05

Caraline had not been well since her return from the Aberald residence. For most of the afternoon, she locked herself away in her office, not wanting to be disturbed by anyone. All she did was sit in front of her computer and drift off into a daydream. Caraline couldn't concentrate on work at all. Therefore, everything related to the company was left to Helen.

At over eight in the evening, Caraline was still in her office. She was occasionally massaging her head, which was very dizzy. It wasn't because of her crazy actions today, but because her stomach hadn't been filled since noon. Just as Caraline was about to call Helen, her assistant appeared at the door.

"Miss Caraline, I brought you dinner." Helen placed a tray with a bowl of hot chicken soup and a glass of water on the table.

Caraline, who was standing in front of the window, instantly turned around. Her gaze was immediately drawn to the food on the table. "I didn't know you could read my mind, Helen."

Helen took a few steps back as Caraline sat down on the sofa. "I've worked with you for many years, Miss. So, I think I know a bit about your habits."

Caraline carved a faint smile. What Helen said was the truth. The bespectacled woman had been with her since the company she had built was still renting a small shop on the outskirts of town. However, she felt that she was a bad partner because until now she didn't even know where Helen lived.

"Miss, I've rearranged your schedule," Helen said into the silence that had settled over the room, "what should I prepare for your activities tomorrow?"

Hearing this question, Caraline suddenly choked up. Immediately, she gulped down her drink. She then smacked herself lightly on the chest and leaned back against the chair. With tomorrow in mind, the delicious soup looked like garbage.

"Are you okay, Miss?" asked Helen as she reached into her skirt pocket for her phone. "I'll call the doctor immediately."

"Helen." Caraline signaled with her palm.

Helen slowly moved the device away from her ear. "Yes, Miss." 

Caraline let out a long breath as she stood up from her seat. Her gaze immediately went straight ahead, but her mind flew back to that encounter with the charming man who was destined to be bound to a wheelchair. That man named Deric was haunting her mind all the time. The more she tried to get rid of him, the stronger he stayed in her memory.  

"Miss Caraline," Helen said with a worried look.

As soon as Caraline snapped out of her reverie, she reflexively shook her head weakly, focused her vision on Helen, and then adjusted her hair as if nothing serious was on her mind. "I'm... getting married tomorrow, Helen."

"What did you say?" asked Helen stammeringly. Although her body was frozen in shock, her brain was working quickly to deduce something from what Caraline had just said. Her smile grew as soon as she found an answer. "I didn't know that Miss and Mr. Diego were that close. I'm happy to hear that. What could—"

"You're wrong, Helen." Caraline got up from the sofa and stepped out onto the balcony. The evening breeze danced in her mane as soon as the door opened.

Helen followed Caraline's lead. "So, who will you marry?"

"I-I'm... getting married to the man I met at the Aberald family. He's the Jacob Aberald I've been looking for," Caraline said. Her voice was shaky and restrained at the same time.

Helen recoiled instantly. Her eyes, which were obscured by her glasses, widened to their normal size. This news not only took her by surprise but also brought fear. What was going on?

"What... should I prepare for your wedding, Miss?" Rather than make things worse for Caraline, Helen chose to help in her way.

Helen realized that her relationship with Caraline was limited to her work colleagues. For this reason, she tries not to interfere with Caraline's privacy issues even though she wants to be able to help as a friend.

Caraline hugged herself. As the night wind intensified, she went back into the room. Helen followed suit.

"Helen, I don't want my wedding to get out in the press." Caraline cautioned. "So, prepare a tight cordon around the Mililine Tower 2 building. For details, I'll send you a message."

“I understand, Miss.”

Caraline grabbed her bag from the desk and scoured the floor in a hurry. Spotting Helen trailing behind, Caraline quickly stopped and said, "Don't follow me. I have to visit someone in private."

***

At seven in the morning, James' room was suddenly entered by Jeremy and Jonathan. Both men were immaculately dressed in black suits. Meanwhile, the owner of the room was still trying to bring himself to reality. Half of his body was still under the covers.

"James, hurry up and get ready! Don't let me drag you to the bathroom!" Jeremy shook his head as he looked at James' state who was still between dream and reality.

"That cripple Deric ruined my life," James said as he got up from the bed. His eyes glared like he was about to eat someone alive. As he was about to walk to the bathroom, his big toe bumped into a table leg. "Shit! I hope that guy disappears forever!"

James hopped up and down on one foot, then said again, "Why do I have to get up this early just to go to that useless event? Can I just go back to sleep and continue my dream that was interrupted by your rude knock on my door?"

"Shut up!" Jonathan half snapped. "You can take out your anger directly on that cripple Deric after you come out in a neat suit. I don't want to hear your ramblings this early."

As his brothers left, James rushed into the bathroom, slamming the door loudly. In the pouring water, he continued cursing Deric as if he would die if he didn't. 

In the same time, Deric had just arrived at the porch when he saw Jeremy and Jonathan coming out of the main door. Their eyes met for a moment, but he chose to break contact first and used the fence.

"Are you nut?" screeched Jeremy when he saw Deric's appearance. His anger was suddenly ignited, but he quickly controlled it. "Do you mean to insult the Aberald family by dressing like a bum? Oh, come on, my dirty laundry is even neater than the clothes you're wearing. Can't you look in the mirror before you show us your miserable face?"

Receiving an assessment from Jeremy, Deric immediately checked his appearance. "It took me half an hour to find decent clothes. Do I look bad?"

"You and ugliness are like twins," Jonathan said, "you were born and live only to receive ugliness."

"Thankfully, I'm still myself today," Deric said.

"You always make me sick!" cursed Jonathan as he kicked the back of Deric's wheelchair.

It happened in the blink of an eye. Without being able to prevent it, Deric was already lying on the ground with his body crushed by his wheelchair.