My Billionaire Husband Married a Fool—or So He Thought

“Mom…”

Kinsley’s sobs echoed from the doorway. Caroline, seated in the corner, smirked coldly and squeezed the stress ball in her hand, her face carefully blank.

Mae shot up from the couch and rushed to her panicked daughter. “Kinsley, what’s wrong?”

“Mom…” Kinsley threw herself into Mae’s arms, her cries muffled against her mother’s shoulder.

Seeing her daughter so hysterical, Mae’s own anxiety spiked. “Kinsley, what happened? Tell me!”

Kinsley lifted her head, tears streaming down her face, looking like the world had just ended.

“Mom, I… I accidentally killed someone.”

“Killed someone?” Mae’s furrowed brow eased. “I thought it was something serious. It’s just one person. We can make it go away with money. Don’t cry.”

“But Mom…” Kinsley’s sobs grew louder. “It was someone from the Palmer family.”

“What?” Jeffrey, descending the stairs, nearly tripped over his own feet at his daughter’s words.

He grabbed the handrail to steady himself as a housekeeper rushed over.

“Sir—” the housekeeper began, but Jeffrey waved them off and kept coming down.

“What did you just say?” Jeffrey’s sharp voice made Kinsley flinch. Tears welled in her eyes again as she turned to face him.

“Dad, I…”

“Say it again,” Jeffrey demanded.

“Dad, I… I accidentally caused a Palmer family member’s death.”

“You fool…”

Jeffrey raised his hand, ready to scold her, but the housekeeper cut in.

“Sir, someone from the Palmer family is here.”

“What?” Jeffrey was stunned by how fast they’d come. And almost as soon as the words left his mouth, the Palmer entourage walked in.

At the front stood a middle-aged man, flanked by seven or eight bodyguards.

He walked straight up to Jeffrey and looked down at him with open arrogance. “Mr. Hall, Ms. Kinsley’s actions caused the death of a Palmer relative. Mr. Palmer knows. Out of respect for the Halls’ long-standing reputation, he’s decided not to pursue the matter. However…”

Jeffrey’s heart nearly stopped at the first part, then eased slightly at the next. But that ominous “however…” hung over him.

For those few tense seconds, his heart felt like it was on a roller coaster, leaving him shaky in front of the man.

The middle-aged man continued, “However, Ms. Kinsley must marry into the Palmer family and care for Dereck Palmer.”

“What?” Jeffrey’s head snapped back in disbelief. He stared at the man.

“Didn’t you hear me?” The man gave him a condescending look.

Jeffrey trembled and raised his hands in submission. “No, I… I heard you.”

The man snorted. “Tomorrow, someone will come to collect Ms. Hall. Get her ready.”

“Yes, of course…” Jeffrey didn’t dare oppose him. He nodded vigorously and saw the man out.

Once the Palmer group was gone, Jeffrey nearly collapsed with relief, barely holding himself together with Mae’s support.

Mae helped him to the couch, where he wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. Before he could relax, Kinsley threw herself into his arms again.

“Dad, I don’t want to marry him. I don’t want to…”

“But it’s the Palmer family! We have no choice. My hands are tied!” Jeffrey said with a heavy sigh.

“But… but,” Kinsley protested, her eyes swollen from crying, “Dereck Palmer isn’t just disabled—he’s critically ill! Dad, how can you let me marry a man who’s practically on his deathbed? I’ll be a widow within a year!”

“But…” Jeffrey avoided her gaze, painfully aware of the truth. Rumor had it that the Palmers’ Third Young Master really was terminally ill.

“I don’t care… I won’t marry that dying man!” Kinsley cried again. “If anyone should marry him, it should be Caroline.”

Her offhand remark caught Mae’s attention. Mae turned to Caroline, who was quietly observing from the corner. A new idea sparked in Mae’s eyes.

Caroline’s lips twitched. Was she really being dragged into this mess? She was just an innocent bystander!

Although Kinsley hadn’t meant much by it, she stopped crying and gave Caroline a genuine smile.

“Sis, you’re getting married. Aren’t you happy?”

Caroline noted that this was the most genuine smile Kinsley had given her since she’d returned. She calmly assessed the situation.

Following their gaze, Jeffrey turned to look at Caroline. Seeing her blank expression, he frowned.

“No, it won’t work.”

“Why not?”

“Why?” Mae and Kinsley asked in unison, turning to Jeffrey.

Jeffrey’s frown deepened. He glared at Caroline with disdain.

“Look at her. The Palmers aren’t fools. Why would they marry someone who’s mentally unstable?”

Mae felt a wave of relief at Jeffrey’s reasoning.

“Jeffrey, the Palmers didn’t specify Kinsley. They just said a daughter from the Hall family. Caroline is also a Hall daughter.”

“But she’s not suitable,” Jeffrey hesitated, fearing backlash if they sent Caroline instead.

“Dad, Mom’s right. The Palmers didn’t specify me, so let Caroline marry him. It’s a rare opportunity for her—and it could greatly benefit our company.”

Hearing Kinsley’s argument, Jeffrey’s furrowed brow finally softened.

He struck the table decisively. “Alright, let’s do it. Tomorrow, we’ll send Caroline to the Palmers.”

Caroline listened to their conversation with a cold chuckle, raised her eyebrows, and prepared to enjoy the show.