CHAPTER 3

Caroline’s POV

When dinner finally ended, I breathed a sigh of relief. Not because my problems were over, but because they had finally left.

I walked along the street alone, thinking about everything that had happened. From what I knew, Raegan was smart, talented, and kind. There were so many news stories and articles circulating about him. He was even titled 'The Perfect Heir' in the business world. Since his uncle, Tobias, didn't have any children, people said he would be the one to succeed him. I was certain I would be showered with praise once everyone found out I was the one he was going to marry.

But I couldn't be happy. In our current situation, even if we got married, it felt like I was just begging for his attention. It felt like I was the mistress.

The surroundings grew dark and it was starting to drizzle. I looked like a fool, walking barefoot while crying. But my attention was snapped back when a loud horn echoed through the air. A large truck was hurtling straight toward me. As much as I wanted to move, I couldn't. I completely froze, unable to do anything but scream.

“Aaaahhh!!!”

“Caroline!”

A man ran toward me. He wrapped his arms around me and quickly pulled me to the side.

“T-Tobias?” I called out to him, my voice trembling.

“Are you okay? Are you hurt?” He held both of my cheeks and inspected me.

“Tobias!” I wailed in front of him like a child. 

We weren't close, and honestly, I was afraid of him because he was so strict. But he was all I had right now. And he saved me.

“Hey, hey, what’s wrong?” He caressed my cheek, concern written all over his face. “Come on, go inside your house.”

I shook my head.

“You can’t be out here, it’s starting to rain.” He placed his palm over my head to shield me from the rain. That only made me cry harder.

“Sir, I'm sorry. But can you drive me to my apartment? I-I don’t know what to do anymore.” I was completely desperate.

When we reached my apartment, he accompanied me inside. Even though I was the one who lived there, he was the one who made me sit on the sofa while he bustled around anxiously.

“Where’s your towel? Oh! Here it is.” He grabbed the towel from beside my bathroom door and handed it to me.

“T-Thank you. I’m so sorry for making you drive me here, I even wasted your time. I’ll get a towel for you too.” We were both drenched from the rain.

He shook his head. “I’m good.”

I swallowed hard when he took off his polo shirt. His sculpted abs were revealed right in front of me. I stared even more blankly as droplets of water trickled down from his hair to his face, neck, and chest.

“Hey, you’re drooling.”

“P-Pardon? Oh, sorry!” 

What is this? How embarrassing!

He sat on the chair across from me. “So tell me, what happened?” He was dead serious, clearly wanting to know every single detail.

“I’m marrying Raegan, your nephew.”

He looked away. “Do you want to?” he asked after a moment.

“I’m not sure,” I confessed. I told him everything that happened. As I recounted the story, I couldn't help but tear up. “He loves someone else. How can I compete with that?”

“Then just call it off. They can’t force you if you don’t want to,” he urged, trying to convince me.

I shook my head and stood up to go to the kitchen. “It’s not that easy.” I grabbed two cans of beer and brought them to the living room.

“Do you love him?”

I froze at his question. He was staring straight at me, waiting for my answer. I couldn't read his expression.

“Love is something else, I don’t think I’m at that level yet.” But Raegan was the first one to take me, and if he isn't the one I marry, others might not accept me anymore.

He stared blankly at the table. I set the beers down and sat back down.

“You drink beer?” he asked in disbelief.

I popped the can open and chugged it right in front of him. “Not so demure now, am I?”

He smirked and started chugging his own beer. “Crazy woman.”

Crazy woman… why did the way he said that sound so familiar?

“What were you doing outside our house anyway?” I asked. He had just popped up out of nowhere like a mushroom.

“O-ohhh… I was just…” 

This was the first time I had ever heard him stutter. What was happening to the smart and fierce Tobias?

“Were you waiting for Raegan and his Mom?”

“Yes, that’s it. I was waiting for them.”

We just kept drinking until we ended up talking about all sorts of things.

“I actually feel like I got scammed! On social media and the news, he looks so decent, but in person, he’s so rude!” The two cans of beer from earlier had now turned into eight. And I drank five of them.

“Hahaha! You’re really furious with him. Should I scold him for you?” 

My cheeks were burning and my mind was drifting a bit due to the buzz of the alcohol.

“Oh! I’m telling you, don't pass your businesses down to him. You’ll be miserable in the future, Toby!” I even pointed my finger at him.

“What did you call me? Toby?” His brow furrowed suddenly.

“Yeah, Toby! It’s cute, right? Hehehe!”

He shook his head. “You’re drunk, woman. That’s why you get into trouble.” He muttered the last part, so I didn't catch it.

“What?! Are you lecturing me? You’re in my house! You can’t scold me! I’ll call the police on you!” I threatened. I stood up on the sofa while drinking and started nagging him.

“And what exactly are you going to tell them?” he challenged, holding back his laughter.

“What else… trespassing! Hahaha! I’m so smart!” I sat back down. “You know, I don’t understand why you always scold me at the office. I’m so competent, and I’m so pretty too!”

“Looks like you’re taking full advantage of this to vent all your grievances against me, huh? Hahaha!”

I stared at him for a moment, a little dazed. “You’re actually handsome when you laugh.”

His ears turned red, and he took another gulp of beer. “You should laugh more often so you don't look like you’re going to eat people alive!”

“Then wouldn't that make the two of us look crazy?”

“Hahahahaha! Aren't you funny?”

He froze in his seat when I leaned in and started pinching his cheeks. 

“W-Wait? Why are there three of you now? Where are you? Why are there three of you?”

“You’re dizzy, you should… ”

I couldn't hear him anymore as my vision completely went dark.

The next day, for the second time, I woke up with a pounding headache. But this time, I was inside my own apartment. Wait? I was with Tobias last night!

I rushed out of the bedroom. A prepared breakfast on the table greeted me. He had his back turned to me, busy tidying up. Whoever becomes his wife will be so lucky. He already knows how to cook, and it’s delicious too!

“You’re awake.” He turned to face me with a smile.

“Good morning, Sir.”

“Looks like you’re doing fine, now that you’re calling me Sir again.”

I smiled sheepishly. I really should stop drinking!

“Go ahead and eat. I have to attend a meeting. Is it okay if I take a shower here?”

I nodded and went to fetch him a towel. I was about to sit down at the dining table when something suddenly clicked in my memory…

My eyes widened and my heart started pounding.

My lace p*nties were hanging in the bathroom!