Chapter 92
Audrey’s POV:
“Audrey, wait,” Eleanor said, slightly out of breath.
:
Her perfectly manicured hand reached out but stopped short of actually touching me.
“I’m sorry. I… I think I may have misunderstood the situation. ”
I paused for just a moment, my hand already on the doorknob.
Without turning to look at her, I simply said.
“I’m used to it by now.”
Then I pulled the door open and walked out, not giving her another chance to speak.
The elevator arrived almost immediately, as if the universe had decided to grant me at least one small mercy.
As the doors closed, I caught a glimpse of Eleanor still standing in the doorway, her expression unreadable.
In the safety of my car, I finally allowed myself to exhale. Dealing with my family was draining
My phone buzzed in my purse.
I fished it out, expecting it to be Caspar checking in. Instead, Finley’s name flashed across the screen.
I had called him multiple times over the past few days, desperate to discuss Clara’s sudden engagement, but he had been uncharacteristically unreachable.
“Finally decided to return my calls?” I answered, trying to keep my tone light.
“Sorry about that.” Finley’s voice sounded rough, almost raspy, as if he hadn’t slept in days. “Been dealing with… stuff.”
I started the car but remained parked. “I’ve been trying to reach you for days, Fin. Where have you been?”
A long sigh came through the speaker.
“Here and there. Mostly at the bottom of a whiskey bottle, if I’m being honest.”
‘Is this about Clara?” I asked directly. “About the engagement?”
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18:30 Fri, Jan 30
Chapter 92
…
There was a long pause on the other end of the line.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“Not over the phone,” he finally said, his voice sounding tired.
“Where are you?”
“The Corner Pub.”
It was a small, dimly lit bar in Chelsea.
“I’ll be there in twenty.”
My mind was already racing with possibilities. What had happened between him and Clara?
The drive to Chelsea was a blur of yellow cabs and pedestrians, my thoughts too preoccupied with Finley to register much else.
The Corner Pub lived up to its name, tucked away on a corner with minimal signage.
Inside, the lighting was low, the wood–paneled walls absorbing what little illumination there was.
I spotted Finley immediately, hunched over the bar with a half–empty bottle of whiskey in front of him.
His usually immaculate appearance was disheveled–shirt wrinkled, hair uncombed, stubble darkening his jaw.
As I approached, he raised the glass to his lips and drained it in one go.
‘Starting the party without me?” I asked, sliding onto the stool beside him.
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Finley turned, his bloodshot eyes taking a moment to focus on my face. When recognition dawned, he attempted a smile that didn’t quite
reach his eyes.
“Alright, I said firmly, getting straight to the point. “Tell me what’s going on. What happened?”
Finley poured himself another generous measure.
‘I’m engaged,” he said flatly, staring into his glass. “To Clara Cole.”
“And that’s making you this miserable?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “If it’s so awful, why did you agree to it?”
He shook his head slowly, the movement slightly unsteady.
18:30 Fri, Jan 30
Chapter 92
“It’s not Clara. Clara is… she’s lovely. He took another sip. “It’s the whole damn arrangement. I’m about to lose my gallery.”
7 don’t understand,” I said.
“My father’s health is declining, Finley explained, his voice bitter.
“And suddenly everyone’s decided it’s time for me to stop playing around with that art gallery and take my rightful place in the family
business.
He gestured with his glass, some of the amber liquid sloshing over the rim. “Clara is just the means to an end for them–a pretty chain to keep me tied to the family business.”
“Wait,” I said, genuinely shocked. “What are your feelings for Clara? *
Finley’s eyes glazed over, the alcohol clearly loosening his tongue. I’ve been in love with her since high school,” he confessed, his voice
slurring slightly.
“But she doesn’t feel the same way. Never has.”
“What? Are you sure about that?”
He nodded emphatically, nearly tipping over on his stool.
I stared at him, completely confused. This directly contradicted what Clara had told me–that she’d been secretly in love with Finley for
years.
“Finley,” I said, making a quick decision, ‘would you mind if I called Clara? She’s really worried about you.”
“Clara?” he mumbled, his eyes suddenly struggling to stay open. ‘She’s… she always… His words trailed off into an unintelligible murmur.
Before I could get anything more coherent from him, Finley slumped forward, his head nearly hitting the bar before I managed to catch
his shoulder.
He was completely passed out, the combination of whiskey and emotional exhaustion finally taking its toll.
I sighed, looking at my friends‘ unconscious form with a mixture of sympathy and exasperation.
After a moment’s consideration, I pulled out my phone and scrolled to Clara’s number.
She answered on the second ring. “Audrey?‘
‘Clara, it’s about Finley,” I said, keeping my voice low. ‘He’s at The Corner Pub in Chelsea, and he’s… well, he’s had quite a bit to drink.
*F91 ka right there * she said without hesitation.
18:30 Fri, Jan 30
Chapter 92
“I don’t think that’s going to be a problem, I muttered, glancing at Finley’s slumped form.
Less than twenty minutes later, the door to the pub swung open.
Clara rushed in, her eyes scanning the dimly lit space until she spotted us.
She hurried over, her face a mask of concern as she took in Finley’s condition.
When she looked up at me, her eyes were shining with unshed tears.
“He’s this upset about our engagement, isn’t he? He really doesn’t want to marry me.”
Clara- I started, but she shook her head.
“I should have known. All these years, Finley never had a girlfriend. I thought maybe… but I was just fooling myself.”
She took a deep breath, her shoulders straightening with resolve.
“Someone deserves to be happy in this situation. If he doesn’t want to be with me, I’ll go back to my family and tell them to cancel the engagement. I won’t force him into-
“Clara, stop!” I said, grabbing her arm before she could continue down this completely wrong path.
“You’ve got it all wrong.”
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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.
