Chapter 502: There Was A Woman By His Side

Caroline’s POV

Nina and I went gift shopping for Dad’s birthday at the mall. A white male shirt in a designer brand shop
struck my fancy

Even though picking out a gift for Dad was my main reason for coming to the mall, my mind was stuck
on Charles. Most of his shirts were of this simple style and color

But Charles exuded a certain charm when he wore these simple clothes that was simply hard to put
into words Nina smiled and nudged me with her elbow.

“Hey! What are you thinking about?” I shook my head, a small smile overtaking my face as well.

“Nothing.”

Instead of querying me further, Nina took the shirt from my hands and inspected it.

“This shirt is for young men. Hmm, it doesn’t appear to me like you’re shopping for Edward’s gift.” Nina
taunted with an impish smile. My eyes narrowed and I took the shirt back from her.

“So what? Is there a rule that says I can only buy clothes for my father?”

“Who swore that she would never go back to that man?”

“It’s definitely not me!”

“Tut-tut ”

Nina poked each side of my cheeks with her index finger.

“There is a name written on your face now!”



“What?” I stuttered, my eyebrows creasing in confusion.

“Charles Moore!”

Nina hooted loudly, her voice attracting the attention of the shop assistants.

They stopped and stared at us, curiosity shining in their eyes. Not only was the name Nina just yelled
at the top of her lungs very famous, but this shopping mall was owned by the Moore Group.

Flushing, 1 slapped Nina’s hand away and muttered, “Stop making fun of me.”

The smile vanished and a somber air replaced the expression on her face.

“You should think this through. I doubt Edward will accept your relationship with Charles.”

That was true. Even though Dad allowed Charles to stay for dinner the other day, it was obvious that he
still disapproved of my continued involvement with Charles.

“I understand your point. But let’s forget it. So tell me, what have you been up to recently?” I chirped,
doing my best to turn the attention away from my relationship issues. The somber expression was still
on her face, but now, there was an added tinge of depression to her aura.

“Abner travelled abroad for a training program. One night, I called him.”

The way she paused clued me in to the fact that something was wrong.

“And then?”

“The local time was early in the morning,” Nina sighed.

“There was a woman by his side.” I was surprised.



“Did you make a video call? Did you see her? Even if there was a woman by his side, it didn’t
necessarily mean anything”

“If you call Charles at small hours and hear another woman calling him darling affectionately, can you
remain calm?”

Fair point. It was easy to analyze such a sensitive matter as long as you were an observer.

“Nina, I don’t know how to console you. My own relationship is in a rough phase right now. But I do
understand how you feel. As complicated as everything is. I know that I can’t let Charles go. Even the
idea that another woman might take my place in his heart makes my heart ache. He has told me that
he loves me. That means he has to love me for the rest of our lives. I refuse to accept anything less.
And I certainly won’t give him the chance to walk away either.”

Nina shuffled closer and rested her head on my shoulder.

“Since it has come to this, I have no choice but to keep smiling even when I feel like breaking down in
tears. Maybe when I smile, I will forget my sorrows.”

After picking out a gift for Dad, Nina and I went to the cinema. Several times throughout the movie, her
phone beeped with incoming texts and Nina was quick to reply each text.

I was pretty certain she had no idea what the movie was about, since she spent pretty much the entire
time with her eyes glued to her phone. Once the movie was over and we left the theater, Nina’s
expression turned gloomy.

“What’s wrong?”

I was worried about my friend. Nina simply shook her head and said nothing

Simon’s POV



I was lying on the sofa feeling sorry for myself, my phone in my hands as I debated calling Caroline

The last time we spoke was when she left the party unannounced.

Each day that went by without seeing her was torture for me, but I didn’t have the courage to look for
her.

The fear of rejection kept me rooted to my house. As long as I hadn’t spoken to her, then I wouldn’t be
rejected once again. Then she wouldn’t stare at me with those cold and hostile eyes. Suddenly, my
phone rang.I sat up on the sofa and stared at the screen with a hopeful smile.

My hope was dashed the moment I saw the name flashing across my phone’s screen.

It wasn’t Caroline, but Vanessa.

“Hello?”

“Simon, help me…”

Vanessa’s frightened and trembling voice whispered through the receiver, accompanied by a burst of
sobs. The palpable fear in her tone twisted my stomach in knots.

“Vanessa, what happened?”

Silence was my only answer. I had to check my phone before realizing that Vanessa had hung up on
me.

Immediately, I redialed her number, but it wasn’t connecting.

Did something happen to her? The thought was a kick in the guts and I dashed off the sofa. I only had
the presence of mind to pick up my coat and car keys as I rushed towards Vanessa’s house.



“Vanessa, are you at home? Are you okay?” I asked anxiously as I banged the door.

A servant then opened the door and ushered me in.

“Where is Vanessa? Where is she now?” When there was no sign of Vanessa, I turned my anxious
gaze on the servant.

“Mr. Felix, please follow me,” the servant requested as he gestured for me to follow him. Swiftly, the
servant turned on his heel and led me to the living room.

As soon as I entered the living room, my eyes unerringly sought out Vanessa. I found her on the carpet
beside a sofa, safe and unharmed. There were several bottles of wine and two goblets in front of her.

“Simon, you are here.” Vanessa tittered happily, a drunk smile on her face.

“Didn’t you call for help just now? You actually led me to believe you were in danger! But in the end, it
turns out you only lied to me so you could deceive me into coming to your house.” Anger at her deceit
surged through me and I gritted my teeth

Vanessa got to her feet unsteadily, a beseeching look on her face.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to deceive you. The truth is that I wanted to see you. I’ve sent several
messages, but you didn’t reply any of them. This was the only way I could think of to make you come
see me. I really wanted to see you,” Vanessa retorted in a low voice.

She lowered her head, a defeated air permeating off her, but I couldn’t find it in me to feel sorry for her.

“Vanessa, don’t be unreasonable,” I snapped irritably.

“I’m not! I just feel sorry for you and I don’t want you to suffer alone.” I pinched my nose, willing myself
to stay calm.



“I don’t know what you are talking about. I have to go now.”

Since the call for help had been nothing but a ruse, I had no business staying here.

“Simon, if you are facing any difficulties, then you should open up to me. I might be able to help you.
Then you won’t have to force yourself to love Caroline,” Vanessa slurred, a delirious smile on her face.

“I’m not forcing myself to love Caroline. You are mistaken,” I muttered, glowering at the drunken mess
on the carpet

“Really? In that case, you should see this,” Vanessa declared cryptically before throwing a printed
document at me.

I caught the document before it fell to the floor and raked a dismissive glance over it.

A shocked gasp left my mouth when I read the contents of the document.

This document was full of information about my father’s death.

Reflexively, I crumpled the paper in my fist as a shudder racked my body.

“Did you investigate me? What the hell do you want to do?” my question was a low growl. Unfazed by
my anger, Vanessa propped her chin up with her palm and gazed at me contemplatively.

“I think the reason you approached Caroline is because you want to find out the truth behind your
father’s death. Isn’t that right?”

My lips thinned in displeasure, but I couldn’t refute her claims.

My incessant chasing after Caroline was because I had ulterior motives.

“Simon, you are using Caroline.”



It wasn’t a question this time, but a self assured declaration

“You are right, but I have no other choice.” I smiled bitterly.

My father’s death had always been a knot in my heart, and it wouldn’t be unraveled until I knew the
truth about his death

The only way I could find out the truth was if I had Caroline’s help.

Vanessa prowled towards me until she was standing right in front of me.

In a flash, her arms were around my neck and her body flush against me.

“Simon, you have another choice. You can be with me instead of chasing after Caroline. It’s clear as
day that she doesn’t want you. But I want you and I will certainly be of more help to you than Caroline,”
Vanessa whispered in my ear.

A chill ran down my back at the innuendo in her words.

“What do you mean by that statement? Do you know something?”

Vanessa shook her head, held my face, and kissed me on the lips.

“Simon, I’m in love with you. No matter what you want to do, I’m willing to help you.”


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