Chapter 490: Rivals In Love

Caroline’s POV:

I was absent-minded the whole day.

Last night, Charles had proposed to me.He wanted to get remarried.

In the afternoon, during the meeting, I still couldn’t focus and was frequently lost in thought.

Elena also sensed that something was wrong with me.

She asked with concern while we were alone, "Caroline, are you okay?"

I came to my senses and nodded.

"I am fine.I just didn’t sleep well last night."

Sleep had been the furthest thing from my mind after indulging in marathon sex with Charles all night.

At the end of the work day, I walked out of the elevator only to be accosted by a tall man with a very
grave expression Despite his grave expression, his voice was smooth and deferential when he greeted
me.

"Hello, Miss Wilson."

My brows furrowed in confusion as I stared at him.

"Who are you?"

"This is Carlos Graham, the new bodyguard I hired for you.In the future, he will be responsible for your
safety at night, so that you won’t be unaccompanied when you need to leave the house at night.Elena
is becoming more and more incompetent."



Dad declared firmly as he walked over to us.

Damn it! How did Dad find out? My head lowered as guilt turned my cheeks a deep red.

"I’m sorry.It was indeed my fault,"

Elena explained apologetically.I tried to pretend to be innocent.

"Dad, I couldn’t fall asleep last night.I just went out for a walk."

"Really? And then you walked to the hospital 12 miles away, didn’t you?"

"Sorry, Dad."

Deciding a subject change was in order, I announced, "Your birthday is coming up soon and I want to
arrange a grand party for you.Have you decided on what you want as a gift?"

A wistful sigh escaped dad.

"Caroline, the only gift I want is for you to live a happy life, but not with Charles."

"Let’s not talk about it for the time being.How about making another wish?"

"Well, I want you to attend a party in my stead tonight.I’m feeling a little under the weather, so I’ve
decided to go home and rest."

"What party?"

"It’s a jewelry exposition.Some of my old friends will also attend it.Please go to see them for me.Simon
will go with you."

I frowned slightly.



To be honest, I didn’t want to see Simon for the time being.

"Don’t refuse it, sweetheart.The Wilson Group will be handed over to you sooner or later, but only if you
are with Simon."

Dad declared in a grave tone.

At night.

As expected, Simon came to pick me up.He was dressed in a formal suit.

"Caroline, you look gorgeous today."

"Thank you.Let’s go."

We didn’t mention the phone call Charles answered for me that night.

Although I was curious about what Charles and Simon had discussed, I hadn’t asked.

Needless to say whatever tun rivals in love discussed would be anything but nice.

The party was held in a big three-floor villa in the suburb.

When we arrived, the lights were all on.

My arm was around Simon’s as we walked in.

Simon turned to look at me and said, "Caroline, I heard from your father that you once studied jewelry
design abroad."

"Yes, but it was many years ago.I was studying in France at that time."

Once, Rita had declared that I couldn’t differentiate between natural gemstones and artificial ones.



The mocking words had been uttered right in front of Charles.

Later, I had studied jewelry design so I could do this and even outdo her.

My lips pursed at the unpleasant memory.

The past was a needle that stabbed my heart each time I thought of it.

"Simon, you are here!"

A middle-aged man walked toward us.

"Hello, Dan."

Simon called pleasantly, walking over to him, my arm still clasped in his.

The man who was apparently named Dan seemed to be a bit floored when he saw me.

A small smile graced his lips and he asked, "Is she the fiancee you spoke of?"

Fiancee? Just as I was about to deny it, Simon placed his hand across my shoulder, a silent request for
me to hold my peace.He made a small humming sound in answer to Dan’s question.

I had no idea why Simon didn’t set Dan straight, but I went along with it and greeted Dan politely.

After Dan left, I took a glass of cocktail from a waiter passing by.

"Caroline!"

A familiar voice called loudly.I turned around and saw Nina trotting towards me in a beautiful dress and
high heels.

"Hi, Nina."



Nina was surprised to see Simon beside me.

"Did you come together?"

"I’m Caroline’s escort tonight," Simon replied.

Nina suddenly frowned and whispered in my ear, "But I saw Charles here just now."

Charles was also here? Before I was fully aware of it, my head was already turning in several
directions, scanning the crowd for his face.

A few seconds later, I caught sight of a tall figure staring at me from a distance.

The moment he arrived was a bit of a mystery to me.

Perhaps he had arrived before Simon and I and I hadn’t noticed him until Nina’s statement. Charles
stood in the crowd, holding a glass of wine.

Even though the men and women around him were all older, he didn’t appear to feel inferior to them.

Charles was such a dazzling man that he outshined the light.

Most of the women’s eyes were focused on him, following his every move with rapt attention.

Instead of paying attention to any of the countless women clamoring for his attention, his entire focus
was on me.

Just as I was about to look away from him, Charles turned away from me first and began discussing
something with the people around him.

Simon also saw Charles.He raised his glass and suddenly held my hand.



"Let’s say hello to him."

By the time I came to my senses, Simon had already led me to Charles.

Simon greeted the others and then shook hands with Charles, "Mr.Moore, long time no see."

Charles clasped his hand back and said indifferently, "We talked on the phone only two days ago, didn’t
we? Since our arms were still linked, I could feel it when Simon stiffened.The atmosphere turned a little
uncomfortable at their stare off.

"Simon, who is this beautiful lady next to you?"

A bald man asked.

"She is Caroline Wilson.I’m pursuing her."

Simon wrapped his arm around my waist.

"You have good taste.Miss Wilson is a good match for you."

"Excuse me."

A low voice suddenly interrupted his compliment.

Charles nodded stiffly at no one in particular before turning on his heel and walking away, TV
"Mr.Moore seems unhappy all of a sudden."

"Really?"

"Did anyone say something that offended him?"

They looked at each other in confusion.



A tall lady invited Charles to dance when he got to the center of the dance floor.

With a smile, he obliged her request.

They danced to the melodious music.He was elegant and handsome, much like a prince in a fairy
tale.His dance partner was equally beautiful and delicate.

They made the perfect picture and their dance scene was straight out of a movie scene.

I gulped down my cocktail.

But the only thing I could taste was the bitterness of the alcohol.

Silently, I shook Simon’s hand off and walked away from the crowd.

For some reason, the party was getting boring and I just wanted to find somewhere quiet to stay.

Nina and I went to the backyard of the villa and sat on a bench.

We both turned our faces to the night sky, staring at the stars.

Under the bright moonlight, the backyard looked a little bleak.

Something weighed heavily on my mind and it made me feel weary and tired.

"Caroline, as your friend, I don’t want you to always be immersed in the pain of the past.If there is
someone who can heal your heart, why don’t you give him a chance?"

Nina broke the silence.

"I know.I just can’t see my heart clearly yet."

We sat in the backyard for a long time until Abner came over.



"Why are you here? Nina, don’t forget that you are my partner."

"Abner, I’m comforting Caroline.Can’t you just dance with another girl? There are so many pretty girls
at the party.With your charm, you can certainly find a new partner."

Abner walked over and pinched Nina’s face.

"Why do you like to push your husband into another woman’s arms so much?"

"Hey! Honey!"

Nina couldn’t get rid of him no matter what she tried.

Eventually, she turned to me with an apologetic smile.

"Caroline, I’ll come to you later."

I smiled faintly, "Go ahead."

It was getting cold in the yard but I didn’t feel like going inside just yet.

A while later, I finally decided to brave the banquet hall once more.

Simon was talking with a group of people and had no time to pay attention to me.

I decided this was the perfect time to make my exit.

At this moment, my phone rang.

I took my phone out of my handbag and was stunned when I saw the name flickering across the
screen.It turned out to be Charles.


62fb1bb41dcb31934bd49bda