My Billionaire Husband Married a Fool—or So He Thought

Early the next morning, Caroline was still dead asleep when Mae and Kinsley came barging into her room and jolted her awake.

“Hey, sleepyhead, rise and shine. It’s your wedding day!” Kinsley announced, practically vibrating with excitement.

Caroline groaned, scrunching her brow as she slowly blinked her eyes open and rubbed them. Her voice was thick with sleep and tinged with playful innocence as she protested, “What are you two doing? I was still sleeping!” She stretched her arms out wide and accidentally smacked Mae and Kinsley in the face.

Kinsley and Mae winced at the unexpected smack, their expressions darkening with irritation. They bit back their anger, barely resisting the urge to snap at Caroline.

Mae frowned at how oblivious Caroline seemed, then called to the maid waiting just outside the room, “Come in and help her get changed. The Palmers will be here soon.”

“Yes, ma’am,” the maid replied, entering with a new outfit.

Caroline glanced at the clothes but didn’t protest as the maid helped her into them. The outfit had clearly been meant for Kinsley and ran a little short on Caroline, but she didn’t care. If anything, the thought made her smile inside.

Mae was still fuming over her daughter’s reddened cheeks. She gritted her teeth. After a moment, she turned to Kinsley, tone cautious. “When the Palmers get here, make sure you’re out of sight.”

“I understand, Mom,” Kinsley replied dutifully.

“Let’s go. This place is full of bad vibes,” Mae said, leading Kinsley out of Caroline’s room.

Once Caroline was dressed, she grabbed a big teddy bear and bounded down the stairs with more energy than anyone else in the house.

She walked into the sitting room, where Jeffrey and another middle-aged man—not the one she’d seen before—were waiting.

“Daddy!” Caroline called out cheerfully, bouncing over to Jeffrey’s side.

Startled by her lively entrance, Jeffrey worried the Palmers might notice something was off. He quickly plastered on a warm smile, trying to play the doting father.

“Caroline, watch yourself on those stairs. You don’t want to trip,” he chided gently, then turned to the Palmers’ man with an apologetic smile.

“Mr. Wilson, please excuse her. She’s just full of life. I trust you’ll look after her once she joins your family,” Jeffrey said, hoping to smooth things over.

Kaisen Wilson, the Palmers’ representative, cut Jeffrey a sidelong glance before turning his attention to Caroline.

“Miss, it’s getting late. We should be going,” Mr. Wilson said.

Caroline blinked innocently, looking between Mr. Wilson and Jeffrey, then spoke with childlike curiosity.

“Daddy, isn’t a bride supposed to bring wedding gifts with her?”

Jeffrey froze. He had clearly overlooked the gift—or never intended to provide one. Under Mr. Wilson’s piercing gaze, he broke out in a cold sweat.

“Of course, of course. You’re my precious daughter, and you deserve a generous gift,” he stammered, scrambling to improvise. “We only heard about the wedding last night, so we didn’t have time to prepare. How about you come back in a few days, and I’ll have everything ready for you?”

Caroline mulled over his words, then turned to Mr. Wilson with wide eyes.

“Uncle, are gifts given on the wedding day or later?”

Mr. Wilson raised an eyebrow and smiled at Caroline. “They’re given on the wedding day.”

Reassured, Caroline looked back at Jeffrey. “Daddy, you run a company and have a lot of money, right?”

The question made Jeffrey nervous, and he took a moment to regain his composure. “Yes, but... Caroline, you’ll get your gifts. Just remember your siblings, too.”

Caroline rested her chin in her hand, deep in thought, before responding. “I’ve thought about them. I’m the older sister, so I should have more to help look after them.”

Jeffrey nearly fainted at her logic but quickly cut in. “Caroline, time is of the essence. You must go to the Palmers. I’ll have your gifts ready soon.”

Without waiting for her reply, he hurried upstairs. If he delayed any longer, he feared Caroline would make more demands. He wasn’t afraid of her—he still assumed she was naïve. He was afraid of the Palmers realizing the deceit. That would be catastrophic.

Caroline didn’t press him further. She knew this was only the start, and she had plenty of time to claim what she was owed. After a brief wait on the sofa with Mr. Wilson, Jeffrey returned with a document in hand.

“This is your gift, my dear. Keep it safe,” he said, handing it to her.

Caroline took the document without opening it. She knew that in their eyes, she was still a simpleton who wouldn’t understand it. She tucked it away and casually remarked, “Daddy, I should show this to Dereck when I get there.”

Jeffrey shivered at the thought, his brief relief evaporating. He wanted to protest, but he couldn’t express his doubts without drawing suspicion. Retrieving and altering the document now was out of the question, so he urged them to leave, anxious they’d miss the auspicious moment.

Observing Jeffrey’s anxious expression and the sweat forming on his forehead, Caroline smiled inwardly and left the house with Mr. Wilson, stepping into the car bound for the Palmer estate.