Chapter 36
A surge of anger exploded in Aunin’s chest. She couldn’t hold back and squeezed Christine’s wrist, harder than she meant to. “Christine,” she grated, “you really do care about her!”
Christine was startled by the fury burning in Autumn’s eyes. She remembered how Autumn had always been calm and well-mannered—it was rare to see her lose control like this. “You can love her, spoil her, care for her all you want,” Autumn added, each word sharper than the last, “but I’m begging you… just don’t let me see it. Can you do that?”
It was a simple request—one which she thought Christine should have had no trouble agreeing to. Instead, Christine’s lips parted, and all she said was, “Tut.” She appeared hesitant and conflicted, refusing to say yes.
Autumn’s anger flared—only to dissolve into helpless frustration, like screaming into a void. All at once, she went quiet as the fire inside her went cold. She stared at Christine for two full seconds before turning and walking away without another word.
Christine had come today hoping to spend time with Autumn. It had been a while, and she just wanted to chat and spend some time together. When Autumn left—just like that—she wondered why.
Then, it hit her that Autumn couldn’t stand hearing anything about Emilia. Since they couldn’t continue the conversation, she simply gave up. If she showed Autumn too much care, Emilia would definitely get upset too. She was caught in the middle, and she figured it just wasn’t worth it.
Autumn sat in her car for ten quiet minutes. Christine had doused her emotions like cold water, and now there was nothing left to feel. In those minutes, everything that had happened washed over her mind like a tidal wave, and suddenly, she made a decision.
She would build a wall around herself—high, firm, unshakeable. From now on, she wouldn’t show her vulnerabilities to anyone. Moreover, she would stop having expectations of others, as it would always lead to disappointment, and no disappointment meant no pain.
Autumn couldn’t change other people, and she couldn’t stop them from hurting her. However, she could protect herself. After all, the only person she could ever truly rely on was herself. With that in mind, she took her foot off the gas and gripped the steering wheel. But instead of driving home, she headed straight to the downtown shopping district.
There was a female business gala that Saturday night, and Autumn realized she didn’t own a single evening gown. In all three years with Damian, he had never once taken her to a dinner or event like this. She had no reason to dress up back then, as she had lost herself in that relationship and never paid attention to her appearance. Now, everything had changed.
Autumn stepped into a boutique and immediately spotted a sleek black evening gown with silver trim. Just as she was about to ask for assistance, she noticed the sales associates huddled together, chatting away.
“Did you see that? The CEO of Caldwell Group and his wife were just here! They picked out the most expensive custom gown we have—almost eight figures—and he swiped the card without thinking,” one of them pushed out.
“And they went next door to look at jewelry after that. The full look must’ve cost tens of millions,” another added.
“I wish I could be rich like that for just one day.”
One chimed in, “Honestly, what really got me was how Mr. Caldwell looked at Mrs. Caldwell every time she tried on a new dress. He actually gave her thoughtful opinions!”
“Exactly!” someone agreed. “My boyfriend just stares at his phone when I take him shopping. He tells me everything looks great, and it’s so obvious he’s not even paying attention. It drives me crazy.”
“You sure you weren’t mistaken about who it was?” a girl asked, sounding skeptical.
“No way. My boyfriend works at Caldwell Group. He said Mr. Caldwell personally brings Mrs. Caldwell to executive meetings. That man clearly wants everyone to know how important she is.”
“That’s real love…”
“But I’ve been told most celebrities… kings… whatever… Caldwell? Not a single scandal!”
“He’s so loyal. Not just emotionally, but physically too. What a responsible man.”
“I swear, in this dating world, a man who stays faithful is like gold. Honestly, even if he didn’t have his squillions, he’d still be such a catch.”
Just then, the sales associate noticed Autumn standing nearby. She quickly walked over with a bright smile. “Hi there, miss. Would you like to try this gown on?”