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Novel Catalog
Chapter 59: She Taught Me
Ainsley stood in the midst of the chaos, her composure unchanged as if the earlier drama had nothing to do with her. Koen couldn’t help but steal a few more glances at her. She was calm, calculating. On the other hand, his gaze shifted to Kaitlin, and he couldn’t hide his disgust. At such a young age, Kaitlin was already plotting scheming schemes. He couldn’t help but think that the Baldry family was doomed.
“No,” Lindsay said quickly, her voice rising in panic. “We can’t call the police. If she gets taken to the station, Kaitlin is done for.”
Lindsay, in her desperation, turned to Ainsley. “Ainsley, you can’t treat Kaitlin like this. She’s your sister-in-law. You can’t be so heartless. You’ve already been saved, and you’ve lost nothing.”
Ainsley’s gaze remained icy as she locked eyes with Lindsay. “Kaitlin never thought about how good I was to her when she did these things. I gave her a chance before she made her mistakes,” she said, her voice firm and unwavering.
Kaitlin, now completely flustered, realized just how quickly this situation had spiraled out of control. She had never imagined things would go this far, nor did she expect Ainsley to have a recording of her actions.
In a panic, Kaitlin grabbed Cason’s hand, her voice trembling. “Cason, please save me. I can’t go to the police station.”
Manuel wasn’t going to help her. Her only hope was Cason, the one person who might still be able to save her.
At that moment, the door opened, and Kaliyah walked in. Kaitlin’s eyes widened with a sudden idea. Pointing at Kaliyah, she exclaimed, “It was Kaliyah who taught me what to do! I never thought of doing any of this until she told me to be ruthless. She said if Manuel saw Ainsley with another man, he’d realize her true character and wouldn’t protect her anymore.”
Ainsley turned her gaze to Kaliyah, who had just entered. Cason’s eyes followed hers, narrowing in suspicion.
Kaliyah stepped forward, her eyes cool and deep. “Kaitlin, what are you talking about?”
Her voice was calm, but Ainsley could see the tension in her stance as she moved to Cason’s side. Kaliyah’s tone shifted, sounding apologetic, almost like she was taking the blame. “Cason, I am so sorry. Kaitlin is right. She came to me with the plan to deal with Ainsley, and I didn’t take her seriously at the time. If I had stopped her, maybe Ms. Easton wouldn’t have suffered.”
Cason’s eyes darkened as he glared at Kaitlin, clearly furious. “You’re excellent at making trouble, aren’t you? Kaliyah is not like that. Kaitlin, you may have made a mistake, but you cannot drag others into this mess.”
Kaliyah’s expression remained composed as she nodded. “Exactly, Cason. Kaitlin didn’t mean to cause harm. After all, Ainsley and Manuel seem close, and in the past, Ainsley was Kaitlin’s sister-in-law. Maybe that’s why Kaitlin acted out of frustration.”
Kaitlin clenched her fists, clearly irritated. “I’ve never treated her like—”
Before she could finish, Kaliyah cut her off, speaking gently but with authority. “Kaitlin, I know you’re upset. You were angry, and what you said was in the heat of the moment. But now that Ms. Easton wants to involve the police, you should admit your mistake.”
Kaitlin shot Kaliyah a glare, but she knew deep down that Kaliyah was offering her a way out. She shifted her gaze toward Ainsley, guilt and uncertainty flashing in her eyes. “I was wrong…”
Ainsley studied Kaitlin carefully. Even though Kaitlin’s words lacked sincerity, Ainsley understood that this was a matter of timing. This was the Gage family’s domain, and Ainsley, as Manuel’s female companion, didn’t want to make a scene—especially not in front of Koen, who was already clearly dissatisfied.
“Ms. Baldry,” Ainsley said, her voice firm yet calm, “since you’ve admitted your mistake, I’ll refrain from involving the authorities—for now. But let this be clear: if you provoke me again, I will hand this video to the police without hesitation.”
Manuel, who had been watching the exchange with a growing sense of distaste, turned his gaze toward Kaitlin and Kaliyah. His voice was sharp and cold. “Aisy was invited by me. I am responsible for her. Ms. Baldry, think carefully before you do anything else. Don’t make a mistake you’ll regret.”
Ainsley’s heart warmed slightly at Manuel’s support. She had only ever received criticism and disdain from the Baldry family, and yet Manuel had always stood behind her when she needed it most.
“Koen, I’ll leave today’s matter in your hands,” Ainsley said, her gaze briefly meeting Koen’s.
Koen nodded, then turned his attention to Cason. “Cason, I’m sure you have business to attend to, so I won’t keep you at the banquet.”
Cason, whose expression had darkened significantly, nodded stiffly. “I’ve taken up enough of your time, Koen. I’ll visit you soon to make amends.”
Lindsay, confused by the sudden shift, looked at Cason as if asking for an explanation. Kaitlin’s face was streaked with tears, her eyes swollen and red from crying. She glared at Ainsley, a fire of resentment burning in her gaze.
Only Kaliyah watched Ainsley with an odd expression—one of understanding and maybe even a hint of admiration. She knew Cason’s departure wasn’t a result of his “business.” Koen was clearly dissatisfied with how the Baldry family had handled the situation and had dismissed them as a courtesy.
As the Baldry family exited the venue, they crossed paths with Koen and Serina, who were walking down together, followed closely by Manuel and Ainsley. The sight of them—Manuel and Ainsley—together, walking in perfect harmony, didn’t go unnoticed.
The marble floors of the hall shimmered under the bright lights, and the red wine fountain sparkled in its opulence. Manuel and Ainsley, as they walked together, were the picture of a perfect couple—his handsomeness and her beauty were undeniable.
Cason’s eyes lingered on them for a moment, a deep sense of regret pulling at his chest. Ainsley looked so effortlessly perfect by Manuel’s side, her elegance only emphasized by his presence. The scene was beautiful, but it was slipping further away from him.
Kaliyah, standing beside Cason, noticed his strange mood. She felt a pang of anxiety but remained silent, unsure of how to comfort him. After all, Cason was still her lover, yet she couldn’t help but feel a tension building between them.
Outside, as they reached the entrance, Kaitlin shuddered. A chill ran down her spine, and her irritation boiled over. She confronted Cason. “What do you mean you have business to attend to at your company? Why now, of all times? Can’t I stay with Mom?”
Kaliyah lowered her gaze, unable to hold back her judgment. Kaitlin was truly a foolish woman, so consumed by her emotions that she couldn’t see the bigger picture.
Inside the banquet hall, the Baldry family’s departure barely caused a stir. The grand event continued without skipping a beat, as if they had never been there. Prominent families from all over Seattle filled the room, but it was clear that Manuel and Ainsley were now the center of attention.
