Chapter 70 The Place You're Free Again
Caroline's breath caught in her throat, her pupils narrowing sharply. Almost on instinct, she moved to slam the door shut.
But the middle-aged doctor who appeared to be leading the group had already stepped forward, his tone gentle as he said, "Mrs. Hamilton, please don't be alarmed. We're here at Mr. Hamilton's request to conduct a comprehensive health examination. We mean you no harm."
A health examination?
The words struck Caroline like a bolt of lightning.
Alexander had just mentioned using some kind of special medication on her this morning, and now this afternoon he'd sent a team of fully equipped doctors?
Knowing Alexander, this could never be a routine checkup.
No… no…
She shook her head violently, her body trembling with fear as she stumbled backward, her hands flailing in front of her as if trying to ward them off.
The doctor was startled by her extreme reaction and instinctively took a step forward.
"Mrs. Hamilton, please don't be upset. We truly mean no harm."
But Caroline couldn't hear him at all. She only struggled harder.
In her panic, she suddenly remembered the two pills she'd swallowed that morning. Frantically, she mimicked a swallowing motion with her hand, then pointed to her abdomen, shaking her head desperately as tears streamed down her face.
She screamed inwardly, 'I already took the medicine like he ordered! Why is he still doing this?'
"Ma'am, please calm down. We're only here for a routine health check. This is for your benefit." The doctor tried to explain anxiously while gesturing for the nurses behind him to help calm her.
But their attempt to enter only terrified Caroline more.
'Don't come near me!' she screamed soundlessly, her scalp prickling as she backed away until she hit the wall with nowhere left to go.
Her gaze swept frantically around the room, searching for anything that might protect her.
All she could do was grab a pillow from nearby and hold it pathetically in front of her like a shield, tears flowing faster.
The doctor was too frightened by her reaction to advance further.
She raised her hand to stop the others behind her, scrambling to explain, "Mrs. Hamilton, please calm down! We mean no harm! Please relax, don't be afraid!"
How could Caroline not be afraid?
Not only could she not process the doctor's reassurances, but she shrank back even further.
The medical team exchanged helpless glances, at a complete loss.
In the tense standoff, a familiar voice suddenly drifted in from the hallway.
"What's going on here? Why all the commotion?"
Everyone turned as Celeste glided over with elegant composure.
She stood in the doorway, her gaze sweeping over both sides of the tense confrontation, concern immediately flooding her features.
"How did you frighten Caroline so badly?" Celeste asked urgently.
"Miss." The doctors clearly recognized Celeste and immediately turned to her like they'd found a lifeline.
"Mr. Hamilton is concerned about Mrs. Hamilton's health and specifically asked us to conduct a detailed examination, but Mrs. Hamilton seems to be… resistant." The lead doctor explained quietly, looking somewhat troubled.
Celeste nodded slightly. "I see. She's probably just startled by seeing so many strangers all at once. She's always been timid, and her health isn't good. How about this—why don't you wait in the sitting room outside, and I'll talk to her. After all, she and I are closer, so it'll be easier for me to communicate with her."
The doctors exchanged glances, all agreeing this made sense.
Celeste was someone Alexander trusted, and as the Neville family's adopted daughter, she was Caroline's sister in name. Having her calm the emotionally unstable Caroline seemed perfectly appropriate.
They didn't insist further, obediently retreating to the far end of the hallway and closing the door, leaving the space to the two women.
Celeste looked at the terror-stricken Caroline, her smile soft and carrying a certain soothing quality.
"Poor thing. Look at you, scared half to death." She approached, gently brushing aside the cold-sweat-dampened hair from Caroline's forehead.
"Alex really is something, isn't he? Even if he needs to handle the aftermath, there's no need to be so hasty about it, sending all these people and frightening you like this."
Her tone was deliberately vague, making it impossible to determine whether she meant a normal health check or the possibility Caroline feared most.
Caroline's head snapped up, her eyes filled with terror.
Celeste savored the fear in her eyes, her smile taking on a slightly unsettling edge.
She slowly withdrew a thin envelope from her handbag and held it out to Caroline.
"Take it."
Caroline watched her warily, not reaching for it.
"You don't trust me?" Celeste's lips curved upward slightly.
"I'm helping you. Look at this."
She lifted one corner of the envelope, revealing a crisp plane ticket and passport inside.
"Tonight's last flight to Valloria, first class. Someone will meet you there, give you a new identity and enough money to live comfortably. You can leave here, leave Alex forever, go somewhere sunny where no one knows you and start over."
Caroline's pupils trembled slightly, a moment of disorientation crossing her face.
Freedom… that word seemed as distant as the stars—visible but untouchable.
But quickly, unease and suspicion flooded in.
Would Celeste really be this kind? When had there ever been this sort of intimacy between them?
Caroline's instinct was to refuse. She shook her head forcefully, curling in on herself even tighter.
"Don't trust me?" Celeste seemed to have anticipated this, sighing softly.
"You're being foolish. If you stay here, your path leads only to death—and a very… undignified one. Do you think Alex is simply torturing you? Do you know he's been in contact with necromancers from Lumvara recently?"
Caroline's body went rigid.
"I've heard that certain ancient forbidden magic can prevent the dead from ever finding peace—summoned, bound, even enslaved, suffering like prisoners in the shadows for all eternity."
Celeste leaned close to her ear, enunciating each word with a low voice full of cold pressure.
"He hates you for causing Edith's death. Hates you so much he won't let you go even after you're dead. He wants your soul to suffer endlessly in darkness, never finding rest, never getting the chance… to beg your sister's forgiveness."
Caroline looked as though she'd been struck by lightning, her eyes flying wide as tears spilled over again.
Edith… she wouldn't be able to see Edith even after death? Even the chance to apologize would be stripped away?
She thought, 'No… it can't be like this!'
Her greatest sin, and her deepest longing, was to receive Edith's forgiveness after death—even if only to see her once in another world.
Celeste clearly saw the wavering in her eyes, a satisfied smile playing at her lips as she continued her low-voiced persuasion.
"Do you really want to end up like that? Without even the chance to atone after death?"