Chapter 279: This Isn’t Over
At Cartier Villa, Sinclair Winery and Vineyard
Summer and Arlan remained at the Cartier Villa, quietly finishing their breakfast. The air between them was heavy, weighed down by the events of the previous night and their daughter’s actions. Carla was still inside her bedroom, even though it was already past seven in the morning.
"Should I go check on her?" Summer asked, her voice tinged with worry as she set down her fork. The thought of Carla, isolated and brooding, tugged at her maternal instincts.
Arlan shook his head, his expression firm. "Give her time. She needs to reflect on her mistakes," he said, his tone steady but laced with disappointment.
Summer sighed deeply, her hand fidgeting with the napkin in her lap. "I just... I can’t believe she let this lie continue for so long. How could we not see it?"
"We raised her better than this, Summer," Arlan replied, his voice quieter now, burdened with regret. "But she chose her own path, and we can’t shield her from the consequences. She needs to face this."
Summer nodded, though her heart ached. Their family’s reputation had been stained, but more than that, the trust between them and the Lancasters was fractured. "I just hope she understands the weight of what she’s done. For her own sake, more than ours."
Arlan reached across the table, taking Summer’s hand in his. "She’s our daughter. We’ll guide her through this, but she has to take the first step herself."
Summer bit her lower lip, her thoughts heavy with guilt and concern. They had done everything in their power to guide Carla as she grew, instilling values of humility and integrity despite the privileges she was born into. Yet, Carla’s actions now raised painful doubts.