Chapter 3

Caroline POV

Five days before the wedding, Bethany arrived.

Under the guise of helping with preparations, she brazenly moved into the Gerald estate.

She was Isaac's childhood friend.

And in the circle, she was widely known as the woman Isaac truly loved.

If not for the strong opposition from the Gerald family elders, the position of Mrs. Gerald would have been hers long ago.

"Caroline, this evening gown is so beautiful."

Bethany stood in front of the fitting room mirror, wearing the red toast dress that was originally mine.

The waist had been altered to be incredibly tight, accentuating her graceful figure.

She twirled, looking at Isaac, who was seated on the sofa. "Isaac, don't I look better than Caroline in red?"

Isaac held a business magazine, not looking up. "Stop it, take it off. That's for Caroline."

His tone was one of reproof, yet I couldn't detect a hint of anger.

Bethany pouted, reluctantly heading to the dressing room. "So stingy, I just wanted to try it on!"

I sat nearby, sipping my tea, watching quietly.

In the past, I would have been angry, would have argued with Isaac.

Then Isaac would have patiently appeased me, saying I was narrow-minded, saying Bethany was just like a sister.

Now, looking back, I realize how foolish I must have seemed.

"Caroline, don't mind her. Bethany's just spoiled by me."

Isaac put down his magazine and reached for my hand. "If you don't like it, I'll ask her to move out."

"It's fine."

I avoided his hand, pouring him a cup of tea. "It's lively with more people. Plus, there are plenty of rooms."

Isaac paused.

He clearly hadn't expected me to be so generous.

Before, whenever Bethany appeared, all my defenses would go up.

"You're not mad?" He looked at me, testing the waters.

"Why would I be mad?"

I smiled. "She's a friend, and she'll be a frequent guest. Besides, it's just a dress. If she likes it, let her wear it."

After all, I wasn't planning on wearing that dress anyway.

A flicker of surprise, then relief, crossed Isaac's eyes.

"Caroline, you've really changed. You've become more mature."

Mature?

You all forced me to be mature.

Just then, a sharp crash came from the dressing room.

Followed by Bethany's cry. "Oops!"

Isaac's expression shifted. He tossed the magazine aside and was already moving.

So fast, I didn't even react.

At the dressing room door, Bethany was sprawled on the floor, surrounded by shattered ceramic pieces.

It was a sculpture by a modern art master, which Isaac had paid a fortune for and gifted to me.

"Isaac, I didn't mean to..."

Bethany's eyes were red-rimmed, looking utterly pitiful. "I tripped, and I tried to catch the sculpture, but then..."

Isaac didn't even glance at the priceless artwork.

He immediately knelt down, taking Bethany's hand to check it. "Did you cut your hand? How can you be so clumsy?"

"It hurts..." Bethany whined delicately.

I stood a few feet away, watching the jarring scene.

That sculpture, Isaac had once cherished it, saying it represented our unbreakable love.

Now it was shattered into pieces, and he didn't even bat an eye.

"Caroline!"

Isaac turned to me, his voice urgent. "Go get the first-aid kit, Bethany cut her hand."

I looked at him, unmoving.

"What's wrong?" He frowned, seemingly annoyed by my slow reaction.

"Nothing."

I turned towards the cabinet, my voice calm. "It's broken, so what?

"It was old anyway. Time for a new one."

Isaac's body stiffened.

He seemed to infer something from my words, yet also seemed to miss everything.

His attention was entirely focused on Bethany's wound, which wasn't even bleeding.

I returned with the first-aid kit, placing it on the table.

"You two can take your time. I'm tired, I'm going upstairs to rest."

As I turned to go upstairs, I heard Bethany whisper. "Isaac, is Caroline mad?"

Isaac's voice was irritable. "Don't mind her. She was never this cold-hearted before."

I didn't stop.

Reaching the second-floor landing, I took out my phone and sent a message to the pet transport company:

"Please add another pet transport ticket. I'm taking Buddy with me."