Chapter 455 Mockery
Caroline heard James's voice and was startled. She quickly looked down and saw James, her pupils contracting in shock, as her body trembled violently.
"You actually came back. Weren't you already dead?" she blurted out, her tone sharp and losing composure.
She was utterly astonished. James had been missing for five years, never returning once. Alistair and Saxon had never mentioned him, and James's mother, Erin Peterson, was deeply saddened. Everyone knew that James was dead, but Alistair and Saxon had kept it a secret to maintain the Smith family's external intimidation, creating the illusion that James had merely left.
In truth, James's disappearance was not a fortunate event for the entire Smith family, but for her own household, it was a monumental stroke of luck. As long as James was around, Wylie was constantly suppressed, deprived of any opportunity to rise. Alistair would never have favored Wylie, and so long as James was present, Wylie could never succeed. Caroline's status could never compare to Erin's. Deep down, she had always hoped for James to encounter misfortune, thus allowing her son Wylie to thrive and surpass Erin, thereby elevating Caroline's own status as well.
At last, her wishes came true. One day, James mysteriously vanished without a trace, as if he had evaporated into thin air. No one knew where James had gone. Alistair and his son Saxon remained tight-lipped about the matter. Initially, everyone in the Smith family refrained from gossiping. However, as weeks turned into months and eventually a year passed without any sign of James, Erin's demeanor grew increasingly despondent, her eyes often red with tears. It was then that Caroline dared to believe that James had likely been assassinated.
To be honest, when she came to this realization, she was absolutely elated and thrilled! At last, the detestable tyrant James was finally gone, and her son Wylie now had a real chance.
What happened next was just as she had hoped. In the second year after James's disappearance, Wylie was promoted by Alistair, receiving more resources, and Wylie lived up to expectations, gradually increasing his strength. Now, he had become an important figure in the Smith family.
But why did James come back? Wasn't he already dead? It would have been better if he had stayed dead. Why did he have to come back?
At this moment, Caroline was filled with negative emotions, gritting her teeth.
James noticed her expression changes, analyzing her inner thoughts accurately.
James had never liked Caroline; he was a very harsh and selfish person. In the five years since his 'death,' she was undoubtedly the happiest person.
After a brief shock, Caroline took a deep breath and resumed her smiling demeanor, enthusiastically saying, "So James is back, that's great! James, you have no idea how sad I was when you suddenly disappeared five years ago. I cried every day and prayed for your return. The Smith family can't do without you. James, you are the heir of the Smith family. We can't lose you."
With her words, she quickly came down from upstairs, her excitement evident in her reddened eyes, as though James were not her nephew, but her own son.
"James, you're finally back! Where have you been all these years? I thought something terrible had happened to you!" Caroline quickly stepped towards James, scrutinizing him from head to toe. When she noticed his cheap attire, a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes. The once arrogant James, dressed in such shabby clothes? He looked like a pauper. It seemed certain that James had not fared well outside. And to think I once believed how remarkable he was—without the family's protection, he turned out to be nothing more than a failure.
With this, Caroline finally felt a bit happy.
James casually glanced at Caroline. After a few years, Caroline's skin looked better, and she had become more plump, clearly having lived well these past few years.
"Caroline, from your reaction, it seems like you're disappointed to see me back?" James said with a smile.
A quick shadow passed through Caroline's eyes, and she cursed him silently, but outwardly she put on an exaggerated expression, "James, how could you think that of me? I'm elated to see you return; how could I be disappointed? James, I have been looking forward to your return even more eagerly than your parents. After all, only with you back can the Smith family be saved!"
Caroline's mocking tone was already excessive. Even though she had always disliked James, she had never dared to show it when he was around. As an elder, her status in the Smith family was far below James's.
But now, James had been gone for five and a half years. The Smith family was no longer the same, and Caroline was no longer the same Caroline. The Smith family's power was now divided into three factions: Alistair, Usher, and Wylie. So what if James was back? He had long lost his original power. That's why she dared to mock James so openly.
Even the servants felt uncomfortable and despised Caroline for her behavior.
James laughed and said directly, "Caroline, you look older and fatter than before."
With this, Caroline's mouth twitched! She couldn't suppress her gloom. That bastard James dared to mock her like this. How outrageous!
She now held a high position in the Smith family and had significant influence in the City of Mysteries. It had been a long time since anyone had dared to humiliate her like this!
She opened her mouth, ready to retort, but for some reason, when her eyes met James's piercing, intense gaze, a shiver ran through her. She was suddenly reminded of James's domineering arrogance from the past, and fear gripped her heart.
She faked a smile, not daring to speak, only cursing James furiously in her heart.
James ignored her. He had returned not to embarrass Caroline but to discuss matters with Alistair.
"Alright, everyone, disperse and get back to your duties." James waved his hand at the servants.
"Yes, James!" The servants bowed respectfully to James, ignoring Caroline, clearly treating James as the master, with Caroline's status far below his.
With this, Caroline was very angry.
She didn’t linger any longer and quickly retreated to her room. Taking out her phone, she dialed a number, “Wylie, it’s terrible. James, that scoundrel, has returned!”
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