Chapter 4
Arlene's POV
The days blurred together as I cared for my daughter alone.
Harder than I ever imagined.
Feeding, diaper changes, rocking her to sleep—every single task left me fumbling and exhausted.
But each time I looked at her tiny face, I knew it was all worth it.
One afternoon, my phone rang.
It was Helen.
She had been in poor health these past two years, recovering abroad.
In that entire household, she was the only one who had ever shown me kindness.
In my previous life, she was the one who ordered Caspian to bring me back to the estate after I gave birth.
"Grandma..." My voice cracked.
"Arlene, I'm back." The old woman's voice was warm and gentle. "I heard you had the baby—a girl? I'd like to meet you both."
"Grandma, I..."
"Come to the estate tomorrow," she said. "There's something I need to tell you."
I hesitated.
Go back to the estate?
Where Caspian would be. His parents. And... Serafina.
I never wanted to set foot in that place again.
But Helen had been good to me.
"All right," I said. "I'll bring the baby to see you tomorrow."
The following evening, I arrived at the Valcour estate with my daughter in my arms.
Standing at the gates, I drew a deep breath.
In my previous life, I had stood here countless times, waiting like a beggar for whatever scraps of attention Caspian might spare me.
Now, I was only here to see Grandma. And then I would leave.
The butler escorted me inside.
"Arlene," Caspian approached, his voice dripping with mockery. "I knew you'd come crawling back."
He thought I'd had a change of heart?
"I'm here to see Grandma," I said coldly. "This has nothing to do with you."
His smirk faltered.
"Arlene," Serafina stepped forward, her face arranged in concern. "It's been a while."
I didn't spare her a glance. "Where's Grandma? I'm here for her."
"Right here, child."
An aged voice drifted down from the staircase.
Helen descended slowly, leaning on her cane, a servant steadying her arm.
"Arlene, let me see the baby."
I walked to her and placed my daughter in her arms.
Helen cradled the infant with exquisite care, a smile spreading across her weathered face.
"Beautiful... She looks like you."
My nose stung with the threat of tears.
"Grandma, there's something I need to tell you."
"As it happens," she looked up at me, "I have something to tell you as well. Let's go to my room."
Helen's room was on the second floor.
I helped her settle into a chair while my daughter lay peacefully in the bassinet nearby.
"Grandma, I—"
"Wait." She stopped me, reaching into her nightstand to retrieve a card. "Take this first."
I stared, uncomprehending.
"What is this?"
"Twenty million dollars." She pressed the card into my hand. "Keep it."
"Grandma—"
"Arlene," she clasped my hands, her gaze intent, "I know how miserable you've been in this family. I know exactly how Caspian and the others have treated you."
"I'm old. My health fails a little more each year. I'm afraid that one day, when I'm gone, there'll be no one left to protect you."
"That's why I want you to leave. And I support your decision."
I stood frozen.
"Grandma... You're saying you support the divorce?"
"Yes." She nodded. "Child, you're still young. There's no reason to waste your life here. If Caspian can't see your worth, then leave him."
"This twenty million is from my personal savings. And when I'm gone, everything I have will go to you and the baby."
The tears I'd been holding back spilled over.
"Grandma..."
"Don't cry." She patted my hand. "Just live well. Raise that little girl."
I nodded, swallowing hard against the lump in my throat.
When dinnertime came, Helen insisted I stay.
I wanted to refuse, but the hope in her eyes made me relent.
Five of us sat around the table—Helen, Rowena, Aldrich, Caspian, and Serafina.
The atmosphere was suffocating.
Rowena and Aldrich barely acknowledged my existence. Serafina kept stealing glances at me from the corner of her eye. Caspian's face was a thundercloud throughout.
Only Helen showed me any warmth.
"Arlene, eat more. Taking care of a baby is exhausting."
"Thank you, Grandma."
Serafina lifted her glass and took a sip.
"Helen, I've been studying violin abroad these past two years. I have a performance next month—you simply must come."
Helen nodded politely but said nothing more.
I kept my head down, focused on my food, refusing to engage.
And then—
"Ahh—!"
Serafina clutched her stomach, her body going limp as she slid from her chair.
"Serafina!" Caspian leapt up, rushing to catch her. "What's wrong?"
"My stomach... it hurts so much..." Her face was chalk-white, drenched in sweat. "My baby..."
Baby?
I went still.
She was pregnant?
"Call an ambulance!" Aldrich shouted.
Chaos erupted. Serafina was loaded onto a stretcher.
Just before they carried her out, she raised a trembling finger and pointed at me, her voice breaking—
"It was her... It was Arlene... She put something in my drink..."
Every eye in the room turned to me.
"Arlene!" Caspian lunged forward and seized my throat, his eyes blazing red. "What did you do?!"
His grip crushed my windpipe. My face burned crimson.
"I didn't—"
"You didn't? You were the only one who touched Serafina's drink!" His fingers tightened. "You're a mother yourself now—how can you be so vicious?"
I looked at his contorted face and, despite everything, I laughed.
"Caspian Valcour," I forced out each word with what little air I had left, "have—you—lost—your—mind?"
I raised my hand and slapped him across the face with everything I had.
He went rigid.
Everyone went rigid.
"Are you finished?" I rubbed my throat, glaring at him with ice in my veins. "Did you ask me a single question before you attacked? Did you give me one second to explain?"
"I'm telling you—I never touched her drink."
"Don't believe me? Fine. Check the security footage."
"And another thing—" I stepped back, meeting his eyes without flinching. "My drink was on that table too. How would I even know which glass was hers? If you're going to frame someone, at least come up with a smarter lie."
Caspian's expression shifted, darkened, shifted again.
"You—"
"Caspian," I cut him off, "you just asked me how I could be so vicious. Let me ask you something: You wrapped your hands around my throat without a shred of proof. Who's the vicious one here?"
I turned to Helen.
"Grandma, I'm sorry. I can't stay for dinner."
Then I scooped up my daughter and walked toward the door without looking back.
"Arlene!" Caspian's voice chased after me. "Get back here!"
I didn't stop.
At the threshold, I paused and glanced over my shoulder.
"Caspian, we're already divorced." My voice was perfectly calm. "From this moment on, you and I have nothing to do with each other."
