Chapter 229

#229 “Can You Live With My Demons?”

Caroline was wearing a black dress that she knew Nelson would like. She had ordered his favorite food to be prepared and was waiting for him to come. Alexander contacted her a while ago to assure her that the cameras were working and everything was ready.

Her heart raced when she heard a knock on the front door. She was ready to help her son. She knew she had to extract a confession from Nelson and help save the Stone Enterprise.

She took a deep breath to steady her nerves, smoothing the fabric of her sleek black dress. The soft silk hugged her form, chosen specifically to remind Nelson of the past they once shared-a past she now needed to manipulate for her son’s future.

As she walked to the door, her heels clicked against the marble floor with a measured, deliberate sound. Each step echoed in the spacious foyer, mingling with the rhythmic beating of her heart. She paused briefly before the ornate door, gathering her composure.

Opening it, she greeted Nelson with a practiced smile. “Nelson,” she said warmly, stepping aside to let him in. ” It’s been too long.”

Nelson, still charismatic as ever, stepped into the foyer, his eyes lighting up as they took in Caroline’s appearance. “Caroline, you haven’t changed a bit,” he remarked, his tone smooth, betraying a hint of the charm that had once won her over.

She led him into the dining room, where the table was set with meticulous care-fine china, crystal glasses, and candles casting a soft glow. The aroma of cooked lamb-the dish Nelson had always favored- wafted from the kitchen, mingling with the subtle scent of Caroline’s perfume.

As they sat down, Caroline kept her demeanor calm and inviting, masking the tumultuous mix of emotions inside her. Across the table, Nelson appeared relaxed, unaware of the eyes watching from discreetly placed cameras.

Nelson wasted no time when the conversation began. “I guess you want to get back together,” he said, a hint of presumption in his voice.

“Let’s see how this dinner goes, Nelson, “Caroline replied as she approached him, her tone neutral yet cautiously optimistic.

“Why are you delaying the inevitable, dear? You know you want me,” Nelson stated, taking a sip of his wine with an air of confidence.

“I don’t even know what you’ve been doing all these years, I don’t know if…” Caroline started, her sentence trailing off intentionally.

“Am I the same?” Nelson interjected, finishing her thought.

“Yes,” Caroline smiled, playing along.

Nelson rose from his seat and crossed the distance to Caroline’s chair with deliberate steps. He lifted her chin, forcing her to look at him, his touch gentle yet commanding.

“I am exactly who you fell in love with. If you’re expecting to hear that I’ve become a better person, that I’m modest or honest, then you’re wasting your time,” he declared straightforwardly.

“I don’t want you to be anyone else,” Caroline lied, her voice soft but firm.

“Because I am an unscrupulous person, I will never play by the rules to achieve something. Winning is always important to me. I will not alter my principles just to play the good husband,” Nelson proclaimed, his tone unyielding. “Caroline, you were drawn to me because I gave you the freedom to be wild and free. That hasn’t changed.”

“Before we go any further, I want to know everything about you. I want to know the worst thing you’ve done,” Caroline pressed, her gaze steady and unwavering.

“Why do you need to know that?” Nelson laughed, a note of skepticism in his laugh.

“Because if I can love you at your worst, loving you at your best will be easy. I don’t expect you to change; I just want honesty. I need to know the terrible things so I can accept them,” Caroline explained, her plea sincere. “Don’t you think if I can accept you at your worst, we can truly move forward?”

Nelson’s gaze flickered for a moment, a hint of suspicion crossing his otherwise composed features.

He studied Caroline carefully as if trying to read the depths of her intentions. With a smirk, he leaned back, swirling the wine in his glass thoughtfully.

“You’re playing a dangerous game, Caroline,” he said, his voice dropping to a huskier tone. “But if it’s transparency you want, it’s transparency you’ll get.”

He paused, taking a slow sip of his wine, letting the silence stretch out between them. Caroline remained poised, though her heart was pounding in her chest. This was the moment she needed to steer towards, the opening to draw out the confession that could save her son’s company.

“The worst, you say?” Nelson finally continued, setting down his glass with a deliberate clink against the tabletop. ” I’ve bent more than a few rules to get where I am today. Business is a battlefield, Caroline. Sometimes, you have to play dirty to survive.”

Caroline nodded, maintaining her role. “Give me an example,” she urged gently, her eyes locked on his.

Nelson chuckled a cold sound that didn’t reach his eyes. “I hired mob men to steal documents from Christopher Johnson’s home. Documents that would do nothing but tarnish the name of Alexander’s company. Naturally, these documents are a distorted reality. The truth is that your father and Sophia’s grandfather did nothing wrong. But showing these documents without the context of events only proves evil. And so I will destroy the Stone Enterprise without consequence.

Caroline felt a chill run down her spine, but she kept her expression neutral, attentive. “And you feel no remorse?” she probed.

“Remorse is a luxury in our line of work,” Nelson replied flatly. “You either eat or be eaten. I chose to feast.”

Caroline’s heart raced, but she managed a slight smile. “That’s quite the confession, Nelson. Thank you for your honesty.”

Nelson leaned in, mistaking her composure for acceptance. “So, do we have a deal, Caroline? Can you live with my demons?”

“I think I can handle it,” she answered, her mind racing.

This was exactly what Alexander needed-a direct admission of guilt. As they continued their dinner, Caroline kept Nelson talking, extracting more details, all the while knowing that every word was being recorded, building the evidence they desperately needed.