Chapter 88
Audrey’s POV:
“Are you quite certain there’s nothing else?”
Caspar repeated, and his eyes fixed on mine with an intensity.
I opened my mouth, but no words came out.
My mind raced through everything I’d just said about him.
Reserved. Serious. Moody. No sense of humor..
:
The memory of each criticism felt like another nail in my professional coffin.
Dorothy, however, seemed utterly delighted by this turn of events.
“Caspar, dear! Perfect timing. Audrey was just giving me some insights about areas where you might improve.”
“So I heard,” he replied, his tone revealing nothing as he stepped onto the terrace.
I stared at my teacup, wishing desperately for some way to rewind the last five minutes of my life.
“Mr. Thornton, I—”
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“Please,” he interrupted smoothly, the corner of his mouth quirking up ever so slightly, “continue. I’m interested in hearing what other…
deficiencies you’ve observed.”
I shook my head, unable to meet his gaze. “I shouldn’t have–I was just-”
“Nonsense!” Dorothy interjected, patting my hand encouragingly.
“Everyone needs honest feedback, Caspar. You should be grateful someone is brave enough to point out your shortcomings. Lord knows
your board of directors would never dare.”
Wait a minute I studied Dorothy’s overly sincere expression.
Is she really not trying to drive a wedge between us? I thought, feeling like I might cry from frustration.
I wanted to disappear, to sink through the terrace floor and vanish from this mortifying scene.
“You’re absolutely right, Grandma,” Caspar nodded, surprising me with his calm agreement.
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Chapter 88
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He then turned to me, his voice unexpectedly gentle. “I apologize if I startled you, Audrey.”
I blinked, completely caught off guard by his response.
Where was the cold fury I’d expected? The dismissal? The professional distance?
He continued, his eyes crinkling slightly at the corners. “I will try my best to change.”
Dorothy nodded approvingly.
“A man should always be willing to improve himself, especially when a lovely young woman points out his flaws.”
I glanced between grandmother and grandson, feeling suddenly as though I’d lost the thread of what was happening.
What exactly was going on here? I couldn’t read the undercurrents flowing between them, and it left me feeling adrift and confused.
“And do try to develop a sense of humor,” Dorothy added.
“Yes, Grandma.”
“And don’t be so serious all the time.”
“I’ll work on that.”
“And for heaven’s sake, stop scowling at people.”
“Understood.”
To each instruction, Caspar responded with a simple, efficient “yes” or “good,“.
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Finally, Dorothy turned her attention back to me, her smile warm but calculating.
“I’m so pleased that you and Caspar are getting to know each other better. I do hope you’ll develop a good relationship.”
The emphasis she placed on “relationship” was unmistakable, and I felt my cheeks heat up.
This sudden warmth toward me was startling–I clearly remembered our first meeting, when she’d regarded me with suspicion, her eyes
narrowed as she assessed whether I was some kind of threat to Caspar or great–grandson.
“Mrs. Thornton,” I said carefully, “I think you might be misunderstanding. Caspar and I are friends at most.
I hesitated and added, “I don’t particularly… I mean, I don’t really…”
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Chapter 88
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My voice trailed off as I struggled to articulate that I wasn’t interested in Caspar, suddenly aware of how unconvincing I sounded even to myself.
Dorothy interrupted me, her eyebrows rose slightly. “Is it because you’re married, dear? Is that the obstacle?”
It suddenly dawned on me that Dorothy didn’t know about my recent divorce.
A convenient excuse presented itself, and I seized it without thinking.
I nodded quickly. “Yes, that’s… that’s exactly it.”
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, avoiding Caspar’s gaze.
To my surprise, Dorothy’s expression softened with what looked almost like relief.
“Oh, is that all?” She waved her hand dismissively, her demeanor suddenly more relaxed. “Well, you don’t need to worry about this-
“Grandma,” Caspar interrupted, glancing pointedly at his watch.
“Noah has been waiting for quite some time now. Didn’t you promise to take him to that new dinosaur exhibit at the children’s museum?”
Dorothy looked like she wanted to say more, but instead sighed and rose from her seat.
“Yes, you’re right. I shouldn’t keep the little one waiting.” She gave me a meaningful look before departing. “We’ll continue this
conversation another time, Audrey.”
As Dorothy’s footsteps faded away, the terrace fell into a weighted silence.
I sat frozen in my chair, painfully aware of Caspar’s presence across from me.
The gentle clinking of a teacup against its saucer sounded unnaturally loud in the stillness.
“Mr. Thornton,” I forced myself to look up at him, ” I was just… rambling nonsense to your grandmother. I didn’t mean any of it. Actually,
you are very good.”
The words hung awkwardly in the air between us.
I immediately regretted my clumsy phrasing-“very good” sounded like I was evaluating a preschooler’s finger painting rather than
attempting to compliment a grown man.
Caspar’s expression shifted subtly, the corner of his mouth twitching almost imperceptibly.
Then, unexpectedly, he met my eyes.
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Chapter 88
“Really?” he asked, his voice deceptively casual.
:
“If I’m so ‘very good,‘ then why do you have absolutely no interest in me, Audrey?”
My heart dropped suddenly.
I felt my mouth open slightly, then close again as words failed me completely.
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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.
