Chapter 100 – Andrew Appointed Director of the ‘Caroz’ Brand
Seeing that Caroline was unaffected by the smoke, David instinctively extinguished his cigarette. After putting it out, he paused for a moment, wondering why he cared so much about Caroline’s feelings. His expression turned cold as he said, “Also, when we get to the office tomorrow, you’ll see a familiar face.”
“A familiar face? Who?” Caroline asked, brow furrowed in curiosity.
Caroline knew very few people—only Anna, her good friend. Other than that, she usually kept to herself.
“Andrew,” David replied, the name hanging in the air.
Hearing that name again, Caroline’s surprise was evident. “Him? Didn’t you… send him and his mother to prison?”
The memory resurfaced: the night Andrew had tried to assault her, and David had woken up, personally taking him away. Since then, Andrew had disappeared without a trace.
“Grandfather spared him. After all, he’s his grandson,” David said matter-of-factly. “He’s now the director of the ‘Caroz’ brand at Ellison Group.”
Richard, David’s grandfather, had pushed Andrew into the company, offering him a position that was neither high nor low, neither important nor trivial.
David had accepted this arrangement, knowing it was a trade-off. He allowed Andrew to stay, and in return, the Ellison family allowed Harper to remain, keeping the family dynamics stable.
Caroline was taken aback but soon realized something. In aristocratic families, there were countless secrets hidden beneath the surface. Especially someone like David, who stood at the pinnacle of power. Many people plotted against him, offering praise on the outside while harboring completely different motives in private.
Every move David made had to be careful, deliberate, and stable.
“No wonder you smoke on the balcony…” Caroline murmured. “David, you must be exhausted.”
She suddenly said this, and David looked at her, slightly surprised. The night breeze was cool, still carrying a chill.
Caroline rubbed her arms. “For every bit of glory on the surface, there’s just as much hardship that no one sees behind the scenes.”
David remained expressionless. She is going through so much herself, struggling to survive in the cracks, yet here she was… sympathizing with him? Did she even understand what she was saying or doing?
With Caroline’s status and experiences, she had no place to feel sorry for David. One was the president of Ellison Group, a man above all others. The other was an orphan, struggling to control her own fate.
Caroline continued, “I know you have great power. Anything you want is within easy reach. You don’t even have to ask—just a look, and someone will offer it to you, ready to serve you. You get so much, and it comes so easily to you. But with everything you gain, something is bound to be lost. Life is fair in that way—it doesn’t keep all the good things in one person’s hands. Just like… how thin the family ties are for you. Your relatives mean less to you than Boris does. David, money can buy many things, but it can’t buy a person’s heart. True affection is rare and precious to you.”
He let out a scoff, his voice dripping with disdain. “What’s the point of true affection?”
How much is it worth? What good is it? In a critical moment, can it really help?
David was a businessman, focused on interests and returns. Moreover, he had grown up in an environment of constant family conflict—his family always watching him, making life far from easy. He couldn’t trust anyone, and he certainly wouldn’t give his true feelings to anyone.
Caroline’s voice softened, almost as if the wind might carry it away. “It’s cold at the top, David.”
