On the other side, Caitlin and Molly were heading out.
They began talking about a new private tutor for Howard.
“Did my brother tell you? He wants to find a new tutor for Howard,” Caitlin asked.
“Has he found someone suitable?” Molly replied.
“I’ve been interviewing candidates, and I’ve found one who seems promising. I’ve arranged to meet her today. How about you come along and see what you think of her?”
“Sure, I’d love to,” Molly agreed, though she didn’t expect The Vanderbilt Family to be able to find someone truly capable to tutor her son. After all, Bruce was still around, and whatever Bruce could do, a tutor might not necessarily match up to.
As they reached the elevator, they bumped into Scott, who was being pushed in a wheelchair by his sister, Joanna.
Joanna gasped when she saw Caitlin.
“Caitlin?”
Scott immediately tensed up, his body stiffening in fear.
He turned to look, and sure enough, Caitlin appeared down the hallway, wearing a light beige dress that exuded grace. Her every movement seemed to have its own charm, though Scott knew she was not someone to be underestimated-more like a rose with thorns, a poisonous poppy.
Caitlin looked up when she heard someone call her name and saw the Gilbert siblings.
“Hey, isn’t this Scott and Joanna? What a coincidence!” Caitlin greeted with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
Scott gave her a complicated, fearful glance, but said nothing.
Joanna, on the other hand, couldn’t hold back. “Hey! Caitlin! Look at what you’ve done to my brother! Now he has to sit in a wheelchair! This is all your fault!”
“Oh really? You should be thanking me. If I hadn’t shown mercy, your brother would be needing a catheter and an oxygen mask by now. Who knows, he might even be heading to the funeral home tomorrow!”
Caitlin’s words were like a series of sharp blows, and Molly couldn’t hold back her laughter.
Hah… This sister-in-law of mine is really something! She doesn’t mince words and doesn’t go easy on the scum!
Unforgiving!
Scott’s face darkened with rage, and Joanna yelled in frustration, “You… how can you say that? Are you completely heartless? Who curses someone to the funeral home?”
“Let’s go, Molly, don’t mind the barking of wild dogs!”
Caitlin grabbed Molly’s arm, and they stepped into the elevator.
Scott, still afraid, froze and didn’t follow them in.
As the elevator doors closed, Joanna was livid. “Look at how arrogant she is! She even called me a wild dog barking! I’m so mad! Once you’re better, don’t let her off easily!”
Scott’s eyes narrowed as hatred filled his heart.
He gritted his teeth and muttered, “That bitch… just you wait. I’ll make you regret this.”
* * *
The meeting with the prospective tutor took place in a cafe near the hospital. Caitlin and Molly entered and saw the young woman waiting for them. She was well-dressed and graceful. Caitlin thought she looked vaguely familiar.
“Hello, Ms. White! I’m sorry to have kept you waiting!” Molly said as she walked up to shake hands.
Phoebe White stood up with a graceful smile. “No problem at all, Ms. Warfield. I’ve only just arrived myself.”
When Phoebe glanced over at Molly’s side, her eyes widened in surprise. “Wait a minute… Are you… Caitlin?”
“I am,” Caitlin responded, struggling to place her name.
“I’m Phoebe, don’t you remember me? We were in the same college class. I used to sit two rows behind you and Wendy. I was also quite close to Wendy.”
“Oh, I remember now. Phoebe, it’s been a while!”
Caitlin now recalled Phoebe. She had been one of the top students in their class, and when Caitlin was fundraising for her mother, Phoebe had donated $100. Though Caitlin had to leave college due to family matters, she was still grateful to her.
“So you two are old classmates!” Molly exclaimed, feeling the connection between them grow stronger. They all sat down and chatted.
Through their conversation, Caitlin learned that Phoebe, after graduating from New York University, had been accepted into a prestigious overseas university for further study. She was highly educated and now was back in the country, waiting for job offers. When she saw that The Vanderbilt Family was looking for a tutor, she decided to apply because of the high pay.
“I’ve completed several certificates abroad, including early childhood education, nutrition, teacher qualifications, and sensory integration training. I’ve worked with children ranging from toddlers to high school students,” Phoebe explained, showing her credentials.
Molly looked through the documents and was impressed. “Caitlin, what do you think?”
“I think she’s great.”
“Then let’s give Phoebe a try! She can start tomorrow at The Vanderbilt Family.”
The meeting ended on a positive note, and they agreed that Phoebe would begin her new role as Howard’s tutor the next day.
As they were leaving, Phoebe said, “Caitlin, I heard Wendy is back in town too. We should catch up when we have time!”
“Sure, I’d love to,” Caitlin replied, feeling warm toward Phoebe. She appreciated her help in the past, and this encounter only deepened her positive feelings toward her old classmate.
After bidding Phoebe farewell, Caitlin and Molly made their way back to the hospital.
As they walked down the hallway, Caitlin heard someone call her name, “Caitlin!”
She and Molly both turned around, and Caitlin saw Simon, dressed in a white lab coat, walking toward them with a gentle smile.
Molly, seeing Simon, froze for a moment, her eyes widening in admiration. Her thoughts swirled with excitement.
“God, he’s so handsome…”
Though Molly was surrounded by male models all the time, there was something about Simon in his white coat that made her heart race.
“Just now I saw someone who looked like you. Turns out it really is you. Who are you visiting here?” Simon asked, his hands casually in his pockets.
“I’m here to visit Mr. Vanderbilt’s grandmother. Are you not busy today?”
“I am, but there’s something I want to ask you.”
“What’s that?”
“My friend is hosting a charity art exhibition at his gallery, and he invited me to attend. But he needs me to bring a date. Would you come with me?”
Simon was clearly trying to find an excuse to get closer to Caitlin, having heard from his sister that Caitlin and Sebastian’s marriage was just a formal one, and they would eventually get divorced. He didn’t want to miss the chance.
“You can bring Wendy, right?”
“Wendy’s coming too, but honestly, it’s more about boosting my friend’s gallery’s attendance. He’s worried no one will show up, and it might fail.”
Molly, seeing an opportunity to hang out with her “dream guy,” quickly chimed in, “Caitlin, why don’t you go? You can take me with you too! I’m really interested in art exhibitions!”
Though Molly knew she probably shouldn’t be encouraging her sister-in-law to go out with another man, she couldn’t help but feel Sebastian didn’t deserve Caitlin.
“Let him feel the pressure of maybe losing Caitlin to a high-quality man,” she thought with a sly grin.