Chapter 8: Who Had Been with Her That Night?
“Of course, right this way, Mr. David,” Matthew said eagerly, his voice full of forced politeness as he ushered David into a private room. “Please, this way.”
As soon as the door clicked shut behind them, Samantha and Elizabeth dropped their pretenses. The sweet smiles and hospitality evaporated, replaced with their usual venom.
“Well, well, Mrs. Ellison,” Elizabeth sneered, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “Feeling high and mighty now, huh? Thinking you’re important all of a sudden? Or have you forgotten how miserable you looked back at the orphanage?”
Samantha snorted in agreement. “If Mr. David had come to his senses sooner, you wouldn’t have stood a chance. This marriage was never meant for you. You just got lucky.”
Elizabeth’s laugh was cruel. “And it won’t last long either,” she said, her eyes gleaming with malice. “A man like Mr. David wouldn’t keep someone like you around. You’re nothing but a disgrace. It’ll all fall apart soon enough. Hahaha!”
Caroline remained composed, her face betraying no emotion as she listened to their taunts. Her thoughts were elsewhere, a single question consuming her mind—Who had been with me that night?
She cleared her throat, her voice cutting through the tension like a knife. “Isn’t that entirely your doing?” Caroline’s words were sharp and deliberate. “I don’t see why you’re so pleased with yourselves. Do you really think David would spare you if he knew his bride was drugged and taken away before even reaching the Ellison residence?”
Samantha and Elizabeth froze at her words, their faces paling as the implications sunk in. Caroline continued, her voice calm but firm. “The worst thing that happens to me is a divorce. And since I was a victim in all of this, I could easily walk away with a massive settlement and live comfortably for the rest of my life. But do you really think David will let you off so easily?”
For a moment, the room fell silent. Neither Samantha nor Elizabeth had a response.
Samantha’s frustration boiled over first. “How ungrateful! You’re unbelievable! We raised you, gave you everything, and this is how you repay us?”
Caroline didn’t flinch, her eyes locked on Samantha. “I’m not here to make a scene,” she said with quiet conviction. “I just need an answer.”
She took a step closer, her voice lowering to a deliberate tone. “Who had been with me that night?”
The man she remembered wasn’t the disgusting, overweight tycoon she had feared. No, he had been strong, his physique well-built—nothing like the buyer she had imagined.
Samantha hesitated before speaking, clearly uncomfortable under Caroline’s unrelenting gaze. “I don’t know. He was extremely secretive, never revealing his face or identity.”
Caroline raised an eyebrow. “And you think I’ll believe that?”
Samantha’s tone grew defensive. “What reason would I have to lie to you? It was an underground deal. Buyers like that don’t reveal themselves.”
Before Caroline could respond, Elizabeth, unable to contain her impatience, blurted out, “Besides, the buyer didn’t even show up.”
The words hung in the air for a moment, and Caroline’s heart skipped a beat. She wasn’t imagining things. A man had clearly entered her room that night. There was no mistake.
“Didn’t show up?” Caroline repeated, her voice low, filled with suspicion.
Samantha quickly reached out to silence Elizabeth, her hand clamping down on her arm. “Didn’t show up?” Caroline asked again, her voice growing more intense.
Elizabeth was about to speak again, but Samantha cut her off. “He didn’t make it in time,” Samantha clarified quickly, her tone tight. “He was late and only showed up in the middle of the night.”
Caroline’s mind raced. Middle of the night? It didn’t make sense. The man she remembered had arrived far earlier than that, yet everyone was insisting he was late. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was being hidden from her.
She steeled herself, refusing to back down. “Who was he?” she demanded again, her voice like steel. “Who had been with me that night?”
Samantha’s eyes darted nervously, but she held her ground. “Listen, Caroline,” she warned, her voice low, “this is a secret you must never let out. If you do, it’s over for all of us.”
Caroline met her gaze without flinching. Let out the truth? Samantha’s words sent a shiver down her spine. David’s reputation for ruthlessness was well-known in the city. Anyone who opposed him, anyone who crossed him, didn’t survive.
But Caroline wasn’t so easily intimidated. She tilted her head slightly and smirked. “And what if I choose to reveal everything? You had the guts to do it, but not to own up to it.”
Elizabeth exploded in anger, her face contorting as she pushed Caroline. “Don’t forget who raised you! Being Mrs. Ellison doesn’t make you better than anyone else! You’re still just a lowly adopted girl!”
The words hit Caroline like a slap in the face, but this time, she didn’t flinch. She had spent her life enduring Elizabeth’s cruelty, never fighting back, never speaking up. But she wasn’t that person anymore. She was stronger now, more resilient.
Without hesitation, Caroline grabbed Elizabeth’s wrist, twisting it firmly.
“Ah!” Elizabeth screamed, the pain evident in her voice. “How dare you… You actually dared to fight back?”
Caroline didn’t release her grip. “I…” Elizabeth started, her words faltering.
“She dares,” a voice rang out from the doorway, cutting her off. The familiar tone sent a shiver down Caroline’s spine.
David’s voice was cold, but it carried an undeniable authority. “Because she is Mrs. Ellison. My wife.”
The room went silent as all eyes turned toward David, who stood in the doorway, his presence commanding and unyielding.
Caroline didn’t release Elizabeth’s wrist right away, but she knew she had no need to. David had arrived. And in that moment, she felt the weight of his words sink in. She wasn’t just an orphan anymore—she was his wife.
And whatever happened next, she was ready to face it.
