Chapter 52

Kirk’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. “Oh?”

Eddy scratched his head. The more he looked at the tle, the more familiar it seemed. However, he just couldn’t recall where he’d seen it. He then sat down at the side and said, “Perhaps someone else wore the same one before.”

Kirk’s tensed shoulders slumped down as he hummed in response nonchalantly.

Eddy took another sip of the beer, having regained his composure. “Are you going out, Uncle Kirk?”

Sparing a glance at Caroline on the screen. Kirk rubbed the spot in between his brows. “Nah, it’s more interesting to observe the situation secretly.”

Eddy nodded. “Then I’ll go out first.”

His temples began to throb at the thought of having a meal with Caroline at the same table.

In the banquet hall, Caroline was chatting happily with Jude, and they appeared even closer than biological relatives.

When the other Morrisons saw that, they immediately came and flattered them. “Ms. Evans, you’re so good at making Mr. Morrison Senior happy. He always has a long face whenever he’s with us. He only smiles when you’re around.”

Although those were honeyed words, they were also true.

Caroline smiled and didn’t say anything.

When Eddy came out and heard what they said, he suddenly thought of how protective Kirk was of Caroline as well, despite having only met her a few times. Eddy couldn’t help but look at Caroline with a probing gaze.

“You’re here. Eddy.” Thomas said upon seeing him. “Take a seat beside Caroline.”

It wasn’t until he finished speaking that he remembered how Eddy’s attitude had been toward Caroline in the past. Just as he wanted to say something to correct himself, his son had already taken a seat next to Caroline.

Thomas exchanged a meaningful glance with Jude.

They had noticed that Eddy was no longer averse to Caroline as of late. It was an optimistic sign that something good would be happening soon. Everyone else had the same thoughts too..

However, it didn’t seem to be the same for Eddy. The moment he sat down, he suddenly felt a chilly wind brush past the back of his head.. When he turned around, there was nothing.

“Grandpa, when is Eddy’s second uncle coming?” Caroline asked, ignoring Eddy.

The banquet was about to begin, but Kirk still hadn’t shown up. Caroline was worried that she wouldn’t be able to see him again today.

“He arrived a long time ago.” Eddy snorted from the side.

Only then did Caroline turn to look at him. “Where is he?”

“Why should I tell you?” Eddy retorted, feeling uncomfortable.

Rendered speechless, Caroline moved her eyes back to Jude. “Grandpa, do you know?”

Jude chuckled. “I don’t know either. It’s better to ask Eddy.” He was trying to encourage conversation between the two.

Caroline understood that, but she didn’t want to talk to Eddy. Whenever she looked at him, she would think about the marriage announcement, and it repulsed her.

However, for the sake of meeting Eddy’s second uncle, she endured her disdain and asked. “Because I want to know, and you happened to have the answer I need.”

Eddy leaned in closer to her. “Aren’t you good at pleasing others? Please me, and I’ll tell you where my second uncle is.”

people’s eyes.

“Darling, look at how intimate Eddy and Carrie are!” Sarah was excited.

Dan saw it too and felt as if a weight had lifted off of him. “I told you that Eddy has feelings for Carrie. If she marries into his family, we will live a comfortable life in the future.”

Meanwhile, Layla was on the verge of breaking the armrest of her wheelchair.

“What a shameless bitch! How dare she seduce Eddy in front of so many people!” Layla cursed inwardly.

However, when she thought about how Caroline would soon die on the operating table, Layla gradually calmed herself down.

At the head table, Caroline withdrew her gaze and leaned slightly to the back. “Since you don’t want to tell me, forget it, then.”

She could just ask the staff here. Someone would definitely know where Kirk was.

Seeing how indifferent she was. Eddy felt triggered. Why couldn’t she please him when she could do so for everyone else?

Just as Eddy was about to lose his cool he saw Brie coming over with a glass of red wine. She shot him a smile and then looked toward Caroline.

All this time, Brie had been thinking of ways to regain the spotlight after being overshadowed by Caroline earlier at the entrance. She’d inquired about Caroline’s present for Jude earlier and found that it was a painting worth one million dollars.

She’d immediately thought of how to humiliate Caroline and headed over to the main table.

Caroline was feeling uncomfortable being stared at. When she raised her eyes and saw the meaningful look on Brie’s face, she knitted her brows.

Holding up the wine glass in her hand, Brie said. “Mr. Morrison Senior, I’m here to wish you a happy birthday on my dad’s behalf.”

Jude smiled. “Thank you.”

Brie took a sip of her wine and flitted her eyes back to Caroline again. “I heard that you’re interested in antiques lately, Mr. Morrison Senior. “she said calmly.

“Yes. Old people love looking for something to keep them occupied.”

“In that case, I believe you will definitely love my gift.”

“Oh? What is it?”

Brie beckoned the staff member to present her gift to Jude.

When Jude opened the exquisite box, he saw a delicate perfume bottle that was made of emerald sitting inside. It had an artistic pattern on top, carrying auspicious symbolism.

“This is an antique perfume bottle.” Seeing Jude pick it up, Brie knew he must have taken a liking to it.

“I went to a lot of places in and out of the country to look for it.”

“That’s so kind of you. It must be expensive, right?” Jude asked.

Brie replied with a smile, “Not really. It’s just 60 million dollars.”

Despite her words, deep down, her heart ached for having spent a fortune. However, as long as she could please Jude and get married to Kirk, this amount was nothing. Most importantly, she could use this price to put Caroline’s gift to shame.

“Since you’ve worked so hard, I must treat you kindly as well.” Holding the bottle in his hand affectionately, he pondered for a while before continuing. “I agree to the matter you’d mentioned to me before.”

Brie was overjoyed. Little did she expect Jude to let Kirk marry her so easily. “Thank you, Mr. Morrison Senior!”

When Caroline heard that, her heart sank. She could somehow guess that what Jude referred to was the marriage between Eddy’s second uncle and Brie. At the thought that the business prodigy was going to get married to a woman like Brie, Caroline felt uneasy.

“Caroline!” Brie suddenly called.

Caroline looked at her.

Brie walked around Jude and approached Caroline, her gaze tinged with hostility. “Everyone in Osbury knows that Mr. Morrison Senior loves you the most. I wonder what you prepared for his birthday gift?”

Caroline’s expression changed slightly. She finally understood Brie’s reason for coming here.

“Show it to us, then.” Brie signaled at the staff member, The staff member didn’t move and looked at Jude Jude waved his hand. “Go ahead. I’d like to see Carrie’s gift for me too.”

Only then did the staff member step away and bring the poster tube over.

Upon unfolding it, they found that it was a piece of art done by Zach Zimmer, who wasn’t well–known in the industry. If Brie hadn’t bid on the painting out of spite, she wouldn’t have known about such an artist.

Seeing it at this moment, Brie curled her lips into a contemptuous smile. She pointed at the painting disdainfully and said, “Caroline, is this what you’ve prepared today? Look at its quality. It’s not even on par with Mr. Morrison Senior’s status. Don’t you feel bad when he’s done nothing but dote on you?”

Hearing what she said, the others also started to whisper about it.

“So much for doting on her, but in the end she gifted him a painting that was done by a nobody.”

“No wonder Mr. Eddy doesn’t like her. She may talk sweetly, but her actions reveal her true character.”

“She sure comes from a family that has fallen from grace. Although she can pretend to be a wealthy lady, her petty–minded nature is still exposed when it comes to spending money.”

When Eddy had heard such discussions in the past, he would have been happy without a doubt. Yet this time, he didn’t know why his heart stung, as if there were needles stabbing it.

He glanced at Caroline.

Caroline stood up and went over to the painting. “A one–million–dollar gift, of course, may not mean anything to Grandpa. But it’s all that i have. I know he loves paintings of this kind, so I deliberately looked for this and managed to find this piece of work done by Zach Zimmer.

“Although this artist isn’t famous, his works are exactly Grandpa’s cup of tea. Grandpa might regret it if he passed up on this.”

Brie glanced at Caroline scomfully. Just as she was about to say something, she saw Jude walk toward the painting with trembling hands.

“This is really Zimmer’s work!” His aged hand shook, hovering over the painting. He wanted to put down his hand, but he seemed afraid of touching it.

Everyone was shocked. It was the first time they had seen Jude behaving like this.

Thomas immediately stepped forward and supported him. “Dad, what’s wrong?”

Jude closed his eyes and waved his hand. It took him a while before he finally collected himself.

“More than 50 years ago, someone else also gave me a painting by Zach Zimmer for my birthday.”

With tears seeping in from the corners of his eyes, he grabbed Caroline’s hand. “Thank you, Carrie.”

He stared at her deeply, hesitating to say anything more.

Caroline felt like he was looking at another person through