Last month, when I came home, I saw Caroline sitting on the sofa, while Garry was kneeling and tending her wound tenderly.
When she saw me, Caroline smiled gently, "Ellen, you're home."
She acted as if she were the mistress of this house.
When I looked at the wound on her knee, it was not a minor one, but a nasty scrape.
I frowned. "Why didn't you take her to the hospital?"
Caroline was Garry's secretary. If she got hurt, she should have filed for work-related injury compensation, not come to the home that Garry shared with his fiancée.
Before Garry could respond, Caroline hurriedly stood up. " I'm sorry, Ellen. Don't blame Garry, it's my fault because I don't like the smell of the hospital …. I didn't consider that this might upset you …."
Her sudden movement tugged her would, and it was so painful for her that it caused her to almost collapse into Garry's arms.
Garry caught her. His face turned gloomy and he snapped at me, which he rarely did, "Ellen, what are you doing, throwing a princess tantrum like that at a time like this? Do you think everyone grew up as pampered as you? Do you even understand the pain Caro’s been through in hospitals just to survive? Do you know how hard it is to live with those memories?"
His accusations left me bewildered. I was about to defend myself when Caroline interrupted, "Garry, it’s okay. Ellen didn’t do anything wrong. It’s not her fault she’s lived a sheltered life. It’s normal for her to feel uneasy because she thought I take your attention away from her. I don’t mind."
She ended her statement with a gentle smile. Her pale face was glowing with a serene strength.
To Garry, Caroline was the perfect image of a resilient, kindhearted woman enduring hardship.
Well … well. A white lotus lady much, huh?
I may not be the brightest person in the room, but her performance left me speechless and angry. I could only laugh bitterly in disbelief.
"Ellen!" Garry's anger intensified. "Is your mind always filled with jealousy and petty rivalry? If you have even half of Caro’s strength and determination, I’d respect you so much more."
"Caro is constantly striving to become a better version of herself. She doesn’t have parents to rely on like you do. She only has herself. She doesn’t have time for these childish games of yours!"
Caro, Caro … Caro ….
His words stung and made me angry and sad.
"Garry, all I asked was why she wasn’t taken to the hospital. I didn’t say anything else," I told Garry.
I truly felt wronged.
Garry seemed to realize that he had gone too far. His tone softened slightly, "Let’s stop fooling around. It's already late. Go to sleep."
After her wound was treated, Caroline claimed that her wound was too severe, so it was impossible for her to go home.
Garry immediately invited her to stay at our house.
Obviously, I was not happy about it. "Garry, you should send her home."
Garry's voice turned icy, "Ellen, how heartless can you be? She's seriously injured. How is she supposed to care for herself if she goes home? Caro is always speaking up for you, but all you do is target her!"
I was so mad that my voice became higher, "This is our home, and we are about to be engaged! What does it look like for a stranger to stay here?"
"If the lady of the house isn’t comfortable, but she is still forcing her way in, this is rude and improper!"
Garry yelled even louder than mine, "Why don't you want her to be here? She is a young woman who is struggling to make a living in this city. Now, she is injured and doesn't have anywhere to go. Do you have to target her like this? I thought you were just petty, but I didn’t expect you to be so cruel!"
Garry rarely spoke so mean to me. I was genuinely frightened. I bit my lips and tears streamed down uncontrollably.
Caroline hobbled toward Garry, leaning against him as she patted his back. "It's fine, Garry. Don't fight with Ellen because of me. She is still a child."
Garry's anger dissipated almost instantly. Right in front of me, he pulled her into his arms and soothed her, "Don't worry. You can stay here and rest."
