Chapter 106
Caspar’s POV:
I sneezed, wondering if someone was speaking ill of me behind my back.
The next second, my phone chimed with a text message from Audrey.
Free for dinner? My treat. – Audrey
I stared at the message in disbelief.
Audrey? Inviting me to dinner?
After what happened last night at the estate, I had assumed she’d maintain her distance for weeks, perhaps months.
Yet here was an invitation–unprompted and unexpected.
I couldn’t understand her motivation, but the mere possibility of seeing Audrey again so soon overwhelmed any rational thought.
I typed a response, trying not to seem too eager.
Sure. Name the place and time.
Her reply came almost immediately, suggesting Le Bernardin at 7 PM.
Le Bernardin was immaculate as always, the lighting subtle enough to create intimacy without sacrificing visibility.
I spotted Audrey immediately.
She sat at a corner table overlooking the Manhattan skyline.
As our eyes met across the room, I caught a flash of surprise in her eyes before it vanished so quickly.
She composed herself instantly, her features settling into a polite smile as I approached.
“Good evening, Audrey,” I said, taking the seat across from her.
The waiter appeared almost immediately to unfold my napkin and pour water.
“Good evening, Audrey replied, her voice calm.
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18:27 Sat, Jan 31
Chapter 106
After a deliberate pause, she added, “Mr. Samuel.”
Then she looked directly into my eyes, her gaze steady and unflinching.
My body went rigid, though I fought to keep my expression neutral.
She’d called me Mr. Samuel.
My mind raced through possibilities at lightning speed.
How much did she know? Was this a deliberate trap or a calculated guess?
When I didn’t respond, Audrey calmly reached for her phone and dialed a number without breaking eye contact.
A second later, my phone began ringing in my pocket.
Audrey raised an eyebrow, her expression a perfect blend of triumph and challenge.
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I glanced down at my vibrating phone. There it was–confirmation. This call, like the dinner invitation text earlier, was directed to Samuel
West’s number.
The mere possibility of seeing Audrey again had so thoroughly clouded my judgment that I hadn’t even checked which number had
received her message.
This was why she’d looked surprised when I first entered the restaurant–she’d invited Samuel, not expecting Caspar to actually show up.
“How long have you known?” I asked, my voice low and controlled despite the hammering in my chest.
Audrey’s face remained expressionless as she took a sip of wine.
“Just now,‘ she replied, her voice devoid of any triumph or emotion.
She set her glass down carefully. “When did you find out? That you were Samuel, I mean. And why keep hiding it from me all this time?”
I exhaled slowly, calculating how much to reveal.
“I… didn’t know at first,” I admitted, choosing my words carefully. “I only discovered the connection later.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly, clearly skeptical.
“As for why I didn’t tell you,” I continued, hesitating before deciding on honesty, “you didn’t seem particularly fond of Samuel West. I wasn’t sure how you’d react knowing that the man you’d been avoiding and the father of your student were the same.”
18:27 Sat, Jan 31
Chapter 106
I looked directly into her eyes, abandoning pretense.
“I was wrong. I should have told you the truth from the beginning.”
“But I wanted… a fair chance.”
“A fair chance?” she echoed.
“I don’t want the influence of Samuel’s identity to affect me while I’m pursuing you.” I leaned forward slightly.
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“When I realized our marriage was nothing but a constraint for you, I agreed to the divorce immediately. I never wanted to bind you with
legal obligations, Audrey. I wanted you to choose me freely.”
My voice dropped lower.
“I hope that someday, you might willingly walk down the aisle with me.”
My gaze never left hers, intense and unwavering.
Audrey looked away first, her cheeks flushed with color. What had started as her confrontation had somehow shifted, leaving her
unprepared for the emotional turn.
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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.
