Chapter 7 - Caroline Has Chilidren?

Seeing a handsome man who bore a striking resemblance to Clayton, Mr. Alen, Mrs. Marly's husband, assumed this man might be Clayton's father. However, as far as he knew, Caroline had been living here since she became pregnant, and he had never seen anyone visit her. Now that Clayton was five years old, Mr. Alen didn't dare voice his suspicions.

"Does Caroline have a husband? Hmm, I mean, is her husband—"

"Yes, her husband is away at work," Mr. Alen replied, lying without hesitation. Even if this man was Clayton's father, Mr. Alen assumed Caroline must have separated from him since he had never seen him before.

Hearing Mr. Alen's words, Dillbert fell silent, his body stiffening. Five years was not a short time, and he thought it was only natural for Caroline to be married by now. After all, a woman as beautiful as Caroline wouldn’t remain unattached for long.

Damn it! he cursed silently. Dillbert closed his eyes, struggling to accept the reality of what he had just heard.

"Sorry, who are you to Caroline?" Mr. Alen asked, breaking the tense silence.

"I'm her…" Dillbert's voice caught in his throat as he hesitated, remembering his current place in Caroline's life.

"I'm her friend," he finally answered softly.

Ex-lover—more precisely, the lover who dumped Caroline after her first love returned. A foolish man who let go of a woman as extraordinary as Caroline.

Five years of being alone didn’t mean Mrs. Jasmine, Dillbert's mother, wasn’t searching for someone new to bring into his life. She desperately wanted grandchildren, but no one could replace Caroline's place in Dillbert’s heart.

"Oh, Sorry, I’m not sure what time Caroline will be home," Mr. Alen said, glancing at the watch on his wrist. It was already 9 o’clock, and he was running late for the office.

"Sorry, I need to head to work now," he added hastily.

"Ah, yes. I’m sorry for taking up your time," Dillbert replied softly, his voice shaky from the lingering shock.

"Excuse me, and thank you," he said as he took his leave.

"You’re welcome," Mr. Alen replied politely.

Dillbert turned around and walked unsteadily toward his car, parked in Mr. Alen's yard. His gaze was empty, his soul shattered by the realization that Caroline was married.

The driver opened the car door for him, and Dillbert got in. His body was limp, as if he had lost all will to live. He sank into the seat, leaning his head against the backrest. Staring blankly ahead, his mind replayed the happy memories he had shared with Caroline. Only those cherished moments remained vividly stored in his mind.

Reaching into his coat pocket, he pulled out a red, heart-shaped ring box. Inside was a dazzling diamond ring—one he had specially ordered a week before Sally arrived. Sally’s betrayal had changed everything. Initially intended for her, Dillbert now planned to give it to Caroline, the woman who had never left his heart.

He had wanted to propose to Caroline in the past, waiting only for the right moment, but Sally's arrival had ruined everything. Now, all that remained was regret.

"Where to, sir?" the private driver asked, breaking the silence.

"Wherever you want," Dillbert replied dully.

The driver glanced at his master through the rearview mirror, puzzled by the sudden change in his demeanor. Just moments ago, Dillbert had seemed so full of enthusiasm.

The car drove slowly, the driver obeying his master's vague instruction to take him anywhere. Silence filled the air. Dillbert closed his eyes as a sudden wave of dizziness overtook him.

"Are you sure the address we went to was correct?" he asked, needing confirmation.

"Yes, sir, it’s the address you gave me," the driver replied firmly.

Dillbert massaged his temples. He had gotten Caroline’s address from his company, so it was unlikely the information was wrong. Moreover, when he spoke to the man in the house, it was clear that Caroline did live there.

"Should I go back abroad? I don’t think I can bear to see Caroline with her children and husband. Just hearing the news that she’s married is already too painful," he murmured softly.

***

Early in the morning, Caroline arrived at the office. She wasn’t the type of person to waste time. Caroline always made the best use of her time, knowing that her hard work would eventually pay off. She needed the money to support her son, who was growing older by the day. She also disliked constantly relying on Mrs. Marly and her husband for help.

"Caroline, where were you yesterday?" Rose asked as she arrived at the office.

"I went to register my son at school," Caroline replied with a smile, thinking about how Clayton would soon be starting school. In her life, Clayton was her sole source of motivation. She was willing to do anything to ensure her son’s needs were met.

As Caroline and Rose chatted, Dillbert’s deep, gravelly voice suddenly broke through the air, reaching Caroline’s ears. Her heart began pounding rapidly—she hadn’t expected Dillbert to approach her in the administration room.

"Mr. Dillbert," Rose said, immediately standing and bowing respectfully upon noticing their boss.

Caroline also stood, offering a polite bow and a faint smile, doing her best to mask her surprise.

"Caroline, come to my office and bring the weekly report. There’s something wrong," Dillbert said curtly before walking away.

Rose turned to Caroline with a worried expression, noticing how pale her friend looked.

"Yes sir."

Rose rushed to the file cabinet. Within moments, she returned with the files their boss had requested, moving as fast as lightning.

"Go, and don’t take too long. I’m afraid he’ll get angry," Rose said, handing over the file and gently nudging Caroline forward.

Caroline quickly followed Dillbert, who was already far ahead. She knew the report wasn’t inaccurate, but she suspected this had more to do with Dillbert’s unanswered phone calls from the day before.

Dillbert entered his office, with Caroline trailing behind him. He closed the door before turning to face her.

"Why haven’t you been answering my calls? Are you afraid your husband will get angry?" Dillbert asked sarcastically, his tone sharp.

"H-husband?" Caroline stammered, taken aback.

What is he thinking? Why would he suddenly ask about my husband? Caroline thought, confused and uneasy.

"How old is your child?" Dillbert pressed.

Caroline’s brow furrowed deeply as her hands began to tremble slightly. Why is he asking about my child? she wondered anxiously.

Her heart sank with fear. Does he know about Clayton? Caroline’s thoughts raced, and an overwhelming sense of dread took hold. She was terrified at the possibility of Dillbert trying to take Clayton away from her.