Chapter 11: A Second Marriage Might Be Unfair to Her
David’s words lingered in the air, cold and dismissive.
“She’ll leave if she’s willing, and even if she’s not, she’ll still have to leave!”
Harper’s voice softened with concern, though the authority in her tone remained unwavering.
“I’ve already picked out a good girl for you. She’s kind and pure—definitely wife material and a perfect mother. But, you know, with this being your second marriage, it might be a bit unfair to her.”
David didn’t even bat an eyelash at her comment. If anything, he only grew more irritated. The idea that his second marriage would be a burden to anyone, particularly a woman, was laughable. He was David Ellison. Women still vied for his attention, regardless of his marital history.
His eyes narrowed, a faint sneer playing on his lips as he looked at his mother.
“I’ve got it, Mom. But I have a meeting to attend,” he replied curtly.
Harper’s tone softened, but her persistence didn’t waver.
“I’m set on this girl becoming my daughter-in-law. During my years at the orphanage, she was always there by my side, taking care of me. She even saved my life once. That year, I fell into the water, and it was her who pulled me out, performed CPR, and rushed me to the hospital…”
David’s expression was unreadable. His guilt toward his mother, stemming from the difficult life she had led, was undeniable. But her interfering in his personal matters? That was where he drew the line.
“I understand, Mom. But I’ll handle it.”
David ended the call abruptly, tossing his phone aside, already beginning to distance himself mentally from the situation. He had no desire to follow his mother’s wishes. He’d meet the girl she had in mind, sure. But he wasn’t about to let her dictate his future.
If anything, this was just another obligation to take care of…
He felt a sharp twinge in his arm as his thoughts wandered. That damn Caroline… The burn on his arm throbbed, the fresh blisters still painful to the touch.
It was all her fault.
His teeth ground together as he thought back to the careless way she had placed a kettle of hot water next to his arm while he was bedridden.
She probably thought I was on my deathbed and didn’t even care enough to be cautious, David seethed internally. She could have killed me!
“Mr. David, you’re injured!” William’s voice snapped him out of his angry thoughts.
“What happened? I’ll call a doctor immediately!”
David’s lips pressed into a thin line as he dismissed William with a wave.
“No need. It’s just a scratch.”
But his mind was elsewhere, lingering on Caroline’s recklessness.
Back at the orphanage, Caroline sneezed twice, the cold air in the building chilling her to the bone. She rubbed her arms, feeling a sudden unease, though she couldn’t quite place the reason.
She’d been to see Harper, but she wasn’t feeling particularly comfortable with the whole situation. There was something off about the way David had been acting lately. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was about to change, and she wasn’t entirely sure if it was for the better.
When she finally returned to the Ellison residence, the house was eerily silent. The atmosphere was cold, as if something ominous hung in the air. Caroline made her way to the master bedroom, desperate to change out of the uncomfortable clothes she’d been wearing all day.
As she reached for her pajamas in the walk-in closet, a voice broke the silence, making her freeze in place.
“Where were you all afternoon?”
The voice was deep, chilling, and unmistakably David’s.
Caroline jumped in surprise, spinning around only to find David standing there, his presence commanding and unyielding. He had that typical aloof expression on his face—cool, detached, as though everything was beneath him.
Panicked, Caroline fumbled with her hands and feet, unsure what to do with herself in that moment. Her heart raced, and before she could stop herself, she stumbled, stepping on her own foot and losing her balance.
She fell backward, a soft cry escaping her lips.
David didn’t move an inch. He stood there, arms crossed, eyes fixed on her as she clumsily tried to recover.
There was no sign of concern or care in his eyes—just cold indifference.
It was clear that he was no longer the man she once knew.
