hapter 143 Something Fishy


    It was a long drive, and once they left, there was no way they''d be back in time for lunch.


    That worked out perfectly for her n.


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    Caroline didn''t question it-after all, apany as busy as theirs probably had one issue after another to handle.


    But she wasn''t here for lunch. Her real reason foring was to get the bracelet from Edwin. Now that he was gone, how was she supposed to get it?


    She paused for a moment, then turned to ina. "Before Edwin left, did he mention anything to you? Or maybe he gave you something to pass on to me?"


    ina knew exactly what she meant-Caroline was asking about the bracelet-but she yed dumb. "Nope! He left in a hurry. He just told us you''d being over for lunch and said we should go ahead and eat without waiting for him. He didn''t say anything else, and he definitely didn''t leave me anything."


    Caroline felt a wave of irritation rise inside her.


    They had agreed just yesterday that he''d hand over the bracelet.


    Even if something urgent came up at work, he should''ve at least left a message about it with someone at home.


    "I''m calling him now," she said, pulling out her phone and scrolling to Edwin''s number.


    But before she could hit dial, ina quickly snatched the phone out of her hand. "He''s in a meeting with a client. Calling now might interrupt something important."


    The excuse sounded reasonable, but the guilty flicker in ina''s eyes gave her away.


    Caroline caught it. It was all too clear now-something fishy was going on, and ina definitely knew about the bracelet.


    Fine. If ina knew where it was, that was good enough. She didn''t care about anything else—she came here for the bracelet, and she was going to get it.


    Just then, a voice came from the dining room. "Mrs. Somerton, lunch is ready."


    Both women instinctively turned toward the dining table.


    The chef was carefully cing dish after dish on the table.


    "Alright, thank you," ina said, then turned to Helen, who was lounging on the couch peeling an orange. "Helen, open that bottle of wine you bought earlier. Pour everyone a ss."


    She even winked at Helen as she spoke.


    Helen caught the signal instantly. She tossed the half-eaten orange on the coffee table and bounced up with a grin. "Sure, Mom."


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    "If you''ve got anything to say to Edwin, you can tell him when he gets back. Your brothers have been talking about you nonstop. They''ve missed you. They''ll be d to have a proper chat with you."


    The whole situation was starting to feel off. Caroline had a nagging feeling that ina had wanted her here today for a reason.


    Things were far moreplicated than she thought.


    She nced toward the sliding ss door leading to the living room and froze. Reflected in the ss, like in a mirror, she saw Helen pouring something into one of the wine sses.


    The way Helen fidgeted nervously made it all too obvious-whatever she was doing, it wasn''t innocent. That ss of wine was meant for her.


    Thank goodness the sky was overcast today and the lights inside were on- otherwise she might not have seen it at all.


    Now that she knew, she didn''t even have to guess what this was about. Caroline''s gaze shifted slightly to Jamie, who was chatting nearby. Of course. These two- ina and Helen-wanted to drug her and push her into Jamie''s arms.


    They were wicked!


    But ina had no idea her n had been exposed.


    Seeing Caroline''s increasingly dark gaze, she kept chattering on, trying to soundforting. “Even if you did call Edwin right now, he probably wouldn''t pick up. You don''t want to bother him when he''s in a meeting, right? Just wait, what''s the rush?"


    Right then, Helen called out from behind, "Mom, dinner''s ready!"


    ina reached to pull Caroline back inside, but Caroline stuck out her hand.


    "How long are you nning to hold onto my phone?"


    ina blinked, caught off guard. She quickly handed it over. "I was worried you''d distract Edwin at the wrong time. It was in the heat of the moment, that''s all."


    Caroline gave a casual grunt and fiddled with her phone as if nothing had happened.


    "The food''s on the table. Let''s go eat," ina said as she tried to peek at Caroline''s screen.


    Caroline tilted her head toward her. "Don''t worry, ina. You said Edwin''s with a client. Why would I want to bother him?"


    She wasn''t here to chat with Edwin. She came for the bracelet. And since ina clearly knew where it was, she didn''t need him..


    Even if she told him what ina and Helen were up to, he probably wouldn''t believe her anyway.


    ina nodded, ying along. "Right, no need to stand around. Let''s eat."


    "Hang on," Caroline said. "I need to make a quick call to my friend who helps me


    with deliveries. Just letting her know I''m off for the afternoon." She held her phone low, where ina could clearly see the screen, and


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    Chapter 143 Something Fishy


    It was Maia''s, but she hadn''t saved it in her contact list yet.


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