After the New Year''s Eve Tragedy: Her Icy Return


    Chapter 57 Make Sure You''ll Never Use That Hand Again


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    When Caroline heard his offer, she quickly objected. "No way! We can''t mix business with personal matters. I still need to pay the rent."


    ke had already done so much for her by helping her secure this job, and she was extremely grateful.


    There was no way she could just live in his ce without paying him for it.


    She hated the idea of owing anyone more than she already did. After all, the more debts you build up, the harder it bes to pay them all off.


    ke smiled knowingly, his eyes twinkling with a calm warmth. “Okay, if you insist. But just so you know, I''m not in a rush for the money. You can pay me when you start making money from this job. Just give it to me at the end of the month."


    Caroline felt a wave of warmth spread through her chest. It was rare to find someone so understanding. "Thank you, Dr. Sherwood," she said softly, her voice filled with gratitude.


    If only my brothers were as thoughtful as ke. Maybe things would have turned out differently.


    ke waved off her thanks with a casual smile, ncing at his watch. "No need to thank me," he said. "I''ve got a few things to take care of, so I''ll head out now. Later today, I''ll have my friend send over the details


    about his colleagues'' preferences."


    After he left, Caroline wandered around the apartment for a while.


    It was a spacious three-bedroom, two-bathroom unit, and the living room was evenrger than ke''s ce across the street. It was easily more than 600 square feet, maybe closer to 650.


    The kitchen stood out the most-there was plenty of room to work with, ideal preparing meals for arge group.


    As she looked around the ce, a sense of relief washed over her that she hadn''t expected.


    She had nned to wait until she was financially more stable before moving out on her own.


    But fate had given her this opportunity, and she found herself with her own space much sooner than she thought.


    Now, whenever she needed to escape from the Somerton household or avoid the cold res of her brothers, she could simply retreat to this apartment.


    As the sun began to set, Caroline decided to go out and pick up some supplies for the kitchen.


    She spotted arge shopping mall not far from theplex; and based on her experience, she knew malls like this one often had good supermarkets inside.


    It seemed like the perfect ce to find what she needed


    She locked up the apartment and made her way to the mall.


    However, just as she was about to enter, she unexpectedly ran into two people she didn''t want to see-


    Helen and Louise.


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    Chapter 57 Make Sure You''ll Never Use That Hand Agin


    They had noticed her as well.


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    Helen greeted her with a warm smile. "Aunt Caroline! Are you here to buy clothes?"


    By now, Louise had learned from the designpetition the day before that Caroline was Helen''s aunt. She''d also heard Helen''s exnation about why she had been hiding her true identity.


    But there was no point in pretending anymore.


    Caroline forced a smile. "Are you here to buy clothes too?"


    Helen had always been someone who preferred to shop during the day, never in the evenings.


    But now, she was here after hours, looking unusually cheerful. She looked nothing like someone who had lost her chance at getting first ce the day before.


    Caroline couldn''t help but wonder if her brothers had pushed Helen into marrying the heir of the Graysons.


    That would exin why Helen was shopping for clothes. After all, she needed to wear something nice since she was going to meet her future fiancé.


    Before Helen could respond, Louise spoke up instead. "Caroline, don''t pretend you belong here. Do you even know how expensive the clothes are in this store? When you were working, your sry could barely afford anything here. And now, after being unemployed for so long, I''m sure you''ve run out of money."


    It didn''t matter that Caroline was a Somerton.


    Helen had already called her sly and hard to control, which was why her brothers didn''t like her and didn''t want her unting her Somerton name around.


    Caroline''s fake smile slowly faded, reced by a sharp re directed at Lo are? What makes you think you have the right to talk to me like that?”


    "Who do you think you


    It was clear to Caroline that Louise was simply trying to get on Helen''s good side


    in the hopes of climbing the socialdder.


    She was nothing but Helen''s obedientpdog, eager to please her.


    The whole situation disgusted Caroline.


    Louise''s face reddened with anger as she pointed a finger at Caroline. "I dare you to say that again!"


    Caroline wasted no time. She reached out and grabbed Louise''s finger, twisting it painfully. "I''ll say it again as many times as you want. You''re just a pathetic littlepdog!"


    Helen''spdog, to be exact.


    Too bad the factory is closing down soon. She won''t be anyone''spdog for much longer.


    yis


    Thanks to her years of handling heavy pots and cooking, Caroline was stronger than most women. Louise yelped in pain, her face contorted as tears welled up in her eyes.


    "Ah! It hurts... It hurts so much... Please, let go!"


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    Chapter 57 Make Sure You''ll Never Use That Hand Again


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    Caroline felt a grim sense of satisfaction seeing her in so much pain. The hatred she had for Louise seemed to dissolve in that moment.


    I absolutely hate being pointed at, Caroline said coldly, giving Louise''s finger onest painful twist. "This is your warning. If you ever point your finger at me again, I''ll make sure you''ll never use that hand again. Go ahead and test me."