Chapter 96 – A Close Call
“I… I was so foolish to do something like this. I didn’t mean to hurt Caroline. I just wanted to scare her—I’d never actually harm her. She’s always bullied me, looked down on me, and even laid hands on me. I’ve been holding a grudge because of it. And then she’s the one who’s your lawful wife. I was jealous, and it clouded my judgment. That’s why I made such a terrible mistake. Mr. Ellison, I did all of this because I love you. I realize now how wrong I was, and I’ll never do it again. Look, Caroline wasn’t harmed, and she’s perfectly fine. Let’s just put an end to this, okay?”
Caroline’s lips curled into a cold smile. Twisting the truth and calling black white—Elizabeth excels at this act.
But this time, Caroline wasn’t going to let her get away with it.
She couldn’t forget how close she had come to losing her life—and not just hers. Caroline couldn’t allow this to slip through the cracks.
There was no way she’d let David’s pity spare Elizabeth from facing the consequences.
Caroline stood, her expression hardening as she walked toward Elizabeth. “I wasn’t harmed? That’s easy for you to say from where you’re standing. Do you even have any idea what it felt like? If David hadn’t arrived in time, I would have been violated by those two kidnappers.”
She intentionally mentioned the incident, knowing it was the one thing David could never tolerate.
David had his flaws—his possessiveness, his unyielding need for control—but to him, Caroline was his. No one else was allowed to touch her, let alone hurt her.
Caroline pressed on, her voice now carrying an edge. “I was so desperate, Elizabeth, that I almost bit my tongue to end it all. I couldn’t live with that humiliation. It was only when David saved me, at the very last second, that I stopped.”
She let her words hang in the air, each one a sharp reminder of the trauma she’d endured.
“So tell me, Elizabeth,” Caroline continued, “Do you really think your excuse of a ‘momentary lapse in judgment’ and just ‘trying to scare me’ is enough to brush this aside? People must face the consequences of their actions!”
Elizabeth glared at her with venom in her eyes. You wretched woman. Wretched!
But when her gaze shifted back to David, her expression transformed into one of pathetic sorrow. “Mr. Ellison, I truly know I was wrong. Please… please give me another chance and forgive me. I promise I’ll never do this again. I won’t ask for anything else. Just let me stay by your side…”
David lowered his gaze to Elizabeth’s tear-streaked face. He had always hated seeing women cry—but now, it only made his frustration boil over.
Caroline spoke softly, but with steely resolve. “David, don’t forget… what you promised me.”
David’s face remained impassive, but his thoughts churned. He had vowed to punish whoever was responsible for Caroline’s kidnapping. He had already been told it was Elizabeth, but he hadn’t believed her. Now, with the evidence so clear, he couldn’t deny the truth.
If David still chose to protect Elizabeth after all of this…
Caroline felt a cold resolve settle inside her. Then I won’t have even the slightest expectation of him anymore.
David met Caroline’s gaze, his lips moving faintly as he whispered, “I remember.”
“Good,” Caroline nodded, her heart resolute. “Keep your word.”
He gave a slight nod. “I will.”
Elizabeth, unable to understand their cryptic exchange, grew more frantic. She clung desperately to David’s pant leg, her voice trembling with fear. “Mr. Ellison, you can hit me, scold me, or punish me however you want. I’ll accept anything. I only have one request—don’t send me away. Don’t ignore me… I promise I’ll never let jealousy or envy get the better of me again.”
Caroline watched with a calm heart, her gaze steady. I’ve done everything I can.
Now, whatever happened next was beyond her control.
