Caroline's POV:
On our way back, I juggled mixed feelings in my mind the entire time I was sitting in the car.
To my surprise, Elizabeth chose to share a car with me.
"Caroline, how are you? You must be exhausted after the long journey, especially with a baby in your
belly.Please try not to push yourself too hard," Elizabeth said politely.
I knew that she was only saying that because she cared about me.
Tears welled up in my eyes when I heard her words.
"Mom, I'm so sorry.I was wrong.I shouldn't have hurt you.I must have been possessed by the devil.How
else could I have done such cruel things to you?"
I wrapped my arms around her and cried bitterly.
In my eyes, she was still my mother.
My conscience was laden with guilt because even though she almost lost her life because of me, she
still cared about me.
"Mom, I don't expect you to forgive me, but I just want you to be all right!"
"Silly girl, no mother can stay angry at her child forever.As long as your remorse is sincere, I will forgive
you."
She burst into tears as she held my hand and softly caressed my hair, just like she used to when I was
a child.
"Thank you for forgiving me, Mom!"
I threw myself into her arms as I broke down in tears.
I never thought that she would be willing to forgive me.
The fact that she and I were finally getting along meant everything to me.
We chatted gleefully amongst ourselves as if we were making up for the good days we could have had
but had missed out on.
Although she had forgiven me, I still needed more time to forgive myself.
However, our rekindled relationship was a sign of better things to come.
I was happy to have been able to finally reconcile with her.
When we reached the royal palace, Anthony ordered the guards to bring me back to my cell.
I complied without hesitation because I had no intentions of attempting to escape anymore.
"Caroline, just because you're living in that dingy cell doesn't mean that you can't ask for help.If you
need anything at all, just ask the guards.After all, we won't want anything bad to happen to you and the
baby."
Elizabeth gave me a kiss on the forehead as she reluctantly let go of my hands.
I smiled back at her just before we parted.
The guards escorted me back to my cell.
I was inexplicably excited to see Austin again.
After the guards opened the door, I saw Austin sitting on the floor dejectedly.
I quickly ran over and embraced him.
"Austin, are you okay?" I looked at him with concern.
"Caroline? Where have you been?" Austin looked up at me listlessly.
"Austin, I have good news for you.Anthony has promised to spare our lives!"
I said excitedly, as I tried to help Austin stand on his feet.
However, it seemed as though Austin wasn't happy to hear this because he let go of my hand and
frowned at me.
"What are you talking about? Anthony might spare you, but he won't spare me after what I've done,"
Austin sneered.
"Anthony and Mom have both agreed not to kill us.After I give birth to the baby, you and I will be exiled
to a small island on the border."
I almost burst into tears thinking of Elizabeth's graciousness.
"Austin, from now on, it's only going to be you, me, and the baby.At least, we will still have each other!"
Austin’s POV:
I didn't believe that Anthony would spare my life.
After all, I wouldn't have spared his life if our roles were reversed.
Besides, he knew that I had killed our father.
How could he let me go? In fact, the first thing I expect him to do after ascending to the throne was to
kill me.
Caroline was a simple-minded woman.
It was very likely that she had been deceived.
"Who told you that? Did Anthony give you his word?" I stared into Caroline's eyes.
"I don't believe it.He's just trying to deceive you!"
"Austin, it's true, or we would have been dead now." Caroline turned away from me.
"How can you be so sure? What are you hiding from me?" I grabbed Caroline's shoulders and shook
her.
"I made a deal with Mom.She gave me her word that as long as I took them to find Larry, she would
spare us both.Now, because of me, they have found a way to get rid of the Love Curse."
Caroline gritted her teeth and finally told the truth.
So, Anthony had found a way to remove the Love Curse.
I was so angry that I wanted to strangle Caroline with my bare hands.If he wasn't going to die, then
what was the point of me being alive?
"You idiot! Why did you help Anthony? Were you trying to make him like you?" I shoved Caroline away.
The thought of Anthony having a happy ending after everything I had done drove me up the wall in
anger.
"No! How many times do I have to tell you that I don't love Anthony anymore? No one is ever going to
come in between him and Jennifer.I know that now!" Caroline began to weep as she grabbed my arm.
"Austin, don't be so stubborn.At least, we get to spend the rest of our lives together!"
"Bullshit!" I couldn't contain my anger.
"I almost had him! No! I won't accept it!"
I fell to my knees and thumped the ground with my clenched fists as I had no other way to release my
fury.
"Anthony, you bastard! I curse you to die a horrible death!"
I kept punching the concrete floor as I thought about Anthony.
My knuckles were covered in blood and yet I couldn't feel the pain.
"Stop! Austin, calm down!"
Suddenly, Caroline wrapped her arms around me from behind.
The more I thought about her rubbing elbows with my enemies, the more I hated her.
I shook her arms off of me and pushed her away.
I was too angry to realize that I had pushed her too hard.
"Caroline!"
As soon as I realized what I had done, I ran to her as quickly as I could.
"Damn it! I didn't mean to do that.I...l was just so angry!"
Caroline didn't utter a single word.
She wept and her tears spoke louder than words.
I felt sorry for her and so I helped her up.
However, instead of being angry, she nuzzled up against me, laying her head on my shoulder and
wrapping her arms around mine.
"Austin, don't be so angry.Think about our child..."
Caroline took my hand and held it against her belly.
The blood on my hand stained her dress, but she didn't care.
Suddenly, my thoughts stopped for a moment as I felt the baby move.
I closed my eyes and felt a sense of peace I hadn't felt in a very long time.
What was I doing? Whatever Caroline did, she did because she loved me.
"You silly girl."
Finally, I let out a long sigh and shook my head helplessly as I held Caroline in my arms.
"I was just sad about losing everything.No matter what I did, I just couldn't win against Anthony."
"No, Austin, you still have me,"
Caroline whispered in my ear.
Caroline's words felt like freshwater being poured into my dry heart.
I gazed into her eyes as I raised her chin and kissed her passionately.
"Caroline, you'd better not regret what you've just said to me.I won't let you leave me!"
I kissed her again before she could say anything.I swore to myself that I would never let her leave me.
"I'm never going to leave you, Austin.You're all I've got and I love you!" Caroline replied affectionately.
My heart skipped a beat as she leaned her soft bed against mine.
It was at that moment that I decided to accept my fate.
This was how things had ended and there was nothing I could do to change reality.
At least, we had each other.I kissed Caroline to erase Anthony's annoying face from my mind
completely.
From now on, the only person I wanted to think about was Caroline.I would hold on to her hand until my
dying breath.
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