Chapter 5

Caroline was amused by Gwen's outburst. "You've read too many romance novels. I just picked him off the street. He has nothing to do with the Morrisons. The only thing they have in common is that he works in one of their companies."

"Oh." Gwen was disappointed. "So he's Eddy's employee. Doesn't that mean that Eddy can bully you whenever he wants?"

Caroline's eyes darkened. "He … probably wouldn't because of Old Mr. Morrison. Besides, I'm already married. Eddy probably won't come and bother me anymore."

Gwen relaxed a little, but when she thought of Eddy's harassment, she felt angry on her friend's behalf. "If it were up to me, I'd have beaten up that man. Does he not know how much you wanted to marry him?"

Caroline said, "It's already in the past, Gwen. In the future, Eddy and I will be our own people. We will not interfere with each other."

"So your marriage …" Gwen hesitated. "It hasn't been made known to Old Mr. Morrison yet, has it? If he comes to know about it, he'll be sad."

Caroline had just begun to feel calm, but now she was worried again. She felt guilty when Jude was brought up. It was him who had finalized her engagement with Eddy. When the Evanses met their demise, everyone waited for him to retract his statement and turn her into a joke, yet he hadn't done that at all. Instead, he'd publicly announced that she was the only person he would accept as his granddaughter-in-law.

Because of her, he and Eddy had argued several times.

Now that things had ended up this way, Caroline only felt guilty toward Jude.

"I'll tell him tonight," Caroline said. She would rather have him hear it from herself than from someone else.

Gwen was worried. "Do you need me to go with you?"

"No." Caroline smiled. "He cares for me so much. He won't do anything to me."

…

In the glittering halls of Starlust Hotel, Jude Morrison was sitting in the highest chair as a symbol of his power and status and was talking to Kirk Morrison. He chuckled. "You're the one that my brother nurtured, after all. You're ten years younger than Thomas, but you handle things with such composure. He can't do that."

Thomas, Eddy's father, sat below Jude. He had a beer belly, but one could tell that he was once a handsome man.

"What Dad means," Thomas said, unable to conceal the admiration for his younger brother, Kirk, "is that being able to put down all the things you were doing overseas to rush back home is an incredible feat that not many people can do."

Kirk was pleasantly surprised by their praise. He brushed his finger against his lips elegantly. "Thank you, Thomas and Uncle Jude. Our country has been developing rapidly. I only came back because I saw the commercial potential in it."

Jude nodded slightly. Then, he said sorrowfully, "What a pity your father hadn't come home with you. Otherwise, my brother and I would have been able to get together again."

Kirk's eyes turned cold. He said indifferently, "It's a good thing that he didn't come then. Otherwise, you wouldn't have been able to see us."

Jude knitted his eyebrows together. "What do you mean?"

"We had a car accident at the airport."

"What?" Jude said anxiously. "Were you hurt?"

"No."

"That's good." The old man sank into his chair, then asked concernedly, "What happened?"

"The cars collided with each other. Both drivers died."

"Does that mean we can't find out if this was deliberate or accidental?" Jude's wits were sharp, and he caught on quickly.

Kirk had been observing his expression. He confirmed that the old man was indeed clueless before saying, "Yes. That's why I need your help."

"Of course I will help," he said. "Your father and I are brothers. I would have investigated it without you even mentioning it."

"Thank you, Uncle Jude. But I don't want to bother you with that," Kirk refused politely. "I will get to the bottom of it. Not many people know that I've returned. I think I'll be able to find the truth very soon. However, I'd like you to help me stop any news regarding my return."

Jude said in a low voice, "Are you suspecting foul play by the other families?"

He had only told the other three large families of Osbury about Kirk's return.

Kirk's slender fingers ran along the surface of the table. He did not answer but said determinedly, "I just hope that you'll be able to help me."

Jude hesitated for a moment, raising an eyebrow. Then, he broke the somber atmosphere with a chuckle. "Of course." He looked at Thomas and changed the topic. "Where's Eddy? Why isn't he here?"

Thomas replied, "He might have gotten delayed because of work. He would have rushed here otherwise. He's been wanting to see Kirk."

"Yes." Jude said, smiling. "Ever since meeting you a couple of times overseas, he began admiring you. I watched him grow up, yet I've never seen him respect anyone else so much."

Kirk put on a smile. His thoughts wandered to Caroline.

Eddy? Wasn't her fiancé also called Eddy? Would it be too much of a coincidence?

"Kirk?" Thomas waved a hand at him.

Kirk retracted his gaze and looked at Thomas.

Thomas teased, "What are you thinking about? You were so deep in thought."

Kirk's expression froze. Daydreaming was a sin to him. But because of that woman, he had committed it.

"My dad was asking if you're married."

Kirk collected his thoughts and sat up straight. "Yes."

Jude's interest was piqued. "When did that happen? Your father called me before you returned, and he told me to find you a partner. How did you find one so fast?"

So, that had happened.

Kirk replied, "I met her a few days ago. It was love at first sight, so we got married. But because it was too rushed, I didn't manage to tell anyone about it."

"What a pity." Jude took out a photo. "I had even prepared someone for you. I didn't think you'd find one so quickly. If only Eddy were as decisive as you, I wouldn't be so worried."

When he thought of Eddy and Caroline's marriage, Jude sighed. He couldn't understand why Eddy wouldn't fall for the knowledgeable and capable Caroline.

"Sir," the butler said, knocking before he came in. He brought a phone to Jude. He said softly, "It's Ms. Evans."

Jude smiled at once. He took the phone and said dotingly, "How are you, Carrie? Why are you calling me so suddenly? Oh? Do you have something to say to me? Alright, you can come here. I'm in Starlust Hotel. I'll get someone to bring you here."