Accidentally Crossing the Tycoon
Chapter 65
Audrey’s POCV:
These past few days at the Thornton estate had been surprisingly… peaceful.
If not for the terse message from Samuel West informing me of our impending divorce, I might have forgotten the complexities waiting
beyond the estate’s gates.
74
My phone buzzed on the nightstand. Margaret Bailey’s name flashed across the screen, pulling me from my thoughts.
“Audrey, dear,” Margaret’s voice carried its usual warmth, though I detected an undercurrent of concern. “I need you to come home. There’s
something we should discuss.”
“Is everything alright?” I asked, sitting up straighter in the window seat.
“Yes, yes. Nothing urgent,” she assured me. “But it would be best to speak in person. Perhaps you could join us for dinner?”
I glanced at my watch. “I can be there in an hour.”
After hanging up, I went to find Noah.
He was in the kitchen with Edward, decorating cookies with focused determination, the tip of his tongue peeking out from the corner of
his mouth.
“Noah,” I said gently, kneeling beside his chair. “I have to go see my grandmother for a little while. Would that be okay?”
His eyebrows furrowed as he set down the blue icing tube. “Will you come back?”
“Of course,‘ I promised, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. “I’ll be back before bedtime, Edward will take good care of you
until then.‘
Noah looked between us, then nodded solemnly. “Okay. But you have to come back for bedtime. We haven’t finished The Little Prince yet.”
“I wouldn’t miss it,” I promised.
As Edward walked me to the door, I found myself reluctant to leave.
The past few days had been a bubble of simplicity–no Bailey family drama, no reminders of my past, just Noah’s innocent company.
But I knew this peaceful retreat couldn’t last forever. Real life was waiting, with its complications and responsibilities that needed my
attention.
1/4
18:32 Wed, Jan 28 M…
Chapter 65
The drive to the Upper East Side gave me time to prepare myself for whatever awaited at the Bailey residence.
‘Audrey, Margaret’s face brightened as I entered. “You’re back.”
I took my usual seat beside Margaret, noticing the tension.
‘Dear,” Margaret began carefully, her voice lowered slightly, “have you been staying at the Thornton estate all this time?”
I nodded, reaching for my water glass. “Yes, I’ve been helping with Noah while his father is away on business.”
“Just… helping with Noah?” Margaret’s eyebrows raised slightly, her tone gentle but probing. “Audrey, I need to ask… is there something
between you and Caspar Thornton? ”
“No,” I said firmly, setting down my glass. “I’m Noah’s art teacher. That’s all.”
Sienna’s cold laugh cut through the room.
“As if Caspar Thornton would ever look twice at you.” She slid her phone across the table. “He and Daisy Cole are all over the headlines.
Their dinner date in London is the talk of every social circle.”
There on the screen was a photo of Caspar at a restaurant, leaning close to a stunning blonde woman.
74
The caption read: “BREAKING: King C spotted during intimate late–night rendezvous with tech heiress Daisy Cole at The Ritz London! Sources confirm romance rumors have been swirling for months. Is NYC’s most eligible bachelor finally off the market? #KingC #Thornton Watch
#NewPowerCouple”
I glanced at the screen showing Caspar with the stunning blonde, my expression neutral.
“They’re perfect for each other,” Sienna continued, her smile sharp as a blade. “Both from powerful families, both gorgeous and
sophisticated.”
She looked me up and down with undisguised contempt. “Not like you, playing babysitter and deluding yourself into thinking you belong
in their world. It’s pathetic, really.”
I ignored the strange twist in my stomach and met her gaze coolly.
“And what exactly does Caspar Thornton’s love life have to do with me?”
I took a deliberate sip of water before continuing. “But speaking of relationships, I wanted to let you know that Samuel West contacted me yesterday. We’ve scheduled a meeting for Monday morning to sign the divorce papers. He’s eager to finalize everything.”
Margaret’s expression softened with concern. “So soon? I had hoped… well, nevermind what I hoped. Are you certain this is what you
want, dear?”
2/4
18:32 Wed, Jan 28 M.
Chapter 65
I said, keeping my voice even. It’s time to move on.”
“Is it because of the Thornton situation?” George interjected, his eyes narrowing. “Did you say something to offend Samuel?”
ชร
I gave him a pointed look, unable to keep the edge from my voice. “I think you know exactly why he’s so eager to terminate our
arrangement, George. If anyone offended Samuel West, it certainly wasn’t me.”
George’s face flushed an ugly shade of red.
The next morning at Luminous Gallery, I tried to focus on preparing for my class, but couldn’t help overhearing snippets of conversation
from the staff break room.
…they make such a gorgeous power couple, both from elite families…”
“…poor Audrey, imagine how awkward it must be for her now, taking care of his son while he’s off romancing heiresses…”
“…flying her to London just for dinner…”
Mrs. Smith appeared at my side with a steaming mug.
“Lavender tea,” she said softly. “You look like you could use it.”
“Thank you,” I managed, accepting the cup with hands I forced to remain steady.
“Don’t let the gossip get to you,” she continued, her kind eyes searching mine. “People love to talk about the Thorntons. It comes with the
territory when you work with them.”
Mrs. Smith patted my hand and left me to my thoughts.
I stared into my tea, frustration building with each passing second.
How had this happened? I was Noah’s art teacher–nothing more–yet somehow I’d been cast as the pitiful woman left behind while
Caspar Thornton romanced heiresses across the Atlantic.
Damn it, Thornton.
I took a deep breath, setting my jaw. When he returned, there would be clear professional boundaries. No more dinners, no more personal conversations, no staying overnight at his estate.
Accidentally Crossing the Tycoon.
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.
