Chapter 53
Caspar’s POV:
After watching Audrey and Noah leave, Dorothy’s voice cut through the air behind me like a blade of ice.
Sienna Bailey, care to explain what the hell this is about?”
Her finger pointed at the painting on the coffee table, trembling slightly at the tip–clearly she was livid.
Sienna’s face went white as a sheet in an instant. “Mrs. Dorothy, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
I crossed my arms and stood to the side, watching this trainwreck unfold with cold detachment.
‘Don’t play dumb with me, sweetheart.” Grandmother’s voice was eerily calm, which somehow made it ten times more terrifying.
“Audrey just made it crystal clear that this painting originally belonged to Margaret Bailey. And you–you stole it to give to me. What was the endgame here?
Buttering me up? Using me?”
Sienna scrambled to her feet, her fingers twisting together nervously. “I didn’t steal it! It was… it was… Grandmother gave it to me herself.”
Dorothy raised an eyebrow, skepticism written all over her face.
“If Margaret really gave it to you, then why are you shaking like a leaf?”
She picked up her phone. “How about we call Margaret right now and get to the bottom of this little story of yours?”
I watched Sienna’s face turn even paler. Her lies crumbled under Grandmother’s razor–sharp gaze and the threat of actual action.
“No, no need!” Sienna frantically tried to stop her, her voice almost pleading. “Don’t call her…” Her words died in her throat, eyes glued to the floor. That silence spoke louder than any excuse ever could.
Dorothy let out a long sigh, the disappointment in her eyes painfully obvious.
‘I’m deeply disappointed in you, Sienna.” Her voice was low and heavy. “I actually thought you’d genuinely turned over a new leaf, wanted a fresh start. I was
such a fool to forgive and trust you so easily.”
Sienna’s shoulders sagged, lacking the courage to meet Dorothy’s eyes.
Tears streamed down her face. “I just wanted… I just wanted you to like me…” Her voice was completely broken.
“Through theft and deception?” Grandmother let out a bitter laugh. “Is this what the Bailey family taught you about values?”
I spoke up, my voice calm and controlled. “Grandmother, I think Miss Bailey needs to leave.”
Grandmother nodded without hesitation and pressed the call button on the table. Within a minute, two security guards appeared at the door.
“Please escort Miss Bailey off the estate,” she said with finality. “And make sure her name never appears on the visitor list again.”
As Sienna was being led away, I saw her tear–streaked face filled with fear and desperation.
1/4
Chapter 53
When only Grandmother and I remained in the room, silence settled over us.
I walked to the window, watching Sienna being escorted to the main gate,
I want to terminate the arranged marriage contract with the Bailey family,” I said calmly. “Now you should have a clear picture of what my so–called wife is really like.”
Grandmother’s sigh echoed behind me.
I certainly misjudged her, Caspar.” She shook her head.
“When she came to apologize, she seemed so sincere. I thought she deserved another shot. Never imagined she was this kind of person.”
Her voice carried deep regret. “I support your decision.”
I turned back, somewhat surprised by her quick concession.
“But,” she added, her tone becoming firm again, “Noah really does need a mother.”
I couldn’t help but think back to the incident at the gallery a few weeks ago when Noah got into a scuffle with another kid over “not having a mom.”
That day, his little fists were clenched tight, tears welling in his eyes, but he stubbornly refused to let them fall.
In that moment, I felt utterly helpless.
“I know,” I finally admitted, my voice more tired than I’d expected. “He really does.”
Grandmother gave me a meaningful look.
“I noticed Audrey and Noah get along like a house on fire,” she said softly. “And frankly, my dear grandson, you seem quite taken with her yourself.”
I looked at Grandmother with surprise, not expecting her to connect me and Audrey so quickly.
“Last time you told me Audrey was already married and had zero interest in me.”
Grandmother raised an eyebrow, a mysterious smile playing at the corners of her mouth. “People change, Caspar. So do feelings.”
I caught Grandmother’s hint but just chuckled, treating it like she was pulling my leg.
‘Are you encouraging me to be a homewrecker?” I reminded her, deliberately keeping my tone light.
Grandmother raised an eyebrow, her eyes sparkling with challenge.
“If you can’t even win her over, it means the Thornton genes have gone soft.”
With that, she turned and left the room, leaving me standing there alone.
I watched Grandmother’s retreating figure and couldn’t help but shake my head with a wry smile.
Dorothy Thornton, one of Wall Street’s shrewdest investors, was being absolutely ridiculous when it came to her grandson’s love life.
2/4
10:26 pm GP PP
Chapter 53
Edward stepped forward and began clearing the cups from the coffee table.
He cleared his throat and spoke carefully, ‘If I may venture an opinion, sir, I’m with Mrs. Dorothy on this one.”
I turned my head, looking at him with some surprise. ‘You’re getting in on this nonsense too? I chided gently.
Edward paused in his work, choosing his words carefully. I’ve just noticed that Noah is a completely different child around Miss Lane
He paused before continuing, “And… you smile more when you’re with her too.”
With that, he hurried out with the cups like someone was chasing him.
I stood there, mulling over Grandmother’s and Edward’s words, feeling somewhat moved despite myself.
But I still had my wits about me.
I recalled when I had James investigate Audrey Lane last time–he clearly stated that no marriage records for her could be found in any public database.
Grandmother had said Audrey told her she was married, but this completely contradicted James’s findings.
I needed to find time to get to the bottom of this.
If she really was married, then all these thoughts were pointless; if she wasn’t…
I walked down the hallway toward Noah’s art studio.
The door was slightly ajar, and I could hear Noah and Audrey’s laughter from inside.
I stopped outside the door, peering through the crack to see them painting together.
Noah was kneeling on his chair, focused on applying blue and purple to his canvas, while Audrey guided him from the side, occasionally helping him adjust his brushstrokes.
‘Noah, you’ve really made tremendous progress lately,” Audrey said gently. “Not just in painting techniques–your communication skills and social abilities have improved dramatically too.”
Noah looked up, his eyes sparkling with pride. “Really?”
“Absolutely,” Audrey smiled and nodded. “You can express your thoughts so well now. You know what? Even without me, you’ll adapt just fine.”
Noah’s brush tip froze on the canvas. He looked up at Audrey, confusion flickering in his eyes. “Why without you?”
Audrey sighed softly, her fingers gently stroking Noah’s hair. “Because… I’ll be leaving the gallery soon, Noah.”
My hand, which had been about to push the door open, froze mid–motion, and my heartbeat seemed to stop in that moment.
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.
