Chapter 36 Memories.
Finished
In the second year Helen had lived in the house, Caroline stopped receiving gifts altogether.
She had kept the ones she had gotten, treating them like precious treasures.
When the loneliness and hurt crept in, she would take them out and hold them close, convincing herself that deep down, her brothers still cared about her.
But now, it all felt like a lie she had told herself.
In her room, Caroline grabbed a large plastic bag and began stuffing it with the gifts from the suitcase.
The soft plush toys, the little trinkets, all of them went in one by one. Once the bag was full, she lifted it; the weight of it dragging her down and walked out of the room.
As she passed the dining room, Miguel caught sight of the bag. His face fell, a dark shadow crossing it. “Caroline, what are you doing?”
Caroline’s voice was cold, empty. “Throwing out the trash.”
She wasn’t talking about the gifts. She was talking about everything–the family ties, the empty promises.
If it was gone, it should be thrown away.
Miguel’s face tightened with worry. “I told you, I’ll make it up to yo
scene.”
I’ll make it up to you with a gift. Stop making a
The gifts were from when Caroline was a child, from her brothers.
They had meaning; they had memories attached.
He remembered how Caroline used to hug those stuffed animals, how they were her comfort.
If not for her pride, how could she ever let them go.
Liam’s voice broke the moment. “Miguel…”
Caroline didn’t even pause. She kept walking, heading for the door, not caring what Liam had said.
Downstairs, just as she was about to throw the bag away, a delivery man stopped her.
“Excuse me, can you tell me where Building 6, Unit 1 is?”
“I live in Unit 1, Building 6. Just follow me.”
She led him to the elevator, then up to her floor.
Chapter 36 Memories
door. That was when it hit her–the gift. The mysterious gift.
It had to be the limited–edition pendant necklace. There were only three in the world.
*Finished
She remembered the last time it had come. She had been downstairs, buying cigarettes for Fabian.
When she returned, she found Helen had already opened the package. Later, at Miguel and Liam’s insistence, the necklace had been given to Helen.
Now, as the delivery man stood at her door, ready to ring the bell, Caroline rushed forward. “Is that for Caroline? I’m Caroline.”
“Oh, you’re the one,” the delivery man said with a smile. He handed her the package and asked her to sign for it.
Caroline walked back to her room with the package in hand, making sure no one saw her.
She shut the door softly behind her, her heart pounding as she unwrapped the box.
Just as she had suspected, nestled inside was the necklace.
It was the same one from her past life. The one that, after being given to Helen, Caroline overheard a conversation between Helen and Alaina. That’s when she learned the necklace’s worth a high six figures.
The gifts from the mysterious person in the past had never been this expensive. But back then. she accepted them without a second thought, because she liked them.
This necklace, though, felt different. Too expensive, too precious. It didn’t sit right with her to keep it.
Once she finished her business at home, she was determined to track down the mysterious giver and return it.
Just then, Helen’s voice rang out from the hallway. “Aunt Caroline, are you busy?”
Caroline quickly shoved the necklace into a small, locked suitcase and went to answer the door.
“What is it?” she asked, her face betraying nothing, her voice emotionless.
Helen smiled, her face bright. “A few of my high school friends are coming over for dinner tomorrow night. Want to join?”
Without a second thought, Caroline responded, “Sure.”
She knew exactly what these dinners were all about–people showing off, trying to one–up each other. Helen was vain enough to make sure it happened.
Still, it would be difficult to refuse.
Chapter 36 Memories
Finished
The next afternoon. Caroline took on a large order.
She worked at the client’s house well into the evening, barely making a dent in her tasks.
Meanwhile, at the restaurant, Helen’s friends had already arrived.
The only one missing was Caroline.
One of them raised an eyebrow. “Helen. I’ve heard your aunt’s got a bit of an attitude, always giving you the cold shoulder. Why’d you invite her?”
Helen forced a smile. her voice strained. “No matter what, she’s still my aunt. She’s family. Plus. we went to the same school. so I thought I should invite her.”
Everyone exchanged glances, wondering if Caroline was even coming,
Helen had invited her. hoping her friends would laugh at Caroline, as revenge for how Caroline had humiliated her at home the day before.
Everything was ready, except for Caroline.
Just as Helen was about to send Caroline a message, she spotted Caroline entering the restaurant.
Helen’s irritation softened, and she plastered on a smile. “Aunt Caroline, you’re finally here.”
Caroline slid into the empty seat beside her. Traffic was a nightmare. Took longer than expected.”
One of Helen’s friends rolled their eyes. “Clearly, you just wanted to make us wait and are making excuses now!”
Send Gifts
