Chapter 74
Audrey’s POV:
The morning light filtered through the windows as my car pulled up to the lawyer’s office.
I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was to come.
Finally. After four long years, I was about to end this farce of a marriage.
I checked my reflection in the rearview mirror, straightening my shoulders. Then I stepped out of the car and walked purposefully toward
the imposing glass building.
Inside, the receptionist directed me to a conference room.
As I approached the frosted glass door, my heart unexpectedly quickened.
Would I finally see the face of the man who had been my legal husband for four years?
When I entered, a well–dressed man in an impeccable navy suit stood with his back to me, gazing out the window.
His posture was straight, shoulders broad beneath the fabric.
So this was Samuel West?
“Mr. West?” I said, my voice steadier than I felt.
The man turned, surprise registering on his face.
He was handsome in a conventional way, but with silver at his temples and lines around his eyes that suggested he was at least twenty
years my senior.
‘Oh, I’m afraid there’s a misunderstanding,” he said quickly, extending his hand. “Jeffrey Parker, Mr. West’s legal representative. Mr. West
couldn’t attend in person today.”
A small, ridiculous wave of disappointment washed over me.
“I see,” I replied, accepting his handshake. “I’m Audrey Lane.”
‘Mr. West sends his apologies for not attending,” Parker continued smoothly. “Business commitments couldn’t be rescheduled.”
“Of course,” I said, keeping my voice neutral. What else had I expected from a man who communicated exclusively through terse
messages?
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18:33 Wed, Jan 28 M…
Chapter 74
The process was surprisingly quick and painless. Sign here, initial there. The representative was efficient and courteous, making what could have been an awkward situation almost pleasant.
When he slid the final document toward me, I felt my hand tremble slightly before signing my name with a decisive stroke.
It was done. After four years, it’s time for me to start my new life.
As I walked out of the building, I took a deep breath of the crisp morning air.
The weight that had been pressing on my chest for years seemed to lift, just a little.
A sudden urge to celebrate washed over me.
Then it hit me–Noah. I’d promised to cook him a special meal weeks ago but had continuously put it off, claiming I was too busy.
What better way to mark this new beginning than by finally keeping that promise?
Driving back to the Thornton estate, I felt lighter than I had in years.
The radio played softly as I hummed along, actually looking forward to the afternoon ahead.
When I arrived at the estate, I headed to the living room, hoping to find Noah. Instead, I found both Thorntons–Noah sprawled on the
carpet with a pile of colored pencils, and Caspar seated on the sofa with his laptop.
Caspar looked up first, his eyes scanning my face. Something in his expression relaxed when he saw my smile.
‘I take it everything went smoothly?” he asked, closing his laptop.
“Signed, sealed, and delivered,” I confirmed, feeling another wave of relief wash over me.
‘As of this morning, I am officially no longer Mrs. Samuel West.”
Noah looked up from his drawing. “What does that mean?”
I knelt down beside him. “It means I’m going to fulfill my promise to cook a big meal for you today.”
Noah’s eyes widened. “Really? Today?”
“Really,” I nodded. “I thought we could go to the Chelsea farmers market and pick out the ingredients together. Would you like that?”
“Yes!” Noah jumped up, his drawing forgotten. “Can we go now?”
“Of course,” I smiled, reaching for his hand. “That’s why I came to find you.”
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Chapter 74
I took Noah’s small hand in mine and turned toward the door, then paused as I caught Caspar’s gaze.
There was something in his eyes–a flicker of something that might have been longing, or perhaps just curiosity.
His eyebrows rose slightly as he looked from his son to me.
“That sounds interesting. Would you mind if I joined you?”
I hesitated, trying to picture Caspar Thornton–Wall Street titan, perfectly tailored suits, probably never carried his own groceries in his
life–navigating the crowded, sometimes muddy aisles of a farmers market.
“Um, it’s not really… I mean, it’s pretty casual,” I stammered. “Lots of people, small spaces, vendors calling out prices. Not exactly your
scene, I would think.”
“Dad can come!” Noah insisted, grabbing his father’s hand. “He likes vegetables too, right Dad?”
Caspar looked down at his son with a softness I rarely saw. “I do indeed like vegetables.”
Noah turned to me with pleading eyes. “Please, Audrey? Dad can help carry the heavy stuff.”
Put that way, how could I refuse? I looked at Caspar, who was watching me with something that might have been amusement in his eyes.
“Fine,” I sighed, but couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at my lips. “But you’re on bag duty, Thornton. And I’m warning you now- there will be crowds, and noise, and people who have no idea who King C is.”
‘I believe I’ll survive the ordeal,” he replied dryly, but there was a lightness in his voice I rarely heard.
“Yay!” Noah cheered.
Twenty minutes later, we were in the massive underground garage of the Thornton estate.
I couldn’t help but stare at the collection of luxury vehicles lined up like soldiers at attention–Bentleys, Ferraris, even what looked like a
vintage Aston Martin.
Caspar pulled out a key fob and started walking toward a sleek black Maserati.
“Wait,” I said, touching his arm lightly. “We’re just going to a farmers market. Maybe something a little less… conspicuous?”
He paused, looking genuinely perplexed. “Is there something wrong with the Maserati?”
I sighed, shaking my head at his complete disconnect from regular life.
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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.
