Chapter 165
Clara’s POV:
1
I smoothed my skirt beneath me as I slid into the plush booth of Petit
Parisien.
The atmosphere was perfect-intimate lighting, soft classical music,
and just the right level of ambient chatter.
Perfect for a casual lunch with Audrey. Perfect for what I needed to
- do.
My stomach twisted with guilt as I fingered the handcrafted black
hair clip in my purse.
It was beautiful-matte black with subtle silver accents.
I’d spent hours selecting it, hoping it might ease my conscience for
what I was about to do.
When Audrey walked in, I waved, forcing brightness into my smile.
She looked elegant as always in a cream blouse and tailored trousers,
her long hair falling in soft waves.
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I rose to greet her with a hug.
“Sorry, I’m late,” she said, settling across from me.
“Don’t worry about it,” I replied, adjusting my bangles with a little
shake of my wrist.
“I just sat down. Perfect timing, really.”
Audrey glanced around the restaurant.
“Is Finley not joining us today?”
“Oh, he can’t make it,” I explained, trying to sound casual.
“He’s tied up in meetings all day.”
Audrey nodded sympathetically.
I reached into my tote bag and pulled out the small hair clip,
“I have something for you.”
I presented the hair clip, watching her eyes light up as she examined
- it.
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“Clara, this is exquisite,” Audrey said, running her fingers over the
design.
“But why the sudden gift? Is there a special occasion I’m forgetting?”
I felt my cheeks flush slightly.
“No, no special occasion,” I stammered, suddenly feeling awkward
about my ulterior motive.
“I just… I was browsing in this little artisan shop in SoHo and saw it.
It seemed perfect for you, you know?”
Audrey studied my face for a moment, as though trying to read
something there, before smiling.
“Well, it’s lovely. Thank you.”
The waiter arrived with our drinks-sparkling water for her, coffee for
- me.
As Audrey sipped her water, I mentally rehearsed how I would get
close enough to collect a strand of her hair.
The request from Ethan weighed heavily on me.
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“Maybe… get a strand of her hair next time you see her?” His words
echoed in my mind.
“Why don’t we see how it looks on you?” I suggested, picking up the
hair clip.
“I’d love to see if it suits you as well as I imagined.”
Audrey nodded, setting down her water glass. “Sure, go ahead.”
I moved around to her side of the booth, my heart pounding as I
gathered a section of her hair.
With practiced fingers, I carefully arranged the strands, using the
opportunity to discreetly pull a single hair free.
I tucked it into my palm while securing the clip.
“There,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “It looks perfect on
you.”
As I was adjusting the clip, my fingers brushed against something unexpected near her hairline-a ridge of scarred tissue, mostly
hidden by her hair but definitely there.
It looked like a healed wound.
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“What happened here?” I asked before I could stop myself, my finger
hovering over the mark.
Audrey’s entire body tensed instantly.
“It’s nothing,” she said, her voice suddenly flat.
“Just an old injury.” She forced a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
“Clumsy moment. It’s long healed.”
The abrupt change in her demeanor made it clear this wasn’t
something she wanted to discuss.
I returned to my seat, carefully tucking the strand of hair into my
napkin while she was distracted with readjusting the clip herself.
“You know,” I began, eager to change the subject, “the entire Cole
family was impressed by you at my wedding.”
The moment the words left my mouth, I realized how abrupt and unnatural the topic change sounded.
My nerves were making me sloppy. Why had I specifically mentioned the Cole family?
Audrey raised an eyebrow, her fork pausing midway to her mouth.
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“The Cole family?” she repeated, studying my face with sudden
intensity.
“Clara, have you been sharing information about me with them?”
My heart skipped a beat.
I took a quick sip of water to buy myself time, but nearly choked on
- it.
“I-what makes you ask that?” I deflected, not meeting her eyes.
“The way you suddenly brought them up,” she said calmly. “And you
seem… unusually interested in connecting us lately.”
My palms felt sweaty.
I set down my fork, trying to appear casual.
“Would it bother you if I had?” I asked instead of answering directly.
To my surprise, Audrey smiled and shook her head.
“No, not really.”
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She took a sip of her water, her eyes never leaving mine.
“Besides, people like the Coles have ways of finding information they
want.”
I felt a wave of relief wash over me, my shoulders relaxing slightly.
“That’s… very understanding of you.”
I nodded, grateful for her unexpected reaction but still feeling the
weight of my deception.
The strand of her hair felt like it was burning a hole through my
napkin.
“Audrey,” I ventured, trying to sound casual, “if you were to discover that the Cole family turned out to be your biological family, would
you be open to accepting them?”
Audrey tilted her head, studying me with those perceptive eyes of
hers.
“You seem very invested in this idea, Clara.”
I felt my cheeks flush.
“I just… I want you to have more people who care about you,” I
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admitted, partly truthful.
“You deserve that. And, well, since I married into the Cole family, if
you were connected to them, we’d actually be family.” I smiled at the
thought.
“They’re wonderful people, Audrey. Of course, Daisy can be a bit..
difficult sometimes. She’s been a bit spoiled and has her princess
moments, but the rest of the family is lovely.”
I realized I was rambling and stopped myself, watching Audrey’s face
for any reaction.
She gave me a small, enigmatic smile.
“I think it’s premature to discuss any of this,” she said quietly.
She hadn’t outright rejected the idea, which I took as a good sign.
I nodded, trying not to appear too eager.
“Of course,” I said. “I understand.”
We finished our meals with lighter conversation.
I was just signing the check when Audrey suddenly stiffened beside
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- me.
“Clara,” she said, her voice taking on an odd tone.
“Isn’t that Ethan and Finley over there? By the bar?”
My head snapped up, and my
stomach dropped.
Weren’t they supposed to wait in the car? Why did they come out?
“That’s… strange,” Audrey continued, her eyes narrowing slightly.
“Didn’t you just mention that Finley was tied up with meetings
today? That’s why he couldn’t join us for lunch?”
My face burned with embarrassment.
“I…
…yes, that’s what he told me this morning,” I stammered, my mind
racing for a plausible explanation.
“Perhaps his meetings ended early?”
The skepticism in Audrey’s eyes told me she wasn’t buying it.
“Could he have deceived you?”
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Audrey’s expression hardened as she waved in their direction.
“Ethan! Finley! Over here!”
The men looked up, startled.
Finley’s face paled when he saw us, and Ethan looked like he’d seen a
ghost.
They hesitantly approached our table.
“What a coincidence,” Audrey said, her eyes appraising.
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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.
