Chapter 248 Misunderstanding


    She had made up her mind. Caroline was ready to tell ke that she had thought it through-she was willing to be with him.


    It didn''t matter to her if he came from money or if the rumors painted him as someone dangerous. She chose to trust what she had seen with her own eyes and felt in her heart.


    Truth be told, she had fallen for him too.


    She just kept reminding herself-again and again-that she couldn''t afford to get emotionally involved. Not with anyone. Not after what she''d been through.


    Not with family. Not with love. Not anymore.


    Just then, a message lit up on her phone.


    ke replied, "Okay. I''ll pick you up after work at the restaurant."


    Caroline wrote, "No need, I''ll go myself." The fondue ce was right near his office. It didn''t make sense for him toe all the way to her ce just to turn around and head back. That''d be a waste of time.


    She asked, "What time do you get off tomorrow?"


    ke didn''t argue. He replied, "Five o''clock. Be careful on the way


    Caroline agreed, "Got it." A warm feeling crept through her chest. It felt nice-this kind of care that didn''te with pressure.


    The next day, the restaurant was closed for the afternoon.


    At 4:30 p.m., she hopped on her scooter and started riding toward the fondue shop.


    The streets were familiar-she''d ridden this way many times before when delivering takeout to the Sherwood Group.


    Rain or shine, every day she had rushed through the city, always afraid of beingte.


    It had been tiring, yes, but also oddly fulfilling.


    She arrived outside the Sherwood Group building and, out of habit, stopped to take a look around.


    A man and a woman, standing beside a sleek ck Bentley.


    They were a little far off, but she could still make out the woman''s elegant features.


    The man had his back to her. Still, something about his frame-his stance-felt incredibly familiar. Was that ke?


    The distance was too great for Caroline to hear what they were saying.


    But from the way the woman gazed at the man-eyes locked on him, face lit up with a smile-it was


    obvious.


    Even an idiot could tell: this woman liked him.


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    Chapter 248 Misunderstanding


    Caroline wasn''t entirely sure if the man was ke. Still, her instincts kicked in.


    pra Pearls


    She pulled out her phone and dialed his number, never taking her eyes off the man by the car. A few secondster, she saw him lift his phone to his car. "Hey, are you here yet?"


    The smooth, gentle voice came through clearly and just like that, Caroline knew it was him.


    Watching another woman standing so close to him, looking at him like that, a strange ache bloomed in her chest.


    "Hello, Caroline?"


    ke''s voice came again, but this time, it was followed by a sugary-sweet female voice. "ke, who''s Caroline?"


    Caroline watched as the woman reached out and took his hand.


    A bitter smile flickered across her face.


    She should''ve known better.


    ke ran a massive corporation-he wasn''t just any regr guy. Of course there would be women around


    him.


    But she wasn''t built for this. She couldn''t stand the drama, let alonepete in it. Taking a breath, she steadied herself. "Something just came up. I won''t be able to make it. I''m truly sorry."


    She hung up. Spun the scooter around. Hit the throttle-and left without a second nce.


    What she didn''t see ... was ke immediately shaking off the woman''s hand the moment she touched him.


    The beep of the disconnected call hit his ear, and a sudden realization struck.


    He turned sharply toward the street-and through the passing cars, he caught a glimpse of Caroline''s figure, vanishing into the distance.


    His brows furrowed. She had misunderstood.


    Turning back, he faced the woman in front of him, his expression darkening. "Gina, I''ve told you before- my heart belonged to someone else. Stop chasing me."


    Gina Bloom pouted, her voiceced with wounded pride. “It''s that girl, Caroline, isn''t it?"


    "Who it is doesn''t concern you," ke said coldly. "Just stop showing up like this."


    "But everyone in our families already thinks we''re together. And what am I supposed to tell my aunt?" Gina''s eyes were starting to tear up, her voice trembling with frustration.


    Shania had been pushing hard for this match, and Gina had gone so far as to brag in front of her aunt that she''d make ke fall for her,


    matter what.


    But reality had taught her that it was far from simple.


    Chapter 248 Misunderstanding


    +S Pearls


    In the past few months, she''d barely seen ke. And when she had, he treated her with cold indifference- never once giving her any sign of interest, let alone affection.


    And then she brought up her aunt-big mistake. ke''s face went even darker.


    Shania. He knew exactly what kind of woman she was, what kind of future she was trying to engineer for her niece.


    But he hadn''t forgotten what Shania had done-how she had yed a part in his mother''s death. He hadn''t retaliated-for Ste''s sake. But that didn''t mean Shania could manipte his life. And it definitely didn''t mean she could control the family.


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