Chapter 9

After their bitter confrontation, she had been entwined in a silent feud with her sister for two days. Rising with the early sun, she discreetly slipped out of the house, evading Violet’s gaze. By afternoon, she would return home before her elder sister, stealthily preparing a meal for her and then withdrawing to the sanctuary of her room. Deep down, she feared her sister would once again broach the unsettling topic of her health checkup.

Dressed in a meticulously tailored vest, she draped her beloved camera around her neck—a prized possession for which Caroline had scrimped and saved from her part-time earnings. Although her sister had generously offered to purchase it for her, Caroline was well aware of the toils and troubles her elder sibling endured. She resolved not to be a burden.

Today, Caroline had been entrusted with the task of photographing and reporting on the unveiling of a new jewelry collection by the illustrious brand, Quinn. It was a trial assignment giv