Semua Bab Obsessed with Punishment: Bab 41 - Bab 50

Ethan cracked a grin. "I'm sitting this one out. You idiots are gonna get plastered, and someone's gotta play designated driver.""Ethan, always the MVP," Charles said, throwing him a thumbs-up. "Only a stand-up guy in this crew. Endangered species."Sandrine clacked down the spiral staircase in her stilettos, tossing Ethan a teasing look. "For real. If you'd dated Caroline, she'd be my sister-in-law by now."His temple throbbed. "Watch your mouth."She giggled, sashaying over and waving her wrist under Ethan and Charles's noses.The two guys exchanged a puzzled look."What's that about?" Ethan asked."My bracelet!" Sandrine chirped. "Caroline made it for my birthday. Hand-delivered it at the party. I'm rocking it now."It was a delicate, handmade bracelet, adorned with two slightly lopsided heart charms that somehow made it more endearing.Ethan studied it, smiling. "She has got a knack for this stuff.""Jealous, huh?" Sandrine beamed, cradling the bracelet like it was a pri

"What?" Nikki yelped.Caroline tugged her back down. "Chill, your skirt's so short it's practically a belt.""Laurent Holt?" Nikki's manicured nails glittered under the strobe lights as she jabbed a finger at Caroline. "You had a thing with him?"Caroline gave a small nod. "He's my ex.""Holy shit!" Nikki's face lit up like she'd just uncovered the juiciest gossip in town. "You're the mythical ex who dumped Laurent Holt?"That explained why Laurent and Sandrine had rallied behind Caroline against the Reed family.Caroline scratched her head, bemused. "There's a myth now?"She didn't get it. Laurent wasn't such a big deal that his breakup was the stuff of urban folklore."You didn't know?" Nikki said, leaning in. "The story went around that some girl had the balls to dump him. We were all like, 'Who's this badass?' It's Laurent Holt. Most women wouldn't dare breathe in his direction, let alone break his heart."Even gold-diggers knew better than to tangle with Laurent. He was t

"Oh, a gold-digger? That explains why her husband's stepping out," a bystander whispered."Bet she clawed her way into that marriage with some shady moves. Probably someone's mistress first," another muttered.Caroline's lips twitch into a cold smirk. Money always shifted the narrative. A love triangle became a class war the second cash entered the equation.She snatched a glass of wine and flung it at Roderick. Nikki yelped, ducking behind him, thinking her new dress was toast, but Caroline's aim was surgical.Not a drop touched her. All of it landed on Roderick's shirt.Nikki shrieked, scrambling back to the booth, playing the trembling victim to perfection.Caroline squared up to Roderick. "You think I'm all talk? Prove you've got a spine and sign the divorce agreement. We'll hit the courthouse tomorrow. You've been a coward in this marriage. Don't chicken out on the divorce."Calling him spineless hit Roderick's deepest insecurity. His face contorted with rage, and he let go

But Caroline stood in place.Roderick, his arm draped around Nikki, slowed his steps. He hoped to catch a glimpse of Caroline's pain, to see her unravel as he walked away with another woman.But Caroline merely raised her eyes, her gaze as still as a frozen lake. No anguish or jealousy. Just a void.His chest tightened. 'How could she not care?' After all the chaos she stirred, how could she stand there, untouched, as I leave with Nikki?'He stole glances back, clenching his jaw.The farce dissolved, leaving only Caroline and Laurent still locked in a standoff.Laurent's smile was sharp. "You care about him so much, don't you? Why didn't you chase after him?"Caroline's shoulders sagged, exhaustion settling into her bones. "What's the point? I cared about you once. Didn't stop you from getting bored and tossing me aside."The show was over, and there was no reason to linger. She longed for the quiet of her small apartment.But as she turned to leave, Laurent's hand shot out, g

Caroline had heard every cruel word.Her trembling hand, still caught in his grip, shook harder, as if her emotions had hijacked her body. Her breath faltered, her reason slipping away.Laurent's eyes darted to her wrist, where faint, jagged scars from self-harm lingered like ghosts. They'd never faded.Her life had shattered the day Laurent betrayed her and the day Linda slipped away. She'd been trapped in that moment ever since, unable to move forward.She opened her mouth, desperate to speak, but nothing came out. She stared at him, her body quaking, like the last withered leaf clinging to a dying branch. Those eyes, once so full of love, were now hollow.Her lips trembled. She wanted to scream and bite him, but she couldn't.Her body locked up, rigid, convulsing with silent tremors. She couldn't breathe, her tongue feeling knotted. Her fingers were stiff and spasming.It was excruciating.Laurent's pupils contracted as she collapsed into his arms. His world seemed to have c