Chapter 49
Sienna’s POV:
I sat in Dorothy Thornton’s exquisite Victorian parlor, struggling to maintain an air of elegance.
For two whole months, I had schemed and maneuvered just to get close to the Thornton family circle.
Through befriending Caspar’s cousin Mia, I had finally secured this precious opportunity to meet with Dorothy.
When Dorothy first saw me, the coldness and wariness on her face nearly made me abandon all hope.
She clearly knew what had happened at the banquet,
But I knew Dorothy was a softie at heart, so after an hour of conversation and my carefully rehearsed ‘repentance performance, her attitude finally began to
thaw.
When she extended tonight’s dinner invitation, I nearly wept with joy.
I’d successfully gotten close to Dorothy–now I just needed to make her understand who the right woman for Caspar really was.
Everything was going according to plan–until that door swung open.
When Caspar, Noah, and Audrey walked in together, my fingers tightened around the porcelain cup, my knuckles turning white from the pressure.
What the hell is Audrey Lane doing here?
She wore an elegant black dress that looked like it was tailored specifically for her.
Noah clutched her hand tightly. The three of them standing together looked like a perfect family portrait–a sight that made my eyes burn with envy.
“Caspar, Noah, and Audrey! You’re finally here,” Dorothy greeted them warmly. “Come, sit down.”
Dorothy noticed I kept staring at Audrey, keenly sensing the tension crackling in the air.
‘Do you two know each other?” she asked curiously, her eyes sparkling with intrigue.
“No, we don’t know each other,” I answered quickly, cutting in before Audrey could say a word.
I absolutely couldn’t let anyone find out about my small–town upbringing–it would completely destroy the high–society image I’d carefully crafted.
Audrey simply gave me a calm look and didn’t contradict my statement.
Her silence was both a relief and infuriating–that holier–than–thou attitude of hers, as if I wasn’t even worth the breath it would take to speak.
Learning we were strangers, Dorothy enthusiastically made introductions: “Audrey, this is Sienna from the Bailey family. Sienna, this is Noah’s art teacher,
Audrey Lane.‘
I nodded and smiled at Audrey, playing the part of a polite stranger meeting her for the first time.
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Chapter 49
Caspar’s scrutinizing gaze fell on me, cold enough to freeze hell over.
Remembering my spectacular meltdown at the charity gala, I knew their first impression of me was absolute garbage, but I had to turn this around.
Ever since word spread about Caspar kicking me out of that event, I’d become persona non grata in the entertainment industry.
Several endorsement deals that were practically in the bag got quietly pulled, and directors started ghosting me left and right.
The Thornton family’s influence was more terrifying than I’d ever imagined, which made me both fear and desperately want to get closer to them.
I forced myself to straighten my spine and flash my most sincere smile.
“Mr. Thornton, how lovely to see you again.”
“Ms. Bailey,” Caspar’s voice was low and arctic as he fixed me with an icy stare. “Please leave. You’re not welcome here.”
The temperature in the parlor seemed to plummet. I stood there like a deer in headlights, my smile freezing on my face.
Dorothy cleared her throat awkwardly, quickly intervening. “Caspar, darling, you can’t be so rude to a guest. Sienna is my guest, and she came specifically to apologize for that little misunderstanding.”
I immediately switched gears, my eyes welling up with tears, lips trembling.
“Mr. Thornton, I’m truly sorry. I was having a rough day, and I genuinely didn’t mean to frighten Noah.”
I turned to Noah, crouching down to meet his eyes. “Noah, I really didn’t mean it that day. Can you please forgive me?”
My tears gathered right on cue, designed to tug at heartstrings.
Noah pressed his lips together tightly, looking up at Audrey and Caspar as if seeking their guidance.
Caspar’s expression remained stone–cold, while Audrey gently knelt down to Noah’s eye level, saying softly.
“Noah, these are your feelings, and you can make your own decision. Whether you choose to forgive or not, we’ll respect your choice.”
That woman always acts so damn understanding.
I rolled my eyes internally but maintained my ‘repentant expression on the surface, waiting for Noah’s response.
He finally gave a small nod, and I secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
“Thank you, Noah! You’re such a sweet little boy.”
I reached out to pat his head, but he quickly ducked behind Audrey.
Just then, the butler entered and addressed Dorothy: “Madam, dinner is ready.”
“Wonderful!” Dorothy said cheerfully. “Let’s all go eat. Food always puts people in better spirits.”
The atmosphere in the dining room remained tense, but Dorothy was clearly working overtime to lighten the mood.
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Chapter 49
She elegantly cut her steak, then suddenly turned to Caspar: “By the way, darling, I heard you recently invested in a big–budget film? That new picture
directed by Anderson?”
My ears perked up immediately. Anderson was a heavyweight in the industry–every film he directed was a guaranteed blockbuster. Landing even a small role could get my career back on track.
“Yes,” Caspar replied curtly.
“Are there any roles still available?” Dorothy glanced meaningfully at me. “Perhaps you could consider giving Sienna a part? She’s an actress, aren’t you?”
My eyes widened with delight–I hadn’t expected Dorothy to be so supportive. This was exactly the opportunity I’d been dreaming of!
Caspar set down his knife and fork, fixing me with a cold stare: ‘I had no idea Ms. Bailey was an actress. Honestly, I’ve never heard of you.”
His lips curved slightly, but his eyes held zero warmth. “I’m afraid the only role still open is playing a corpse, if you’re interested.”
The dining room fell dead silent. I felt my cheeks burn as my fingers gripped the napkin like a lifeline.
*Please excuse me, I managed a smile. “I need to touch up my makeup.”
I quickly rose and left the dining room, not allowing the tears to fall until I was safely out of their sight.
I wandered aimlessly until I found myself in the garden colonnade of the Thornton estate.
“Bastard!” I viciously wiped away my tears, smearing my carefully applied makeup in the process.
Leaning against a marble column, I replayed the way Caspar looked at Audrey–that tenderness and respect, such a stark contrast to the ice–cold indifference he showed me.
What did that plain Jane have that earned “King C’s favor? The thought made me want to scream.
“Looks like someone’s got our little beauty all upset.”
A familiar male voice came from behind me.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
