Chapter 22 Wanted to Chat
Finished
“How did I end up like this? That’s a question you ought to ask yourself, Caroline retorted. Her current predicament was
thanks to her brothers.
Her heart had been shattered by them; all she ever wanted was a harmonious family.
But they wouldn’t allow it.
Given this second chance at life, Caroline had no intention of being the subservient pushover she was in her previous life. Wasting this opportunity was not an option.
Miguel, oblivious to any fault of his own, sighed deeply, then sat on the chair beside her and began his usual lecture. “Caroline, you’re not a child anymore. I hope you’ll start acting responsibly. I don’t expect you to be as kind as Helen, but I do hope you can be a decent, moral, and dignified person.”
Comparing her to Helen in terms of kindness was the most absurd thing Caroline had heard all day.
“You can think I’m unkind, but saying I lack morals and decency–where does that come from?”
She would not tolerate such a baseless accusation.
“You’re still denying it!” Miguel’s frown deepened with anger. “Wren saw you with a man in your room. What do you have to say about that?”
Caroline’s eyes burned with rage, her hands clenching tightly.
So it was that old hag stirring up trouble behind my back.
Miguel took her silence as guilt, assuming she was caught and had no more excuses.
“Look at how much you’ve changed since you’ve been seeing that boyfriend of yours!”
Miguel paused for a moment before continuing, “I haven’t met the man, but I can tell he’s no good for you. I hope you’ll break up with him soon, regain your composure, and return to being the sister we care about. Don’t make me disappointed in you anymore,‘ he finished, getting up and leaving the room.
Caroline watched his retreating figure, a mocking smile curving her lips. He would soon learn who was truly disappointed in
whom.
Corposing herself, Caroline focused back on her design work, drawing well past ten o’clock.
When the lights in the living room went out, she figured everyone had finished their showers and gone to bed.
Caroline put away her designs, grabbed a change of clothes, and headed for the shower.
After showering, she didn’t return to her room. Instead, she headed to the kitchen–and picked up a kitchen knife.
Then she walked to Wren’s door.
Her knock was answered within seconds, and Wren’s face fell upon seeing her. “Ms. Caroline, what do you want at this hour?” Though Wren addressed her as “Ms. Caroline, there was no respect in it. She still resented Caroline for that recent scolding.
With a fake smile, Caroline replied, “Nothing much, just bored and wanted to chat.
“There’s nothing to chat about.” Wren turned away, grumbling, and walked back into her room.
Caroline kept her hands behind her, followed Wren inside, and closed the door.
Chapter 22 Wanted to Chat
TODIL
#Finished
Then, Edwin had beaten her severely. Later, Wren had kicked Caroline when no one else was around, warning her not to step into her room again.
Since then, she avoided this room.
Wren sat down, crossed her legs, and looked at Caroline. “What do you want to say, Ms. Caroline? Make it quick. I have to go to bed.”
Caroline leaned against the wall, a strange smile on her face. “Don’t worry, Wren. You’ll sleep well tonight and have pleasant dreams.
Though Caroline’s smile was bright, Wren couldn’t help feeling an eerie chill.
Caroline stopped beating around the bush. “Did you tell my brothers that I brought a man home?”
Understanding dawned on Wren. So Caroline was here about that.
Though she had exaggerated the story, there was a grain of truth in it. She felt no guilt.
Straightening up, Wren retorted, “Did I lie? If you bring a man home and act indecently, expect people to talk!”
Caroline’s eyes narrowed. “Miguel said you personally saw me with a man on my bed. Which eye did you see that with?”
Wren wasn’t fazed. “I did see it. I heard noises from your room and looked inside. Maybe you were too caught up to notice
- me.
In truth, Wren had only seen Caroline and the man entering the building; she had assumed the worst.
Send Gifts
1:25 PM c d
After the New Year’s Eve Tragedy: Her Icy Return
Chapter 23 Haunted Dreams
Finished
Watching Wren lie without missing a beat, Caroline’s patience finally snapped. She took the kitchen knife out from behind her back and slammed it into the table next to Wren.
“I’m giving you one more chance. I suggest you come clean!”
Wren’s eyes widened in terror as she stared at the knife embedded in the wood, her body trembling uncontrollably. She and her chair toppled backward onto the floor,
As Wren scrambled to get up, Caroline leaned down and pressed a hand on her shoulder, forcing her back down. “See! Even the heavens are fed up with your lies and decided to give you a little punishment. How can you get up without confessing your wrongdoings first?”
Fear contorted Wren’s face as she fixated on the gleaming knife. “Y–you’re insane! Do you even realize what you’re doing?”
This Caroline seemed more unhinged than ever–has she gone completely mad?
Caroline crouched beside her, tapping the flat of the knife against Wren’s pale cheek. “Oh, I’ve been insane for a while now. Took you long enough to notice!”
She had felt her sanity slipping ever since her rebirth, yet it had brought her clarity. No longer did she cry alone over her brothers‘ coldness; she now thrived on resolve and retribution.
Wren, terrified of being cut, lay still, her body stiff with fear. “Please, let’s talk this out just put the knife down.”
Killing was illegal, but Wren wasn’t sure reason would work on a lunatic. Even if Caroline faced consequences, Wren wouldn’t survive to see them.
“Scared now, are we? You usually seem so bold!” Caroline’s voice dripped with sarcasm. She raised Wren’s chin with the edge of the knife. I’m giving you one last chance. Which eye of yours saw me in bed with a man? I suggest you tell the truth, or this knife might slip.”
Wren could feel cold sweat soaking her back. With a knife at her throat, she couldn’t dare lie.
“I–I saw you and a man sharing an umbrella, walking into the complex. I didn’t see you bring him home or into your room.”
Caroline’s mind cleared. So Wren had seen her with Blake and used it to concoct a lie to smear her reputation.
“I swear that’s the truth. Please, can you put the knife away now?” Wren’s voice quivered in fear for her life.
Caroline’s gaze was sharp as a blade. “Tomorrow at breakfast, you will clarify the truth about this incident. Can you do that?”
Wren nodded fervently. “Yes, yes, I can!”
Survival was her only concern. She could deal with everything else later.
Caroline warned, “Remember your promise. If you don’t explain yourself tomorrow, I won’t hesitate to make you bleed–or
worse.
With that, she pulled the knife from the table and walked out, tossing a final remark over her shoulder. “And don’t think for a second that I won’t do it. I’m crazy, remember?”
After returning the knife to its place in the kitchen, Caroline headed back to her room and lay on her bed, smiling at the thought of Wren’s petrified face.
That old hag bullied me countless times. Scaring her senseless is satisfying revenge.
She hoped Wren would stay in line from now on.
Chapter 23 Haunted Dreams
Finished
Liam added, “I agree. Today’s breakfast is awful. Thes
Chapter 24 Clear Intentions
Finished
Unexpectedly, Caroline’s voice cut through the dining room. “I remember you mentioning you had something to say last night, Wren. Now that everyone is here, why don’t you go ahead?”
Wren’s brief sense of relief vanished, and her heart raced once more.
Miguel noticed her pale face and asked, “Wren, are you not feeling well? Do you need to take some time off? If you’re unwell, just let us know. Your health is important.“,
Hearing his concern, she briefly considered telling the brothers about Caroline’s threats. Surely they would protect her. But Caroline’s menacing gaze quelled her bravery, and she decided to come clean.
“It’s not that I’m unwell, just feeling a bit guilty. Yesterday, I was dizzy and my memory was foggy. This morning, after some rest, I remembered more clearly, Ms. Caroline didn’t bring any man home.”
The dining room fell silent.
Liam broke the silence first. “You’ve always been healthy, Wren. Since when do you get dizzy spells that affect your memory?”
What a ridiculous liet
Wren stammered, unable to produce a convincing argument, which only made Liam more certain she was lying. He turned to Caroline.
“Did you force Wren to say this? Do you really think this will make us like you? It won’t work. Denying what you’ve done only makes us despise you more.
Caroline wasn’t angry at his words but responded with a hint of sarcasm. “I wouldn’t dream of earning your favor. You’re fully devoted to someone else. No matter what I do, you won’t spare a shred of kindness for me.”
With that, she glanced at Helen.
“You won’t even cook for us, yet you talk about being kind–hearted, Liam scoffed. Then, trying a different approach, he softened his tone, “If you really want us to think better of you, show some sincerity. Prove to us through your actions that you haven’t changed–that you’re still our obedient little sister.”
Caroline understood completely now. They wanted her to resume cooking, fetching, and taking care of their every need- essentially to be their housemaid.
Their intentions were crystal clear.
Fabian chimed in, “That’s right. We’re family. Since
ou’re such a great cook, you should make meals for us every day.”
Tired of Wren’s atrocious cooking, the memory of Caroline’s dishes made him salivate. How hadn’t he appreciated her cooking skills before?
Just then, Caroline’s phone rang with a WhatsApp call.
Seeing it was Blake, she quickly walked to the balcony to answer, lowering her voice.
“Dr. Sherwood, are the results in?”
“Yes, they are.”
Hearing his response, Caroline instinctively turned to make sure no one was eavesdropping. She whispered, “Is there something wrong with the results?”
There was a brief silence before Blake spoke again. “Do you have time to meet? I’d like to explain the report in person.”
1:25 PM c d
Chapter 24 Clear Intentions
Blake hesitated, then said. “Let’s meet for coffee. I’ll send you the location.”
Finished
After ending the call, Caroline quickly changed clothes and headed out the door, ignoring Miguel’s attempts to speak to her.
Annoyed at being ignored, Miguel huffed, “Caroline’s getting ruder by the day. What’s so urgent that she can’t even talk to us?”
Liam added. “What else could it be but meeting her boyfriend?”
If he didn’t have to work today, he’d follow Caroline to catch her in the act of meeting this supposed boyfriend.
Miguel, still upset, called Wren out of the kitchen.
“Wren, tell me honestly. Did you see Caroline bring a man home or not?”
He had believed Caroline when Wren confessed earlier, but Liam’s suggestion had him doubting again.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to believe Caroline, but her recent behavior was so out of character. Someone must be manipulating her.
Wren hesitated/
She wanted to say yes, but feared Caroline’s retaliation if she found out about the lie. Messing with a lunatic was dangerous.
Scratching her head, she mumbled, “I think I saw something, but maybe I didn’t. Perhaps I’m just getting old and can’t remember clearly
Miguel fell silent, stunned by her reply.
Liam snapped. “Miguel, why are you even asking? If you’re still unsure, why don’t we follow her one day? Catch her in the act.”
Send Gifts
e pancakes are burnt to a crisp. What happened. Wren? Usually, your cooking is barely edible, but today it’s inedible.”
Wren looked like she was about to cry, ready to say something, but stopped when she saw Caroline approaching. Bowing her head, she swallowed her words.
Caroline had haunted her dreams all night. This morning, Wren had been too rattled by Caroline’s threats to focus on cooking.
Caroline smiled at Wren sweetly. “Wren, Liam asked you a question. Why aren’t you answering?”
Her smile was gentle, far from the terror she instilled last night, making Wren wonder if Caroline had forgotten the whole incident.
Maybe she was lucky enough to avoid explaining her lies
Finally, Wren muttered, “Sorry, I don’t feel well today. That’s why the pancakes got burnt. I’ll do better next time.”
Relieved, Wren thought this might finally blow over.
Send Gifts
