rey’s POV:
I was still fuming over Samuel West’s rudeness.
A loud crash from downstairs interrupted my angry thoughts, followed by raised voices that echoed through the apartment.
With a sigh, I swung my legs over the side of the bed and reached for my robe.
As I made my way downstairs, the commotion grew louder.
A woman’s voice, slurred but unmistakably Sienna’s, carried up the stairwell.
“Where is she? Where’s Audrey?”
I paused at the bottom of the stairs. Sienna stood swaying in the center of the living room, her designer dress rumpled and stained with what looked like red wine. Her makeup was smeared, mascara tracking down her cheeks.
George and Eleanor stood nearby in their robes, their faces a mixture of concern and embarrassment.
Margaret appeared from her room, leaning heavily on her cane.
When Sienna spotted me, her eyes narrowed. “There you are!” She pointed an accusatory finger at me, nearly losing her balance in the process. “You satisfied now? Deliberately exposing me in front of Dorothy Thornton!”
I remained silent, watching as she stumbled toward me.
“You told her I took Margaret’s painting! Do you have any idea how hard I worked to get close to Dorothy?” She laughed bitterly. “This was my chance to enter New York’s top social circles! And you ruined it!”
She swayed dangerously, grabbing the back of a chair to steady herself. “What, just because you can paint a few pictures, you think you deserve the Thorntons‘ attention? Why do you always get everything so easily?”
George and Eleanor exchanged a glance, both stunned to hear Sienna admit to taking Margaret’s painting.
Without a word, I turned and walked back upstairs to my room.
I retrieved the wrapped canvas Dorothy had given to Caspar to return to me–Margaret’s painting. When I returned to the living room, I placed it carefully on the crystal coffee table in the center of the room.
“Grandma,” I said, my voice steady despite the tension in the air, “this is your painting. I retrieved it from Dorothy Thornton.”
Margaret’s eyes widened as she stared at the familiar canvas.
“Dorothy invited me to help her evaluate a painting,” I explained. “I didn’t expect it to be the one I gave you.” I met Sienna’s glare without flinching. “I simply mentioned you had an identical one.”
“Liar!” Sienna spat. “You’re just jealous that Dorothy and I were getting close. You couldn’t stand to see me happy!”
1/4
Chapter 56
Eleanor quickly stepped forward. “Sienna was only approaching Dorothy for the Bailey family’s benefit
Why would you expose Sienna publicly?” George interrupted, his face flushed with anger. ‘Do you realize how embarrassing this is for the Bailey family? How could you make us lose face in front of the Thorntons?”
I took a deep breath, keeping my voice level.
“Face isn’t given by others; it’s earned through your actions. If you’re concerned about the family’s reputation, perhaps you should first teach Sienna not to be a thief.”
Sienna let out a shriek and lunged toward me.
But the next moment, the sound of Margaret’s palm connecting with Sienna’s cheek echoed through the suddenly silent room.
“Enough! Margaret’s voice was low but commanding. “I will not tolerate this behavior anymore, Sienna. I’ve indulged you far too long.”
George stepped forward. “Mother, surely you can’t blame Sienna for-”
“Silence! Margaret cut him off. “This painting was a gift from Audrey, one I treasured. And Sienna stole it to curry favor with the Thorntons.”
“But Mother- Eleanor began.
*If anyone says another word in defense of this behavior,” Margaret said coldly, ‘you can pack your things and leave this house. And you won’t see a penny
of my estate.
The room fell utterly silent.
A mixture of hatred and fear flickered across Sienna’s face.
Margaret, no longer interested in the mess before her, simply turned and walked back to her bedroom, ignoring them all.
I was about to retreat to my room when I heard Eleanor’s hushed voice.
“Well, now that Sienna’s completely burned the bridge with the Thornton family, that avenue is clearly closed to us,” she whispered urgently to George, apparently thinking I was out of earshot. “Did you hear anything back from Samuel West?”
George shook his head, his expression grim.
“You contacted Samuel?” I asked, my voice cutting through their whispered conversation.
Both George and Eleanor jumped, whirling around to face me. The color drained from Eleanor’s face while George’s turned an alarming shade of red.
“Audrey! I thought you’d gone upstairs,” Eleanor said, her hand fluttering nervously at her throat.
“Clearly,” I replied coldly. “Why are you contacting him behind my back?”
George cleared his throat, exchanging a quick glance with Eleanor. “It’s nothing. Just… checking in about the contract marriage situation.”
But the panicked look in his eyes and the way Eleanor’s fingers twisted her silk robe told a different story.
2/4
10:27 pm G P P P
Chapter 56
Samuel’s words flashed through my mind again.
Suddenly, their hushed conversation about “options” and their anxiety over Samuel’s silence made perfect sense. A cold realization washed over me
‘You asked Samuel for more money, didn’t you?” I said, my voice like ice.
Their reactions confirmed everything. Eleanor’s hand froze mid–twist on her robe, and George’s face went from red to purple in an instant.
“So what if we did?” George finally blurted out, his tone defensive. “The company’s facing some financial difficulties. What’s wrong with asking for help from
our son–in–law?
I stared at him incredulously. Son–in–law? The audacity was breathtaking.
The casual greed in their expressions made my stomach turn.
“Well, you can stop your renegotiations,” I said flatly. “Samuel contacted me today. He wants a divorce.”
George and Eleanor exchanged panicked glances.
‘Divorce?” Eleanor whispered, as if I’d uttered an obscenity.
‘Did he… did he say anything about continuing the investment in Bailey Enterprises?” George asked, not even attempting to hide his true concern. Not my wellbeing, not my future–just the money.
“Forget it,” I said, my voice flat. “He’s completely done with all of you and your endless greed. Those were practically his exact words.”
Eleanor’s face crumpled. She rushed forward, grabbing my arm with surprising strength.
“You have to help us, Audrey,” she pleaded. “Go to him–beg him if you have to. Or maybe Caspar Thornton? You’re close with his son; surely he would listen to you. The company really needs capital right now.”
I looked down at her hand on my arm, then back at her desperate face.
“You know,” I said quietly, removing her hand from my arm, “I keep thinking I can’t be more disappointed in you both, and yet you always find new ways to
prove me wrong.”
A heavy silence fell between us. Sienna had slumped onto the couch, watching the scene unfold with glazed eyes.
I took a deep breath. “I could help you, but I have one condition.”
Their heads snapped up simultaneously, hope flickering in their eyes.
I looked directly into their eyes and spoke softly. “Tell me exactly how my child died.”
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.
