Chapter 363
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Zahra remained calm, her eyes lowered respectfully, “Why would you say
that? I never gave the key to Caitlin, and she never asked me for it
Carmen was shocked, her eyes nearly popping out of their sockets as she sharply demanded, “Zahra! What did Caitlin promise you ? Are you helping her hide the truth? If you weren’t working with her, how else would the gate to the West Garden be open?”
“I truly don’t know anything about it!” Zahra’s voice shook as she tried to explain, her eyes filling with tears as she dropped to her knees in front of Timothy. “Master, I have served The Yuncey Family for so many years, you know my character. How could I ever break your orders ? ”
“Enough, Zahra, I trust you.” Timothy was quick to help Zahra up, his belief in her unwavering.
“Grandfather, she’s lying to you! She’s lying! Don’t believe her! It’s all Caitlin’s plan… She’s the one behind this!” Carmen refused to let it go . She had already set the trap, and now her people had seen Caitlin go to Zahra to ask for the key and enter the West Garden.
Timothy’s voice suddenly became cold. “Enough! What does this have to do with Caitlin?”
Carmen was caught off guard, a shock running through her. Just then, Caitlin walked in, with Sebastian and James following closely behind. “Timothy!” she called out, her voice calm and composed.
Everyone turned to look as Caitlin and her two assistants entered from outside the garden.
“I heard you were all in the garden, so I came to check. With so many people here, is something going on?” Caitlin’s room, completely unaffected, as though she were an outsider.
gaze swept over the
Carmen watched in astonishment as Caitlin entered from the outside. “Caitlin, tell the truth! You went to Zahra, got the key, and opened the gate to the West Garden, right? You opened the lock!”
Caitlin smiled coldly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I heard from Cynthia that there’s
someone who might kill. Why would I want to go in? I wasn’t even interested.”
a
possibly dangerous person living here,
“And let me ask you this, Carmen,” Caitlin continued, her voice sharp. “After I left Timothy’s study, you sought me out. You told me that the West Garden was where my grandmother used to live, encouraging me to go there, even reminding me that Zahra had the key. I didn’t believe you, and I never asked Zahra for the key. I only went to her to ask where my two assistants were. So how could I have opened the
door to the West Garden?”
“You set the trap for me, opened the door in advance, and then called Timothy and everyone else to come it to frame me? Is this because I ruined your little release event earlier? Are you still holding a grudge, Carmen?”
Caitlin’s words hit hard, flipping the situation entirely. Carmen was left speechless.
Cynthia quickly added, “Yes, yes, Dad. I accompanied Caitlin around The Yuncey Family’s garden earlier, and I told her about all the rules. Caitlin would never make such a basic mistake.”
After hearing these explanations, Timothy couldn’t deny the truth any longer. He shot a sharp glare at Carmen, his voice heavy with disappointment. “Carmen, how could you hold such a petty grudge and scheme like this?”
“ I … I didn’t… Grandpa…” Carmen’s tears were flowing as she clung to his arm in an attempt to explain
But Timothy wasn’t so easily swayed. His keen mind saw everything clearly. “Enough! It’s you who stirred this up, so you take responsibility ! Today, it’s over. Go to your room and reflect on your actions.”
Timothy , still fond of Carmen for her usual cleverness, chose to let her off lightly. But he was deeply disappointed that she had tried to frame
Caitlin.
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“ Timothyl is just a lesson enough ? Breaking the ban of the West Garden is a serious offensel ” Greta interjected, looking worried for her daughter .
“ She opened the gate to the West Garden, and set up an elaborate plot to harm me, this is even worsel” Caitlin added, her voice cutting through the tension like a knife. “Is one little reprimand enough? The Yuncey Family’s rules shouldn’t be a joke, right?”
Caitlin’s words hit hard, and even Sebastian and James stood by, arms crossed, watching with satisfaction.
“ Enough!” Timothy snapped, his patience wearing thin. “Carmen was careless and must accept her punishment. Bring the family discipline here!”
Carmen, terrified, knelt before Timothy. “Grandfather, please! I won’t do it again! I’m sorry, please don’t punish me …”
Timothy remained unmoved, but Greta, seeing her daughter’s distress, tried to intercede. “Father, do we really need to use family discipline ? Carmen understands her mistake!”
But before Quill could speak up, Timothy raised his voice sharply. “You defend her when she makes mistakes. How will she ever learn responsibility if you keep covering for her? She’s thirty years old, not a child, and still makes these childish errors!”
Timothy had no choice but to enforce the punishment, his pride and disappointment weighing heavily on him.
Soon, the family discipline arrived. Carmen was already a mess, crying uncontrollably. Timothy ordered Forrest to carry out the punishment.
Forrest, holding a whiplash with engraved symbols, took a deep breath and said, “I’m sorry,” before delivering the first strike to Carmen’s
back.
“Ahhh…” Carmen screamed in pain, the sound echoing through the garden.
The women in the family couldn’t bear to watch, many of them turning away. Cynthia, on the other hand, seemed to relish the sight, a malicious grin on her face as she hoped for more punishment.
Timothy said nothing, and Forrest didn’t hesitate, delivering several more lashes. After seven or eight strikes , Carmen’s face had gone pale, and her cries grew weaker.
At that moment, Caitlin spoke up. “Stop!”
Forrest froze, his whip still raised, but not yet striking. Carmen, trembling, realized that she had narrowly escaped another blow.
The onlookers turned toward Caitlin, who now faced Timothy. “Timothy, a small punishment is enough. I believe Carmen has learned her lesson and won’t make the same mistake again. To err is human, but to recognize one’s mistakes is even more important. If Carmen can show me the same kindness, I’m sure we can still get along. Right , Carmen?”
Caitlin turned her gaze to Carmen, the smile on her face devoid of warmth. She was making her point clear. If Carmen dared to make trouble again, Caitlin would not hesitate to make her face the consequences.
Carm