My Anti-hero Fairy System-Chapter 92. A Woman In Love

The shock hit her like a punch to the gut. Of all the things she’d expected when she walked into this office, this wasn’t one of them.

Jackie sighed, removing her glasses. "Cara, I have to do this even if I don’t want to."

"Why?" Cara’s voice was sharp with disbelief. "I thought I gave you a good time last night? Is this your way of paying me back for my good deed?"

"Keep your voice down," Jackie whispered, glancing toward the door.

Cara folded her arms. "I’ll try."

Jackie exhaled, her expression softening. "Look, this has nothing to do with what happened last night. It’s about business. I had a post nut clarity and to terms with the fact you haven’t been pulling your weight around here, and I still pay you. You come in late, leave whenever you want... I love the hell out of you, Cara, but I have to make hard decisions. If I keep you on like this, I’ll be burning money. You have to understand—I’m running a business, not a charity."

[Damn. She’s a shrewd businesswoman.]

’Yeah, she really does love me, but apparently, she can’t sacrifice her business for me.’

[You have to see it from her point of view. This isn’t just a business—it’s her family’s legacy. She’s trying to protect it.]

Cara looked at Jackie for a long moment, then stepped closer until only five inches separated them. "I understand you have to make this decision, but I haven’t found what I’m looking for yet—and I’m so close."

Jackie ran a hand through her hair, her frustration evident. "I know how much this means to you, Cara, I do. But I have a business to run. I just hired two new waitresses, I need to be able to pay them. And don’t get me started on the lawyer you recommended, he doesn’t come cheap."

An idea sparked in Cara’s mind. "What if I work here for free until I find what I’m looking for?"

Jackie tilted her head, considering it. "That’s... not a bad idea. If you’re cool with that, then I’m cool with it too."

Cara arched a brow, a knowing smile forming. "You never really wanted to fire me, did you? You just wanted free labor."

Jackie smirked, not even bothering to deny it. "Guilty. I wanted to keep you around, but I couldn’t afford to pay you. Come on, you know you brighten my day."

Cara chuckled. "No problem. I’ll work for free—until I get what I want and leave."

Jackie leaned back in her chair, taking off her glasses. "So... would you come over tonight and give me a good time?"

Cara smiled but shook her head. "I don’t think so. There’s a gala at the mansion tonight."

Jackie groaned. "Seriously?"

"Yeah, seriously. And I have no idea how to navigate the whole thing. My mother and I are not exactly on good terms right now."

Jackie’s interest piqued. "Why?"

Cara sighed, rubbing her temple. "I told her the kind of person Rudy truly is."

Jackie clicked her tongue knowingly. "And she didn’t believe you, right?"

Cara narrowed her eyes. "How’d you guess?"

Jackie scoffed. "If she believed you, you wouldn’t be on bad terms. I just hope she realizes the devil she married before it’s too late."

With that, Cara turned and walked out of the office, heading toward the diner to start her shift.

—---

—----

At 7 p.m., Cara’s shift ended. She headed to the locker room, changed back into the yellow sundress she had worn earlier, and stepped out to find Farrah waiting for her. Without a word, they exited the diner together and made their way toward the parked Rolls-Royce where Reginald stood waiting.

Reginald straightened when he saw them. "Are we headed to your home now?"

"Yes, but first, you’ll drop my friend off at her house, then take me home," Cara instructed as she opened the car door and slid in. Farrah followed, settling beside her.

Reginald got into the driver’s seat and pulled out of the diner’s parking lot. The ride was smooth, the hum of the engine filling the comfortable silence between them.

Ten minutes later, they arrived at Farrah’s house. She stepped out and leaned back in, smiling. "Cara, thanks for the ride. You just saved me a couple of bucks."

"You’re welcome. See you tomorrow," Cara replied.

With a wave, Farrah disappeared inside her house, and Reginald immediately pulled away from the curb, heading toward the mansion.

Another ten minutes later, the Rolls-Royce eased to a stop in front of the grand estate. Cara stepped out and turned to Reginald. "Thanks for the smooth ride today. Hopefully, you’ll keep up the good work tomorrow."

Reginald smirked. "You can count on it, Ms. Bolton. I’ll always be on my best behavior."

With that, he drove off. Cara faced the mansion, her mind already turning toward the inevitable confrontation with her mother.

Before she could press the intercom button at the gate, Max had already opened it. She walked in and gave him a casual wave.

"Welcome, Cara. How was work?" Max asked.

Reading his mind, she knew he didn’t actually care about her shift, but she answered anyway. "It was so-so. Some guests at the diner can be a handful, but nothing I can’t handle."

Max chuckled. "I suppose that’s the norm. By the way, I saw the car that dropped you off—that’s the latest Rolls-Royce. Who uses that as a taxi? How much does a driver even charge for a ride like that?"

Cara smirked. "It’s not a taxi. Kyle gave me a chauffeur to take me wherever I want."

She didn’t miss the way Max’s smile faltered. His expression darkened slightly as his jaw tensed.

"So... that means you two are back together?" he asked through gritted teeth.

"Yes, we are," Cara confirmed.

Max’s face fell, his worst fear seemingly realized. For a brief moment, he said nothing, just staring at her.

[You know you just broke this poor man’s heart on purpose, right?]

’I just wanted to see how much he actually loves Cara. I need to know if it’s real or just an obsession with her body.’

"He doesn’t deserve you, Cara," Max said finally. "He might have all the money in the world, but he’ll never love you the way I would." His eyes burned with intensity as he stared into hers.

Reading his thoughts, Cara heard the unspoken words screaming in his mind: Kyle does not deserve to devour your body, kiss your cherry red lips, and wake up to your beautiful face every morning. I should be the one. Not him. Not anyone else. Your body and soul are mine.

’I told you—he only wants Cara’s body. He doesn’t truly love her.’

[For a minute there, I thought he did.]

Cara swallowed, unsure how to respond. "Max, I don’t know what to say."

Max stepped closer, pressing her against him, his hands firm on her arms. "Just say you love me," he murmured, eyes locked onto hers.

Cara’s stomach twisted. "But I don’t love you," she said, voice firm. "And I want this to be the last time you bring this up. Do you hear me?"

Max’s shoulders sagged, his entire posture deflating. "Is it because I don’t have money? Is that why you won’t love me or even give me a chance?"

Cara’s patience snapped. "If I say yes, will you leave me alone and move on? Because the truth is, I don’t feel anything romantic toward you. Take the hint and leave me the fuck alone."

Without another glance, she turned on her heel and strode toward the mansion, leaving Max standing there, hollow-eyed and defeated.

As she stepped onto the driveway, she noticed that guests had already started arriving. The hum of conversation and the gleam of polished cars signaled the beginning of the gala.

Inside, Travis approached her, his expression unreadable. "Will you be joining us for the gala?"

Cara arched a brow. "Yes. Why do you ask?"

Travis hesitated before answering. "I overheard your conversation with your mom on the phone. She has a habit of putting most of her calls on loudspeaker."

Cara’s eyes narrowed. "So that means you heard what I said about your father?"

"Yes. I already knew he was a cheat, but I didn’t know anything about the diner," Travis admitted.

Cara folded her arms. "So, you knew about his affairs and didn’t think it was important to tell the woman you practically see as your mother?"

Travis exhaled sharply. "Your mother is a woman in love. If I told her the truth, she’d only hate me for it. And the last thing I want is for her to hate me."

Cara shook her head, scanning the room. "Where is my mother?"

Travis glanced around, frowning. "She was here earlier, talking to the guests who had already arrived. I guess you should check her room."

Before heading upstairs, Cara spotted Ashley across the room, nursing a glass of wine. Their eyes locked for a brief moment, an unspoken tension passing between them. Then, without a word, Cara turned and made her way up to her mother’s room.

She knocked on the door, pausing when she heard soft sobs from inside.

"Please, I don’t want to talk to anyone right now," Arlene’s voice came through, thick with emotion.

Cara rested a hand against the door. "Anyone? Including your daughter?"

Silence. Then, after a moment, the door creaked open.

Arlene stood there, her face puffy, tears streaming down her cheeks, her nose reddened and dripping.

Cara’s heart clenched. "Mom... What happened? Why are you crying?"

Arlene wiped at her face, her voice breaking. "You were right, honey. He really is a bastard."