Chapter 27
Caspar’s POV:
When I returned to my top floor office at Thornton Tower from the hospital, the New York skyline was already painted gold by the setting sun.
James was already waiting there, his expression more serious than usual.
The surveillance system issue in London has been resolved,” James handed me a tablet.
The footage you requested has been recovered,”
I nodded expressionlessly and took the tablet.
My fingers tapped the screen a few times, pulling up that crucial time frame.
Though the surveillance footage was slightly grainy from data recovery, it was clear enough to identify people.
The video began playing, and a familiar figure appeared at my hotel room door, making my pupils contract slightly.
“Zoom in on this timeframe.” My voice was eerily calm.
James operated the controls expertly.
Even enlarged, the image remained clear enough. The face in the surveillance footage was unmistakably Audrey’s.
I continued watching, feeling my expression gradually turn stone–cold.
The video stopped on Audrey’s hurried departure the next morning.
The air in the office seemed to freeze. James wisely remained silent, waiting for my instructions.
I felt like Audrey had played me for a complete fool.
In front of me, she always acted timid, often avoiding me and keeping her distance.
I had assumed she was just shy, intimidated by the ruthless reputation I’d built in the outside world.
Now it seemed she wasn’t timid at all.
Not only had she broken into my room and slept with me, but she’d also left that mocking note and a humiliating hundred dollars, as if I were some gigolo she could buy.
Looking back, all the pieces fit together.
From day one, she’d acted like a deer in headlights around me. At the hospital, she’d been so animated and cheerful talking to that young man, yet always tense and nervous with me.
So that panic that flashed in her eyes every time she saw me wasn’t because my status made her feel pressured–it was guilt.
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Chapter 27
“What about her other activities during her time in London? 1 finally spoke, struggling to suppress the rage building inside me.
James handed over a compiled report.
“Same as our previous investigation. Ms. Lane’s four years in London were quite straightforward. Her activities centered around the art world, with collaborations with multiple galleries, especially close ties with Finley Gallery.”
I flipped through the report, my frown deepening. Too clean. Suspiciously clean. This deliberate ‘simplicity” made me even more suspicious. Like she was hiding something.
Why did she approach Noah? And why approach me?
Could this have been an elaborate setup from the very beginning?
Just as I was lost in thought, my phone buzzed.
The screen lit up, showing a bank transfer notification–Audrey had returned the full amount I’d paid for her medical expenses.
Immediately after came her message:
Thank you for your help. I’ll be back at the gallery tomorrow. You can bring Noah by.
I stared at the phone screen, my expression unreadable.
“Should we continue the investigation?” James asked cautiously.
I remained silent for a moment, then pushed the tablet aside.
“If she’s deliberately hiding something and covering her tracks this well, we obviously won’t find anything. I want to see what game she’s really playing.”
I stood up and walked to the floor–to–ceiling windows.
Thinking of Noah’s attachment to Audrey, remembering her gentle manner when caring for Noah, then recalling the woman in the surveillance footage who’d broken into my room…
Just how many faces does this woman have?
After a night of deliberation, I made my decision. Until I could figure out Audrey’s true intentions, I couldn’t rashly let Noah continue contact with her.
The next morning, sunlight filtered through the blinds into the dining room.
Noah was already dressed and sitting at the dining table with his little art bag, clearly waiting for gallery time.
“Noah, I set down my coffee cup, trying to keep my tone light and natural, “today we’re going to visit Grandma Dorothy.”
Noah’s movements paused. He looked up at me with confused eyes. He pulled out his little notebook and quickly wrote: Teacher Audrey?
My heart clenched. I rarely lied to my son, but this time…
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Chapter 27
Ms. Lane still needs to rest at home for a few days, I avoided his clear gaze. “The doctor said she needs proper rest to fully recover.”
I watched Noah’s eyes dim, his grip on the paintbrush visibly loosening.
He lowered his head and slowly wrote in his notebook: I want to see her.
I understand, Noah, I explained gently, “but if we don’t disturb her, she’ll get better faster, and then she can come back to teach you sooner.”
Noah looked up, a flash of reluctance in his eyes, but he still nodded.
He closed his little notebook and slowly put it back in his backpack, his movements heavy with disappointment.
I reached out to ruffle his hair, feeling an indescribable wave of guilt.
Edward had already prepared the car. Noah reluctantly headed off to his grandmother’s house, his small shoulders radiating an unmistakable sense of loss.
After watching Noah leave, I picked up my phone and typed out a message:
*4 PM, Pine & Ink Café.”
At four o’clock sharp, I pushed open the wooden door of Pine & Ink. Cool air mixed with coffee and cedar scents hit me immediately.
Audrey was already seated by the window.
Seeing me alone, she immediately leaned forward in her chair.
“What happened to Noah? He didn’t come–is he-” Her words came quickly, voice tinged with urgency.
“He’s fine.” I pulled out a chair and sat down, my tone measured.
“He’s at his grandmother’s. I wanted to discuss something with you privately.”
She visibly paused, her hands tensing as she tried to appear calm.
I raised my hand to signal the waitress. “Let’s order something. We can talk over drinks.”
“I… just water is fine.” She pressed her lips together.
“Hot tea for her, and an Americano for me. Thank you.” I pushed the menu back and leisurely removed my watch to adjust the band.
The more relaxed I appeared, the more flustered she became.
This contrast was like an invisible trigger, capable of prying out whatever she was trying to hide.
When the tea arrived, she cupped the sides of the mug, her fingertips turning red from the heat.
I spoke unhurriedly: “Ms. Lane, I’ve always been curious–what kind of magic do you possess that makes Noah so dependent on you? Before you, he never voluntarily approached anyone.”
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Chapter 27
She visibly relaxed first, as if she’d dodged some kind of storm. “Maybe it’s just… fate.”
Her voice softened. “If he hadn’t given me a chance, I wouldn’t have been able to reach his heart either.”
I hummed in acknowledgment without responding.
A brief silence fell like an invisible net.
I looked up at her and switched to a more direct topic: “What if I asked you–would you be willing to become Noah’s stepmother?”
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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.
