Chapter 17 Caroline’s Choice
14 min left
Caroline shoved Caleb’s hand away, her eyes darting between the two men.
She took a deep breath and pointed to the door. “Both of you, get the hell out!”
Caleb widened his eyes in disbelief, pointing at himself. “You want me to get out too?”
“Hell yeah, you’re first to go!” Caroline fired back. “We’re trending now. No more dealing with your toxic family. And you? I can’t even look at your face!”
“You know what’s real in those rumors! You dragged Michelle into this mess, got her dragged online. Haven’t even paid you back for that, and now you’re kicking me out?” Caleb’s voice shook. “Since when did you get so cruel?”
“Damn,” Anthony cut in, pure sass. “Still simping for another chick? If I were Caroline? Would’ve kicked your ass to the curb ages ago.”
“Shut it!” Caleb snapped, whirling on Anthony with a glare that could kill. “You show up dressed like that, harassing someone else’s wife… Where’s your shame? Get out now! This is our business, not yours.”
“I’ll leave,” Anthony said with a taunting smirk, “but take a good
1/7
09:41
Chapter 17 Caroline’s Choice
14 min left
look at me, Mr. Martin. Nose busted, shirt gone.Ifftthepress outside snaps this, what do you think they’ll write??
“Want to keep your reputation intact? Thenwalkkauttwithme. Otherwise, I can’t promise what headlines I’ll feedthem.”
Caleb caught on fast. He realized this lunatic was really toowreck his own image just to help Caroline out of this messs.
His expression darkened as he turned to Caroline..“Stothisswass your plan all along? You even found yourself an accomplice.“”
With that, he lunged at Anthony. He meant to grab his collar, but with Anthony half–naked, he settled for throttling his needk and dragging him out.
Caroline watched from the window, tense.
Only when their cars disappeared down the street did she finally breathe.
Yeah, she’d seen Caleb coming. But Anthony? That came outta nowhere.
Of all the people, she never thought her plan would be disrupied by him.
Back when they’d crossed paths, she’d thought Anthony was a decent guy.
2/7
09:41
Chapter 17 Caroline’s Choice
Yet, she never saw this coming.
One moment, he was a respectable HR professional.
14 min left
Next, he was showing up at her door like some hired gigolo.
Silently, she scratched Anthony’s company off her list of prospects.
Just then, her phone buzzed. A message popped up.
It was an e–ticket to the International Game Expo.
Another text followed, blunt and commanding: [This is your last shot. Bail on me again, and don’t ever reach out.]
Caroline gripped the phone tightly, her resolve hardening.
This time, she wasn’t missing it!
***
Anthony slid into his car, pressing a prepped ice pack to the bruise blooming on his forehead.
His phone rang, the screen flashing a single letter: [M.]
As he picked up the phone, a soft smile spread across his face.
“Michelle, are you feeling better?”
3/7
09:41
Chapter 17 Caroline’s Choice
14 min left
Her voice came through, fragile and teary. “I’m okay… I was just worried about you. I’m so sorry. You’ve always had a spotless rep, and now you’re sacrificing so much for me…”
“You saved me once,” Anthony said, his tone laced with a near–fanatical devotion. “I told you, anything you ask, I’d do, even if it means dying. But I still don’t get it. Why’d you spring this on me today?”
“You know how online they’re calling me a mistress?” Michelle sniffled. “I’m terrified… Caleb hasn’t come to see me; he hasn’t even called. He went straight to Caroline… I know I’ve lost him for good…”
Her voice grew more pitiful, tugging at Anthony’s heart.
“You’re alone at the hospital? Why didn’t you ask me to stay with you?” he asked, his voice full of concern.
“We… we’re not like that,” she said in a small, sweet voice. “If you’re seen with me, it’ll mess up your chances with other girls. Plus, we’ve been planning this for so long, and right now’s the make-or–break moment. No one can know we’re connected.”
“Fine, I’ll do whatever you say,” Anthony replied gently. “But can you tell me why I had to show up dressed like that? What’s the next step?”
“I was scared they’d patch things up, so I had to throw you in to
4/7
00-11
Chapter 17 Caroline’s Choice
14 min left
shake them apart,” Michelle whimpered. “With Caroline pulling all those reporters to her place today, I panicked she’d spin some wild story… I couldn’t step in myself, so I needed you to stir the pot…”
Anthony replayed the scene in his head. Honestly, he figured if he hadn’t shown up, Caroline and Caleb might’ve already split.
But he trusted Michelle had her reasons, so he kept quiet and stayed loyal.
“I’ve got it handled,” he assured her. “To repay what you did for me, I’ll get you anything you want.”
444
At the end of the month, the International Game Expo kicked off.
Caroline flashed her invite and breezed into the venue.
A staffer guided her past the bustling public area to the exclusive
VIP zone.
“Congrats!” they said, pinning an elegant nameplate on her. “As a co–creator of Supreme Sword, your game just topped the Most Popular list! At this expo, you’re set to snag more sponsors and get it published by year’s end!”
Caroline stood there, stunned.
5/7
09:41
Chapter 17 Caroline’s Choice
14 min left
Supreme Sword was her brainchild from college, even named after a novel that sparked her imagination.
But after tying the knot, she’d poured herself into family life, stepping away from development. She’d barely touched the project since.
She never dreamed her name would still be on the credits.
Her eyes welled up, emotion catching in her throat.
She scanned the crowd, hunting for that familiar face.
Just then, some attendees spotted her nameplate and started drifting over, buzzing with excitement.
A group of young fans swarmed her, firing off questions.
“So many games like this out there. How’d you make it so fresh?”
“The visual effects were mind–blowing! When I played it in VR, I was completely blown away!”
“Is Chapter Seven based on real stuff? Spill the tea! That story hit different!”
But she’d been gone way too long. Hadn’t touched the game in years. No clue what to say.
6/7
09:41
Chapter 17 Caroline’s Choice
She just stood there, floundering.
09) 14 min loft
The crowd noticed her silence, and their excitement fizzled into disappointment.
Then, whispers rippled through. “What’s with this producer? She doesn’t seem to know a thing…”
Write your comment
