Chapter 21
Caspar’s POV:
I watched Audrey’s pink motorcycle slowly pull away from the estate with Noah on the back, a strange feeling stirring in my chest.
“Sir, your meeting starts in ten minutes,” Edward reminded me from behind.
I nodded and turned toward the study, but was interrupted by the sudden ring of my phone.
Glancing at the caller ID, I saw it was Dorothy Thornton–my grandmother.
Taking a deep breath, I answered the call.
“Caspar,” Grandmother’s voice was gentle but tinged with curiosity, “I heard there was a little incident at last night’s charity gala?”
“What incident?” I asked, playing dumb.
“Someone told me a Ms Bailey was asked to leave the event.” She paused. “Was that your wife in name?”
I let out a cold laugh. “Maybe, she is an arrogant and rude woman. She was incredibly rude to Noah, so I had her removed.”
“Really?” Dorothy’s voice carried doubt. “That doesn’t sound like the Bailey girl I originally chose.”
Thinking Grandmother didn’t believe me, I described the scene in detail: “She was verbally abusive to Noah, all because he accidentally spilled juice on her dress. A grown woman screaming at a four–year–old child?”
“How could anyone treat a child like that! ” Grandmother’s voice immediately turned furious.
“If the Bailey family is truly that vicious, then you must end this arrangement immediately. I will not allow anyone to hurt Noah!”
“I’ll handle it, Grandmother,” I replied calmly.
‘No, this matter cannot be delayed any longer!” Dorothy’s voice became unusually resolute, her anger still burning. “My Noah has suffered such humiliation! I’m calling the Bailey family right now.”
‘Grandmother, calm down, I’ll—”
“Tonight,” she interrupted me, her tone brooking no argument. “I’ll arrange everything. Eight o’clock, at Le Bernardin restaurant in the suburbs. You and Miss Bailey will settle this face–to–face and cut all ties cleanly.”
I sighed, feeling a touch of helplessness.
Ever since Noah was born, Grandmother had been constantly fretting about my marriage prospects.
She always hoped that a gentle woman could enter our lives and provide Noah with the maternal love he was missing.
But anyone or anything that was bad for Noah was strictly off–limits to her.
In Dorothy’s eyes, Noah was the most precious treasure in the world, and anyone who hurt him would never earn her forgiveness.
1/3
8:05 pm P M
Chapter 21
“Alright, I’ll go,” I finally conceded.
Better to get this trouble sorted out sooner rather than later.
The afternoon, when Edward learned that I was about to meet my wife, whom I had never actually met, he meticulously prepared several well–tailored suits
“For your date tonight, sir,” Edward said calmly. “I brought a few options.”
I glanced absently at the suits. “The gray one will do,”
Edward nodded, hanging the other suits back up. “Should I arrange for a car to bring you back? Or… you might not be returning to the Long Island estate tonight?” he hinted carefully.
I immediately understood the implication in his words, my expression instantly turning cold. “Edward, this is not a date.”
My voice was ice–cold. ‘I’m going to end a mistaken marriage. Have the car waiting outside the restaurant at nine–thirty. I won’t be needing it overnight.
Edward’s expression quickly returned to professional composure, but disappointment flashed briefly in his eyes. “Of course, sir. I’ll arrange everything.”
He hesitated for a moment, as if he wanted to say something but wasn’t sure whether he should speak up.
“Is there something else, Edward?” I asked.
“Yes, sir.” Edward said with slight unease, “Miss Lane just called to say she had an emergency and couldn’t bring Noah back.”
I frowned. “Did she say what it was about?”
“She didn’t specify, sir,” Edward replied. “She only mentioned it was an unexpected situation and that she was very sorry.”
“Where is Noah now?” I asked.
‘Mrs. Dorothy has already picked up Noah, sir,” Edward replied. “When she heard that Noah was dismissed early, she went to collect Master Noah herself. She said she would take him to her apartment in the city for the night, so you could focus on handling tonight’s matter.”
I raised an eyebrow. Grandmother was moving faster than I had anticipated.
Just then, my phone buzzed. It was a text from Grandmother:
“Miss Bailey has already left for the restaurant. Don’t keep her waiting too long.”
I sighed, grabbed my coat, and prepared to leave.
On my way to Le Bernardin, I received a call from James.
‘Sir, his voice sounded serious, “I’ve found the information you asked me to look into regarding Miss Audrey.”
“Say,” I commanded curtly, my eyes still fixed on the city lights flashing past the window.
2/3
3:05 pm P M
Chapter 21
“Miss Lane’s background appears clean, sir, James reported. She was raised in an orphanage overseas. Nothing suspicious there.”
下
The only odd thing is that she attended the London College of Arts, James continued, “but dropped out before graduating. I haven’t been able to determine what happened that made her leave.”
I frowned. “How did she end up at Luminous Gallery?”
“According to my investigation, Mrs. Smith personally recruited her,” James replied. ‘Mrs. Smith seems to have always admired Miss Lane’s work and talent. She saw Miss Lane’s paintings at a small exhibition in London and immediately decided to invite her to New York.”
I fell into deep thought, my mind conjuring up Noah’s rare smile when he was with Audrey.
Noah was so taken with her–I’d never seen him like this before. But that’s exactly why I had to make sure she wasnap to something.
When it came to Noah’s safety, I couldn’t accept any risk, no matter how small the possibility.
Though now it seemed I might have been overthinking things.
James suddenly cleared his throat, seeming somewhat hesitant. “Sir, there’s one more thing I think you should know.”
“What is it?” My attention snapped back to the present.
“About the London hotel surveillance footage you asked me to investigate,” James’s voice became cautious. “There’s a security camera on the building across the street that has a view of the entrance to the room you were staying in.”
Comments
✅ 2
Write Comments
<SHARE
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.
