Chapter 193
Caspar’s POV:
“What are you taking?”
I watched Audrey freeze at the sound of my voice, her back still
turned to me.
Her fingers closed tightly around a small pill bottle, and I could see
the tension ripple through her spine.
She remained silent, shoulders rigid.
“Audrey,” I said, my voice dangerously quiet as I stepped further into
the room.
“I asked you a question.”
She slowly turned to face me.
Despite her attempts to appear composed, I immediately noticed
something wasn’t right–her face was alarmingly pale.
“Are you feeling ill?” I asked anxiously, instinctively stepping closer.
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“I’m fine,” she said, forcing a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Just
some vitamins.”
I didn’t believe her for a second.
The way she clutched that bottle, the furtive movements, the obvious
physical distress–none of it suggested something as innocent as
vitamins.
I reached out, gently but firmly grasping her wrist.
“Can you be more honest with me? Just this once?”
Audrey looked back at me, her eyes challenging despite her pallor.
“What exactly do you want me to be honest about?”
“Everything you’re hiding from me,” I said, maintaining my grip on
her wrist.
“Why?” she asked simply.
“Because I want to understand you.”
A faint, almost sad smile touched her lips.
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“And if you understand me… will it change how you feel about me?”
“No,” I answered without hesitation.
“Whatever kind of person you are, whatever you’re hiding–my
feelings for you won’t change.”
Audrey’s smile widened slightly, but there was no joy in it.
“Then understanding isn’t really important, is it?”
Her response caught me off guard. I found myself momentarily
speechless.
“Unless,” she continued, her voice softening, “you don’t trust me and
are wary of me.”
“That’s not it!” I explained urgently.
“I just want to know what’s holding you back, what’s making you keep
your heart locked away. Maybe I can help.”
“Caspar,” she said, her voice gentle now, “I appreciate your concern, I
really do. But there’s nothing you need to help me with. All you need
to know is that whatever secrets I have, I would never do anything to
hurt you.”
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“But don’t you see what this means?” I said, my voice lower now,
revealing a vulnerability.
“If I know nothing about my partner’s struggles, about what’s
happening inside her… it can only mean one thing–I’m not needed.”
Audrey shook her head firmly.
“Let’s stop here. I don’t want to discuss this anymore.”
She pulled her wrist from my grasp and turned away, clearly
indicating the conversation was over.
I swallowed hard, my voice dropping to a rough whisper.
“Fine. I won’t ask again.”
I watched her walk toward the bathroom, disappointment washing
over me in waves.
When I heard the water running in the shower, I turned my attention.
to the dresser drawers.
After a moment’s hesitation, I pulled them open one by one,
searching for her so–called “vitamins.”
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Nothing. I meticulously went through every drawer, checking behind
and beneath the neatly folded clothes, but found no sign of any
medication.
She must have taken the bottle with her into the bathroom, concealed
in her palm.
This realization only deepened my suspicion.
What kind of innocent vitamin supplement would someone be so
protective of? What was she hiding from me?
I stood in the center of the bedroom, conflicted.
After a moment of internal debate, my decision was made.
I needed to know what was happening with Audrey, even if it meant
crossing lines I’d previously respected.
This was about her physical health.
Whatever she was taking, it clearly affected her health.
And ensuring her safety mattered more than respecting arbitrary
boundaries.
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If she was in trouble, I needed to know.
As I stepped into the hallway, I nearly collided with Edward.
“Sir,” he said, straightening his posture. “I wanted to speak with you
about Ms. Harrison’s visit. What arrangements should we make
regarding-”
“Not now, Edward,” I cut him off, moving past him.
“There’s something more important I need to address.”
Edward’s eyebrows shot up.
“More important than Noah’s mother making an unexpected
appearance after four years? Sir, with all due respect, this woman
could have unsavory motives. She could be-”
“I’m well aware of what Amelia Harrison could be,” I said sharply.
“But right now, I’m more concerned about what Audrey is hiding.”
“Hiding?” Edward’s expression shifted from surprise to alarm.
“You don’t think… Sir, surely you don’t suspect Ms. Lane of-” he
lowered his voice, “infidelity?”
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The suggestion was so absurd.
If the situation hadn’t been so serious, I might have found his
suggestion amusing.
“No, Edward. Nothing like that.”
“Then what-
“Pills,” I said curtly.
“She’s taking some kind of medication and lying about it. I need to
know what it is.”
Edward’s frown deepened as he followed me down the hall. “Where
are you going?”
“Her study. If she’s hiding something, it’ll be there.”
The door to Audrey’s study was unlocked.
I stepped inside, taking in the familiar scent of paint and turpentine.
Her workspace was meticulously organized.
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I moved toward her desk, pulling open the drawers one by one.
In the bottom drawer, beneath a stack of sketches, I found what I was
looking for: a small amber pill bottle with a white cap.
The label read “Daily Multi–Vitamin” in crisp, professionally printed
text.
It looked perfectly innocent. Too innocent.
I opened the bottle and tipped a pill into my palm–a small, round
tablet with a slightly glossy coating.
It could indeed be a vitamin, but something told me it wasn’t.
“Sir?” Edward stood in the doorway, watching me with concern.
I dropped one pill into Edward’s hand.
“Take this to Dr. Morrison. Have him analyze it–discreetly. I want to
know exactly what it contains.”
Edward nodded, carefully placing the pill in his pocket.
As Edward left with the pill, I remained in Audrey’s studio,
surrounded by her artwork that revealed so much of her soul, while
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the woman herself remained an enigma.
What are you hiding, Audrey? I wondered.
And why can’t you trust me with the truth?
