Chapter 227

#227 “You’ve Done What?”

Caroline dialed Nelson’s number with trembling hands, her heartbeat erratic and loud in her ears. She detested the manipulative plan her son had concocted, yet she knew it was a necessary evil to safeguard his future.

The weight of their shared past, filled with familial blunders and business betrayals, weighed heavily on her conscience. She felt compelled to assist, to somehow right the wrongs that had ensnared her son Alexander in this unsavory situation.

When Nelson Stone’s voice crackled through the receiver, it carried a hint of uncertainty, a rare crack in his usually composed demeanor.

“Caroline, is that you?”

“I see you still have my number, Nelson,” she replied, her voice steadier than she felt.

His laughter boomed through the phone, rich and unsettling. “I see you haven’t forgotten mine either, Caroline.

“That’s just how it turns out.”

“If you’re calling because you think you can sway the fate of your son’s company…”

At his insinuation, Caroline felt a surge of anger so potent she nearly revealed her true feelings.

However, she reined in her emotions, responding with a feigned sweetness that masked her brewing storm. “No, I have no such ambitions.”

“Then what prompts this call?”

“I saw you on the news, Nelson… you’re just as I remember. Your hair, those piercing eyes. I can’t even fathom why I’m calling…” She let her words trail off, hoping to entice him into her trap.

A heavy silence hung between them, stretching taut as Caroline held her breath, praying that he’d latch onto the bait.

“Let me tell you why you’re calling, Caroline,” Nelson began, his tone dripping with cockiness. “With your father no longer here to interfere, perhaps you’re pondering what could have been between us?”

“Perhaps…”

“You miss me, don’t you?” His voice was thick with arrogance. “Oh, Caroline, I always knew our love wasn’t something to simply fade into the ether.

Caroline bit back a retort, her efforts to maintain a calm, neutral tone nearly undone by his smugness.

“Nelson, we need to meet. There are many unresolved issues lingering between us.”

“True, but it won’t change anything for the Stone Enterprise or Alexander. I will not give up…”

“I don’t care about that,” she interrupted, her voice rising in a rare display of defiance. “I want to see you. For years I did everything correctly. I obeyed my father, I allowed him to banish you, and now look at this mess with the company. I’m exhausted, Nelson. I’m tired of always choosing the right path-I just want to find some semblance of happiness.”

“I’ll be at your villa for dinner tomorrow night,” he conceded smoothly. “Wear something nice.”

“For you, always,” Caroline responded, each word coated in an icy veneer of contempt that she fought hard to conceal.

After confirming the dinner plans with Nelson, Caroline hung up the phone, her hands still trembling from the nerve-wracking conversation. She immediately dialed Alexander, who picked up after the first ring.

“Alexander, it’s settled. He’s coming to the villa tomorrow night,” Caroline said, her voice a mix of determination and underlying anxiety.

“Good work, Mom,” Alexander responded, his tone serious yet reassuring. “We’re all set on this end.

The cameras are installed in every room. It doesn’t matter where you two end up; everything will be recorded.”

Caroline felt a small surge of relief, knowing that every angle was covered, but the gravity of the situation kept her nerves on edge.

“Alexander, promise me you’ll keep a close eye on everything. If anything starts to escalate…”

“I will, Mom. I’ll be monitoring the feeds live. If anything seems off, I’ll notify security to step in immediately. You won’t be alone in this,” he assured her, his words bolstering her resolve.

“Thank you, Alex. I… I just want this to be over,” she confessed, her voice softening.

“It will be, soon,” Alexander promised, a hint of steel in his tone, reflecting his determination to protect his mother and bring the ordeal to a close. “Just stick to the plan, and we’ll handle the rest. We’re in this together.”

Hanging up, Caroline took a deep breath, steadying herself for the role she would play tomorrow. She was comforted by her son’s promises, knowing that whatever happened, Alexander had her back.

Alexander was pleased with the turn of events. He had just texted Michael that everything was ready when he received a message from Sophia.

“I just robbed Big Ben and nabbed the final diary. Hopefully, it holds what we’re after,” Sophia’s message read.

Alexander’s blood ran cold at Sophia’s daring feat. The accompanying photograph displayed Sophia, Becky, and Benjamin standing proudly in front of the iconic clock tower, clutching the diary triumphantly.

In the background, security guards were looking around the building.

Alexander’s fingers trembled as he immediately dialed Sophia’s number, his voice fraught with concern.

“You’ve done what?”