He studied me for a long moment, as if weighing how much to reveal. Finally, he spoke.
“Someone poisoned me,” he said, his voice flat. “A few years ago. They administered a rare slow–acting toxin.”
I felt my blood run cold. “Do you know who did it?”
He shook his head, frustration evident in the gesture.
“Not with certainty. But I know it may be someone within the Thornton family,” he added, his voice hardening.
“That’s why you moved out with Noah,” I whispered, the realization dawning on me.
Looking at him now, I finally understood the hypervigilance I’d observed in him.
What I’d previously interpreted as cold paranoia was actually a kind of self protection method.
“The poison…” I hesitated, unsure how to phrase such a delicate question. Is it still
your
system?
there
a
way to solve it?”
Caspar’s expression softened slightly. “It’s complicated.”
“Will you ever fully recover?” I asked.
“The prognosis is uncertain,” he admitted. “But I assure you, Audrey, I will hot die.”
His eyes met mine, and I was startled by the unexpected tenderness I found there.
,
“Well, you should rest,” I said softly, uncomfortable with the intensity of the moment. “And don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me.”
“Thank you,” he murmured, then his eyes began to close, the medication finally pulling him toward sleep.
I studied him in the dim light of the bedside lamp.
How strange to see King C like this–defenseless, human.
The contrast between his public persona and this private vulnering with
was jarring.
After making sure he was breathing steadily, I grabbed a spare blanket from the closet and settled onto the sofa in the suite’s living area.
Sleep came fitfully, my dreams filled with shadowy figures and poisoned cups.
I woke with a start to the sensation of something soft being laid over me,
My eyes snapped open
body tensing automatically as I assessed potential threats.
Caspar stood over me, a blanket in his hands. He’d apparently been trying to cover me.
I apologize for startling you,” he said quietly, stepping back to give me space. “You looked cold.”
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Chapter 117
tried to calm my racing heart, embarrassed by my extreme reaction.
Old habits,” I murmured, running a hand through my tangled hair.
“Are you always this alert?” Caspar asked, something probing in his gaze.
This question reminds me of those dark years in London, which made me develop the habit of staying alert even in my sleep,
I’m just a light sleeper,” I said with a casual shrug, “Always have been.
Just then, a knock sounded at the door.
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“Ms. Audrey?” Noah’s voice called out. “Are you awake?”
I jolted upright, panic flooding through me.
If Noah found his father in my hotel room this early in the morning, there would be no end to the conclusions his imaginative little mind
would draw.
I frantically glanced around the room, as if searching for a closet to shove Caspar into.
“You need to-” I whispered urgently, making a vague hiding motion with my hands.
Caspar watched my frenzied response with undisguised amusement, a slow smile spreading across his face.
“Relax, Audrey. He’s four, not the tabloid press.”
Before I could protest, he strode to the door and pulled it open.
Noah stood in the hallway in his pajamas. His expression shifted from curiosity to delight when he spotted his father.
“Dad!” His eyes widened, darting between Caspar and me with growing excitement.
“Were you and Ms. Audrey having a sleepover?”
I opened my mouth to explain, to clarify the innocence of the situation, but Caspar beat me to it.
“Yes, we were,” he said matter–of–factly.
I froze, staring at him in disbelief. What was he doing?
Caspar continued smoothly, “Next time we’ll include you too.”
Noah’s face lit up.
“Really? Promise? I don’t kick or snore or anything! Edward says I’m the quietest sleeper in the whole house!”
Noah turned to me, his eyes wide with hope and excitement, clearly waiting for my confirmation.
I shot Caspar a quick glare, then softened my expression as I looked at Neth.
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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.
