resign from my position at the company and devote myself to being a full-time homemaker.
That was one of the things I regretted most.
After returning to domestic life, with my help, Knox was able to thrive in the business world.
He succeeded, but I paid with my life!
Thinking of this, my eyes turned cold. Caleb cannot join the company!
Sure enough, after Willow sat down, she glanced at me with ill intent and said sarcastically to Maria, "Maria, I'm not trying to criticize you, but as a woman, she'll have to get married sooner or later. Don't spoil her too much."
"So what if she gets married? She's still my child."
Maria shot back without hesitation.
Willow's face darkened at being contradicted. She was about to retort, but seeing Caleb beside her, she held back.
She snorted lightly and turned to Henry, getting straight to the point, "Henry, could you do me a favor?."
Henry glanced at Willow and asked coldly, "Go ahead, Willow."
Willow pointed to Caleb beside her, "This is my nephew. He's been unemployed since graduation. I came to ask if you could arrange a position for Caleb."
Hearing this, Henry looked at Caleb calmly, his brow furrowing slightly.
Watching Henry's expression closely, I immediately understood—Henry didn't think much of this Caleb.
Caleb looked presentable enough, but those annoying eyes of his kept darting around, constantly glancing at me, making him truly unlikeable.
"Caleb, right? What did you major in?"
Hearing Henry speak, I felt uneasy, knowing that even if Henry didn't like Caleb, he would let him join the company for Willow's sake.
I had to stop him!
With this thought, I calmly picked up two cups of coffee and walked toward Willow and Caleb.
Seeing me approach, Caleb forgot to answer Henry's question, his eyes staring straight at me.
"Aunt Willow, please have some coffee."
I placed one cup in front of Willow, then walked toward Caleb. Seeing me approach, Caleb quickly stood up.
"Let me get it."
The moment his hand touched the cup, I let go, and the cup fell straight to the ground.
"What are you doing?" I attacked first.
Caleb looked at me, then at the cup on the ground, his face full of shock, "I—I didn't do anything!"
He didn't do anything, but I wasn't going to give him a chance to explain.
"You were clearly trying to take advantage of me, and you still dare to deny it!"
With that, I grabbed the cup from the table and splashed it in his face.