Chapter 249 The Choice


    "Go tell her this," ke said coldly. "I''d rather stay single for the rest of my life than ept a marriage she arranged for me. So don''t waste your time on me-I''ll never be interested in you." ke''s tone was as frosty as his expression, not a trace of warmth in either.


    With those words, he stepped into his car and drove off.


    He had only one destination in mind-Caroline. He needed to clear things up with her.


    But when he reached the restaurant, he found the ce closed.


    That caught him off guard, stirring a strange mix of emotions-he couldn''t tell if it was relief or regret.


    Usually, as long as it was within operating hours, the ce never shut its doors.


    Caroline had told him before that closing even for a day meant losing a good amount of ie.


    Which meant... she must''ve closed early just to wait for me.


    And I''d disappointed her. Again.


    A honk from behind snapped him out of his thoughts.


    He hit the gas and drove off, heading straight for Gxy Bay Residences.


    Aside from her home, he couldn''t think of anywhere else she''d go.


    As he neared the entrance to the neighborhood, ke''s eyes caught a familiar figure-Caroline was riding her electric scooter toward the gate.


    He swerved and pulled his car in front of her, blocking her path.


    "Caroline, it''s not what you think-" ke rushed out of the car, desperate to exin.


    But Caroline just smiled. There was no trace of anger on her face. "You don''t have to exin. I get it," she said calmly.


    you have


    She knew ke well enough to know he wasn''t like Linden, not some charming yboy stringing women along.


    And she figured it must''ve been the other woman who came after ke.


    Still, seeing another woman so close to him had stirred a difort inside her that she couldn''t quite shake.


    ke''s tense expression rxed a little, and he asked, "So ... can we still go for fondue together?"


    Caroline paused, then said, "Let''s skip the fondue tonight. There''s a quiet ce nearby-we can eat there."


    On the way back, she had thought it through.


    ke had always been sincere with her. This time, he hadn''t done anything wrong. She shouldn''t take it out


    on him.


    They picked a quiet little bistro nearby, perfect for a private conversation.


    Chapter 249 The Choice


    48 Peats


    Sitting across from her, ke looked apologetic. "What happened today... it was my fault. I''m sorry


    Caroline tilted her head slightly. "You didn''t do anything wrong. What are you apologizing for?


    ke didn''t answer right away. Instead, he exined, "That woman today was someone people tried to set me up with. I never agreed to anything from the start."


    "Oh," Caroline responded quietly. Then, with a faint, detached tone, she asked, "If someone''s trying to set you up, she muste from a good family-smart, attractive, the whole package, right?"


    Her tone was neutral, but her heart felt heavy.


    Maybe she''d been too na?ve, thinking love was enough-that just by epting him, they could be happy.


    She had forgotten one crucial thing-ke wasn''t just any man. He had family, influence, and status. People were watching his every move.


    How could they ever ept a woman like her-no background, no fortune, nothing to her name?


    There were just too many things standing between them.


    ke seemed to read her mind. "Don''t let those things get to you. No one else gets to decide my life."


    "But they care about you," Caroline said softly. "They want what''s best for you. It''s not wrong to hope you''ll end up with someone from a simr background."


    Even ordinary parents want to see their children married to someone worthy. For someone like ke, it was only natural his family would be even more particr.


    "If they really cared about me," ke said gently, gazing at her with unshakable tenderness, "they wouldn''t try to force someone on me just because they think she''s useful. They''d care about what makes me happy. And what makes me happy is spending the rest of my life with the woman I love."


    "Caroline, I was wrong before. I should''ve protected you, but I let you get hurt- especially when you were living at home. I promise you, from now on, I''ll keep you safe. I won''t let anyone hurt you again. Trust me."


    Caroline was puzzled by his words.


    They had only met recently, at the hospital. But the way he spoke gaye her the impression that he had known her for years.


    And how did he even know what had happened at home?


    He was still watching her, waiting for her answer. She didn''t want to overthink it anymore. She pressed her lips together and gave a small nod. "I''ve always trusted you," she said softly. "But I''ll wait for you to settle everything with the women you''re still... technically engaged to."


    It wasn''t about being petty. She just didn''t want to invite trouble into her life.


    The women being set up with ke were bound to have power and influence. Caroline wasn''t trying to start fights she couldn''t win.


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