Chapter 7 In Love?

Miguel scolded, "Caroline, Helen is a part of this family. She's unwell, so shouldn't you show a little more compassion? Helen tries to see the good in you, why can't you reciprocate?" "Miguel, how can you even compare her to Helen? Our Helen is gentle, kind, understanding, and talented, unlike her, who has become spiteful and a disgrace to our family!" Liam added sharply. Caroline finally retorted, "You're right, Liam. Helen is exceedingly kind. So kind, in fact, that maybe she could return my room to me, right?" Helen desired a spacious, sunlit room for her piano practice, but the only available rooms in the house were either north-facing or too small. Edwin and Liam allowed her to temporarily use the ideal room for her piano practice, assuring her it was just for a short period. They believed Helen's interest in piano would wane after six months, at which point she would move out. Believing it was truly temporary, Caroline agreed, not realizing this arrangement would extend for three years. As predicted, Helen's passion for the piano cooled down after half a year. However, when Caroline approached her to reclaim the room, Helen expressed her fondness for it and decided to convert it into a storage space instead. The brothers suggested that since the room had already been given to Helen, it would be easier to just let her keep it rather than deal with the inconvenience of moving. Caroline had been hesitant to press the issue, fearing her brothers' displeasure. Liam challenged her, "I think your current room is perfectly fine. Why are you so fixated on getting that room back?" Caroline scoffed, "Do you really think a cramped, dark room with no sunlight is suitable? Are you blind? I'm not asking for her room—I'm asking for mine back." Hearing Caroline's demand, Liam glanced around the room dismissively. "To you, a room is just for sleeping. Whether it gets sunlight or not shouldn't matter. It sounds like you're just trying to stir up trouble with Helen." Caroline fell silent, not dignifying his comment with a response. Instead, she turned to Miguel, seeking his opinion. "Miguel, do you think the same?" Miguel looked uncertain, aware that the room Caroline was asking for was indeed more pleasant than her current one. He looked at Helen and suggested, "Helen, since the room is just for storage now and Caroline wants it back, perhaps it's fair to let her have it." Helen's expression faltered; her eyes welled up as she bit her lip. "Uncle Liam, if Aunt Caroline really wants the room, I shouldn't stop her. It's just ... I spent a lot of time decorating it, and moving out so suddenly ... " She trailed off with a soft cough, her discomfort clear to everyone. Liam rubbed her back soothingly. "Don't worry, you're not well. With me here, no one will force you out of your room," he said, casting a warning glare at Caroline. In the past, such a glare would have subdued Caroline immediately. However, today's Caroline met his gaze with defiance, unshaken. However, he failed to realize that the Caroline before him was not the same as the old Caroline. How could she be intimidated by just a look? Caroline returned his stare with an icy, unflinching gaze, not avoiding his eyes for a second. It was Miguel who broke the tense silence. "Let's do this—give Helen another six months to sort things out, then she can vacate the room. That way, it also makes up for the trouble at the company today." His proposal was predictable, always favoring Helen whenever she faced even minor discomfort. Caroline was done with such compromises. "Listen, you have two days to move out. That's not up for negotiation. If you haven't moved out in two days, you'll face the consequences." Liam opened his mouth to object, but Caroline was already dismissing them. "I need to change. Please leave." She did not allow anyone else a chance to speak; instead, she turned towards the wardrobe to pick out clothes. Seeing this, the others realized they had no choice but to leave. As they reached the door, Liam patted Helen on the shoulder. "Don't worry about her, Helen. As long as you stay put, she can't force you out." Helen bit her lip and nodded, adding, "Isn't Aunt Caroline's behavior today a bit odd?" Miguel chimed in, "She's probably just in a bad mood." He had always known Caroline as compliant and gentle, never one to harshly confront family members. Today seemed to be an outlier, and he couldn't think of any reason other than her mood. Liam was not convinced, "She's been in bad moods before, but she's never acted out like this. Plus, she drove today. We never taught her how to drive, and we don't know who did." "Maybe it's because she's in love? I've heard that falling in love can really change a woman," Helen speculated. Miguel paused, considering. "You think Caroline is in love? Are you certain?" As his expression darkened, it was clear he was not pleased with the idea of Caroline being in a relationship. Helen, now trying to justify her earlier guess, said, "Yes, one day when I was out shopping, I saw her laughing and holding hands with a man." Miguel's face twisted in displeasure. "She shouldn't be sneaking around like that, especially without telling us!" When their parents were alive, they had arranged a marriage for Caroline. If she was indeed seeing someone else, how could she justify it to her prospective in-laws? Liam added, "I bet she's turned like this because of her dubious boyfriend. Probably even learned to drive from him." You are the company you keep. Caroline must have been associating with the wrong crowd to start acting so defiant and irrational. "Caroline has a fiancé, and now she's dating someone else too? What is she thinking?!" He turned sharply and marched back inside, "I need to speak with her. She has to end things with this man." Hearing this, Helen became anxious and quickly intervened. "Uncle Miguel, please don't. If you confront Aunt Caroline now, she'll know I told you. She already isn't fond of me, and this will just make things worse." In truth, she had never actually seen Caroline with a man; it was all just conjecture. Confronting Caroline based on her speculation might backfire and damage the positive image she maintained with her uncles.