Chapter 2

Caroline's POV

I froze, remembering Theo as a little boy. The family elders spoiled him—whenever he cried, they'd give him candy.

I believed children shouldn't have too much sugar, so I strictly controlled his sweets intake, especially since the Spencer family had a history of diabetes.

But I wasn't a Spencer anymore, and Theo didn't have that genetic risk. He could enjoy these treats.

"Go ahead and eat it," I said gently. "Harper got it specially for you."

Only then did Harper smile warmly: "Caroline, you're back. These three years while I've been taking care of Theo, he always said he missed you."

Her words sent a wave of panic through me. I should thank her, but her tone made me feel like an outsider, like an intruder who'd just barged into someone else's life.

"Thank you for taking care of him," I said. "I should have come back sooner."

Harper continued: "I only bought Theo cake to make him happy, nothing more. Caroline, you know what this family means to me..." She stopped mid-sentence, giving me a meaningful look.

"It's fine, I understand your good intentions," I said gently.

Adrian frowned, his tone firm: "Harper, if you've already eaten dinner, you can go rest in your room."

Harper nodded, but before turning to leave, she shot me another glance. That look made it clear—she was staking her claim.

Dinner continued, but the atmosphere had grown tense. Theo ate his cake excitedly while Adrian and I barely exchanged words. I mechanically ate my food, my mind replaying Harper's words and that look.

After dinner, I returned to the master bedroom. Standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows, looking out at Manhattan's night skyline, those familiar lights reminded me of how desperate I'd been when I left three years ago.

After the divorce, I lost my job and had to go back to my parents. But when I pushed open that familiar door, I saw a stranger sitting in the living room—the Spencers' real daughter.

At first, they said since I was with Adrian and rarely came home anyway, they hoped I could accept her. They wanted to focus on loving their long-lost daughter and didn't have energy to spare for me.

But when I told them Adrian and I were divorced, they emphasized that I wasn't their biological child.

"Caroline," my adoptive mother said coldly, "we can't reach Adrian's level anymore, yet you chose to divorce him. You're infuriating. We have our own child now. You should be independent."

That's when I realized I'd only been a temporary substitute. Once they had their biological daughter, I became expendable.

The next three years, I lived in a cramped shared apartment in Brooklyn, working multiple jobs, getting harassed by landlords, sometimes barely having food. That desperation and helplessness nearly broke me.

Now I was back in the Upper East Side mansion, but Harper's special status as Adrian's adopted sister made me even more uneasy. I knew how precarious my situation was—I could only endure.

Hot water cascaded over me in the shower as I tried to calm down. I needed to rationally analyze Harper's threat and my real position in this family.

"Caroline?" Adrian's voice came from outside the door.

I tensed, quickly wrapping myself in a towel. Adrian pushed the door open and walked in, looking at me without any hesitation.

"When should we visit my parents?" he asked. "They must miss you terribly."

I kept my head down: "Whatever you decide."

Adrian frowned: "Why are you so compliant now? You used to hate my parents, never attended family gatherings."

There was confusion in his voice, and a hint of concern. I didn't know how to answer, so I stayed silent.

Adrian approached and pulled the towel away from my body. I didn't resist as he carried me to the bed.

"I love you, Caroline," he whispered in my ear, kissing my neck. "Every single day these past three years, I've thought about you."

I closed my eyes and endured it silently. This was the price of coming back, wasn't it?

The next morning at seven, I came downstairs to find Harper already busy in the kitchen.

"I'm used to getting up early to take care of the house," she said. "Caroline, you can sleep in."

Her tone was natural, but I could hear the implication—she was the real lady of this house.

When Theo came downstairs, he ran straight to me: "Mommy, there's a parent conference today. Can you come?"

His eyes were full of hope, but I glanced at Harper and shook my head: "Harper should go with you. She knows the school situation better."

I couldn't go. In my current state, if I suddenly showed up at school, the other parents would mock me. Besides, I didn't know how long this thing with Adrian would last—I shouldn't give Theo false hope.

Theo left, disappointed. Harper's eyes flashed with complex emotions.

As Adrian prepared to leave, he pulled out his checkbook: "I need to add you back to the family accounts, and reactivate your credit cards too."

Hearing about financial security, I immediately perked up and cooperated with signing all the documents.

In the emergency contact section, I wrote "Adrian Cole - Head of Household."

"You used to write 'My loving husband,'" Adrian noticed. "So formal now?"

"I just think we should take this seriously," I replied coldly.

I didn't voice my real thoughts: I was just a temporary returning contract wife. The six-year marriage contract was almost up.

Adrian's expression grew serious as he handed me the signed check and credit card. I knew he sensed something, but I wasn't the same woman who would risk everything for love three years ago.

Now, I only wanted to make the most rational plans for my future.