Even if Whitney was annoyed with him or held resentment, he couldn’t bear the idea of her enduring this pain alone on such a day.
“Carter, what are you looking for?” Tina called out from the entrance, her voice cutting through his thoughts.
“Oh, Tina, have you seen Whit? Did you spot her anywhere?” Carter asked, his tone edged with urgency.
Tina’s eyes narrowed, jealousy flaring within her. “Seriously? He’s after that bitch too?”
Trying to keep her tone steady, she asked, “Oh, you’re looking for Whit?”
“Yeah, she cared a lot about Patricia. I just wanted to have a word with Whitney,” Carter replied, his voice laced with concern.
Though the wedding had only just been called off, it felt to Carter as if an eternity had passed since then.
“Whit’s always been so tough. I just want to say a few words to her. Maybe it’ll help her feel better,” he said, oblivious to the self-assuredness in his tone.
He genuinely believed that just seeing him and hearing a few comforting words would be enough to bring Whitney back to her old self, as if he were some miraculous remedy.
Tina couldn’t help but revel in the thought, “Man, if Carter caught Whit all snuggled up to Klein, that would be a hell of a scene.”
“Carter, you’re honestly too nice. After everything she’s put you through, you still care about her. Just now, I saw her talking to some guy right around the corner. Want me to take you over?” Tina offered, feigning concern.
“A guy?” Carter’s brows furrowed together, a flicker of confusion crossing his face.
“Who the hell is this guy?” Carter’s mind raced with suspicion.
Tina shot him a sly, almost guilty look. “Maybe just pretend I never said anything, alright?”
The uncertainty only deepened Carter’s frown.
“Around the corner, you said?” His voice turned icy, a sharp edge creeping in.
“Yeah,” Tina hesitated, her nerves showing. “Carter, just don’t tell her I told you, okay? I don’t want Whit to get mad at me.”
“I won’t,” Carter assured her, determination hardening his resolve.
With that, he turned and strode off in the direction Tina had indicated, his mind racing with questions.
Any pity he had felt for Whitney evaporated in an instant.
Now, all he could think about was uncovering the identity of this mysterious man.
“So that’s why Whitney dumped me so quickly. She’s been sneaking around with some other guy all along?” Carter’s thoughts spiraled into a frenzy of doubt and betrayal.
As he approached, he found Whitney crouched in a secluded corner, seemingly lost in her own world, her gaze fixed on the ground as if seeking answers in the floorboards.
“Uh… Whitney…” Carter began, hesitating as he struggled to find the right words.
He almost let slip something about the other guy, but he caught himself just in time, swallowing the words back down.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice stiff yet laced with genuine concern.
Whitney barely looked up, giving him a fleeting glance before her eyes darted away, avoiding his gaze.
“Thanks. I’m fine, really,” she replied, her voice distant, as if it were coming from a place far removed from their reality.
“Whitney, you don’t have to put on a brave face. If you need help, just say the word,” Carter urged, his concern for her growing.
“Really?” Whitney murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, filled with uncertainty.
Then, she stood and faced him, a spark of determination igniting in her eyes. “So, you’ll agree to anything I ask for?”
“Yeah,” Carter replied, then quickly added, “As long as it’s something I can actually manage.”
“Alright then,” Whitney said, a barely-there smirk playing on her lips.
“Carter, I want just one thing. Never let me see you again. Ever. Can you do that?” she stated, her voice icy and resolute.
“That’s all I ask. I never want to see you for the rest of my life,” she said, her gaze piercing through him, demanding an answer.
“Carter, can you do that?” Whitney’s eyes bore into his, unwavering and fierce.
Carter stumbled through the door that day, his mind a whirlwind of confusion and disorientation. He couldn’t quite grasp how he had managed to return, but one thing was clear: something was seriously amiss. Emily, ever perceptive, noted the shadow that loomed over him.
“What’s wrong, Carter? You look like you’ve got something on your mind,” Emily inquired, her voice laced with genuine concern.
*What just happened?* she wondered, anxiety prickling at her thoughts.
Tina’s message flashed across Emily’s phone: *[Emily, Carter just went to see Whitney. He probably caught her with another guy. Looks like Whitney’s not gonna be a problem for you anymore.]*
Emily’s heart sank as the words registered. She quickly pieced together the puzzle: Whitney, despite her flaws, still held a significant place in Carter’s heart. Even now, when Emily wished she could dismiss Whitney entirely, she knew the truth was more complicated.
Tina, however, remained silent about Klein, and that was a secret Emily clung to. Deep down, she convinced herself that Klein was already hers. A man of his caliber, nearly divine in her eyes, was destined to be by her side.
Today’s events? Just a fleeting moment of weakness from Whitney, a desperate act to seek solace in the chaos. Emily refused to lose sleep over it. If her ire was to be directed at anyone, it would be Whitney.
As she tucked her phone away, she caught Carter’s response, casual and almost dismissive, “It’s nothing. I guess I’m just tired from getting up too early.”
Emily chose not to press him further. “Alright, you should head home and get some rest,” she suggested, her voice gentle yet firm.
Carter, lost in his thoughts, failed to notice the way Emily scrutinized him, her eyes searching for answers.
*****
Meanwhile, Lena remained steadfast by Whitney’s side, her presence a comforting anchor. “Whit, if you need to cry, just let it out,” she urged softly.
Whitney shook her head vehemently. “Lena, I don’t want to cry.”
*As if she could genuinely suppress her emotions,* Lena mused, knowing too well how deeply Whitney had loved Patricia.
“Lena, you should go. I just want to be alone with her for a bit,” Whitney murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Lena wrapped her arms around Whitney in a brief embrace, hoping it would provide even a modicum of comfort.
The funeral days had been a blur for Whitney, sleepless nights filled with grief. Now, with Patricia finally laid to rest, the heaviness in her chest felt like an iron weight, suffocating and unyielding.
As the clock struck 20:00 on December 18, Whitney left the cemetery, insisting she needed solitude. Yet Samuel’s voice called her back, urging her to join him for dinner.
At first, Whitney resisted, wanting to retreat into her own thoughts, but she realized there were unresolved matters between her and Samuel that needed addressing.
“Whit, I know losing your grandma was a huge blow, but you really should apologize to the Harris family. Especially to George. Even with James on your side, George is the one steering the company now,” Samuel advised, his tone serious.
“If he decides to make things difficult for us, we won’t be able to cope,” he added, concern etched on his face.
Whitney raised her brow, skepticism evident. “Isn’t Klein the one in charge of the Harris Group?”
Samuel’s frustration bubbled over. “What is wrong with you? Show some respect and call him Mr. Harris!”
Whitney, drained and unwilling to engage in conflict, leaned back in her seat, closing her eyes. “I’m tired. I’m going to take a nap. If you have something to say, we can discuss it when we get home,” she replied, her voice flat.
Laura and Samuel exchanged a glance, their silence heavy with unspoken tensions.
Two hours later, they finally arrived home. With everything weighing on her, Whitney resolved to stay for a while, seeking a change of scenery to clear her muddled mind.
Without a moment’s hesitation, she declared, “I’m going back to my room.”
“Wait a second,” Samuel called after her, his voice rising slightly.
“Whit, you’ve been acting increasingly distant. Is it really that hard for you to just have a conversation with me?” he asked, frustration seeping into his tone.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.