Chapter59 Can I Win Your Heart
Cold sweat gradually seeped from Linnea's back, mixed with a subtle thrill.
"You're asking this because you care about my past? But we're not even in a more intimate relationship, so why..."
"Too much nonsense will only make me think you're guilty." Caius easily brushed past her speculation. "Let's start with that kid today. Did he confess to you?"
Linnea had no choice but to honestly explain the history between her and Soren, finally emphasizing that nothing happened between them.
"What about the men after that? Tell me about all of them."
This was really troublesome... Linnea felt a bit irritated, so she said deliberately: "There were so many, I can barely remember. At school, there was a physics genius, a rich music student, the student council president. And wealthy young masters I met at bars... that last one left the deepest impression."
"Why?"
"I was singing at a bar then, earning extra money from customer tips. He gave way too much."
"So for money, you enthusiastically flattered and entertained many men. How promiscuous of you."
"Are you underestimating my charm?" Linnea smiled. "In fact, I only needed to smile slightly and they'd fall for me on their own. And there were many men like that. Of course, taking men's money is troublesome, so most of the time I preferred physical or mental labor."
Sure enough, Caius's eyes darkened: "As long as someone gives you money, you'll get deeply involved with men?"
He pressed closer to Linnea, but she took the initiative to hook her arm around his neck:
"It depends on who it is, of course. For ordinary men, absolutely not. But if it's the man I've had a crush on since college, an undisputed powerhouse, the head of Thorne Group..."
"So if I'd given you money during college, you would've let me keep you?"
"I don't want your money. I want your heart, Caius."
As Linnea spoke, she grabbed his hand and knelt down.
"You're getting better and better at seduction... ah..." Caius sighed with satisfaction, his fingers threading through her soft hair. "Deeper. I know you can."
"How much more can I seduce you?" Linnea mumbled indistinctly as she complied. "Can I win your heart?"
"Maybe you can try."
Linnea felt inexplicably restless and sucked on his tip.
Caius let out a heavy grunt. The look he gave Linnea burned with lust.
He pulled Linnea up and pressed her against the door, lifting her skirt, turning her around, positioning her in his favorite way.
"Caius, you still haven't answered my question directly. How far has my seduction of you progressed?"
"Is that how you talk to your benefactor?" Caius's response was to thrust directly into her. "When I've fucked you until you've forgotten all those cheap men, maybe I'll consider moving things forward a bit."
...
The midday disturbance, with Jax's continued absence, was no longer tactlessly discussed by anyone.
Late at night.
After the evening banquet, Caius accepted the Knight family's warm invitation and decided to stay overnight at the estate. Another late night party began. Caius went to it and generously left Linnea alone to rest in the main house.
Linnea was happy to have the peace.
She had no interest in dealing with those parasites anyway. After washing up, she lay in the old house where she'd lived for many years, planning to fall peacefully asleep. In the most familiar environment, people always find security, even if the place is about to rot away.
But at that moment, a voice came from outside the door:
"Linnea, you're not asleep yet, are you? It's me, Carla."
It was actually the timid Carla?
"Linnea, you missed the late night party. Was it because you drank too much at dinner? I prepared some hangover medicine for you, and some easy to digest vegetable soup..."
She was certainly acting like a model mother.
Linnea had no interest: "I don't need it. Please get lost."
"Linnea, I know you still hate me." Carla lowered her voice. "But I've never dared to say this, but when your mother's belongings were thrown out of her bedroom before, it wasn't me. It was... your father's decision."
"He didn't want to see your mother's things. Maybe because it would touch his memories and make him sad..."
Linnea scoffed: "If not for that last sentence, I might have actually believed you."
Carla begged earnestly: "Let me in, Linnea. I feel guilty toward you. You know, your mother helped me once. I've always been grateful to her. I was too young when I was with your father. I was easily deceived by him, but that wasn't my intention."
Linnea was about to put on her headphones and drown out the noise with some passionate rock music.
But Carla quickly added:
"Linnea, don't send me away. I believe I have something you want. In fact, before your father cleared out Miss Laurel's things, I secretly kept one item that's incredibly precious to you both."
"What is it?"
"Please come out and see."
Linnea frowned and walked out.
Carla looked at her with concern and sorrow. Beside her, two expressionless assistants held trays.
On the left tray was hangover medicine, and on the right...
The silver double pendant necklace that her mother had worn since Linnea was born, with both their names carved by her mother's own hand, lay quietly on velvet cloth.
Linnea's heart leapt out of her chest. She thought this necklace had been cremated with her mother.
"How can I get this necklace?"
Carla said earnestly:
"We're members of one big family. How can there be so much indelible hatred?"
"Linnea, now you're the popular executive assistant at Thorne Group. Caius has spread the word, and many people are already impressed by you. What I'm trying to say is... since you have Thorne Group's resources, can you help your younger siblings?"
"Are you dreaming?" Linnea said contemptuously. "Jax is a complete idiot. And Vivienne is a cunning person with narrow vision. With their brains, how could they possibly achieve business success in the medical field?"
"Please don't be so hurtful..."
"What kind of parents produce what kind of idiots. Do you understand now?"
Carla's expression turned bitter:
"Linnea, you weren't covered in thorns back then... Fine, I'll go. But please take these things. This is also my way of atoning."
A trace of doubt arose in Linnea's mind: Was Carla really this kind?
The image of Carla's constantly smiling face when she was her nanny flashed through her mind. She finally grabbed the jewelry, went back to her room, and locked the door.
Carla left. Linnea lay back on the bed.
She examined the double pendant necklace, rubbing the rough, faded name engravings.
She thought she'd be deeply moved by this, but now, all those warm memories were dispersed by the smell emanating from it.
This smell was strange yet familiar, like what she'd smelled from her mother in those final moments... How could it be the same smell!
As soon as this thought emerged, Linnea realized something was wrong!
A wave of intense suffocation suddenly swept through her brain!