When My Ex's Worst Enemy Became My Sanctuary novel Chapter 181

Carola sat there crying, completely lost. She had no idea what to do next. As far as she was concerned, if anyone was going to take the blame for what happened today, it had to be Dorothea. Still, as Dorothea’s mom, Elise found herself getting caught in the crossfire of Carola’s anger.

“Mom, I know you never really loved me. Not truly. But now that Dorothea wants nothing to do with you, are you still going to side with her?”

Elise was stunned into silence. She stared at Carola, the girl she’d raised like her own, and all she felt was a cold emptiness. “Carola, haven’t I always done enough for you?”

It felt like she’d given her whole heart away, and it still wasn’t enough.

“I don’t know, Mom. I just know you didn’t say a thing at the wedding today. You just stood there and watched Dorothea twist everything around and smear my name.”

Elise’s heart ached at the accusation. For a moment, she couldn’t even find the words to respond.

“Alright, Carola, wipe your tears. Just tell me. Did you have anything to do with this?”

Layton brought the conversation back to the real issue. They needed a solution, not more drama.

“Dad, do you not trust me either?” Carola’s voice was thick with tears, her face pale and fragile. Watching her, Layton couldn’t help but feel guilty.

“Carola, it’s not about trust.” He let out a long sigh. “Never mind. I’ll figure something out.”

If things got any worse, he’d just find someone else to take the fall. There was no way Carola was going to jail. Not a chance. And anyway, all this happened so long ago. Layton knew those old videos couldn’t have been faked with the tech available back then. Digging deeper would only put Carola in a worse spot. The smartest move was to produce a few scapegoats and end it.

Alonzo watched Carola, his heart heavy for her. “Come on, Carola. Let me take you upstairs.”

Before following her, he glanced back at his mom. “You should really think about what you’ve done.”

Elise looked around at her family. Her husband wouldn’t meet her eyes, her son didn’t trust her, and her daughter’s words left her feeling hollow. Suddenly, Elise realized just how frightening Carola could be.

All those times Carola cried growing up, Elise always scolded Dorothea, telling her to give in, to be kinder to her sister. Now she wondered, how many of those tears had been just as fake as the ones today?

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