Caspar's POV:

I watched Audrey as she stared at her phone, her expression pale and strained. The photograph of the three of us at the amusement park had already ignited a firestorm within New York’s elite social circles.

"I’m so sorry," she whispered, her eyes still fixed on the headline. "I never imagined a private day out would lead to this."

"Did your grandmother get the wrong idea?" She looked up at me, her voice trembling slightly with unease.

I thought back to my conversation with Dorothy just moments ago. My grandmother had been relentless, her voice filled with sharp curiosity about the woman who had managed to crack Noah’s shell so completely. She was already suggesting a formal introduction.

But until I understood exactly who Audrey Lane was—and why she felt so familiar—I wasn't ready to let her into the inner sanctum of the Thornton family.

"I’ve handled it," I replied curtly. I pulled out my phone and sent a one-word command to James: Scrubbed. Within minutes, the reply came back: Confirmed. All stories are offline.

The car pulled into the estate’s driveway. Noah was fast asleep in Audrey’s arms, his face wearing a serene smile I hadn't seen in a long time. She carried him inside with a grace that felt instinctive, cradling him like something fragile and priceless.

As she placed him on the sofa, Noah stirred, his small hand clutching her sleeve. "Miss Audrey..." he mumbled, eyes half-open.

"I’m right here," she soothed, brushing a stray hair from his forehead.

I watched them, a storm of conflicting emotions churning in my chest. Just then, the butler announced that dinner was served.

"Stay," I said, trying to keep my voice neutral. "It’s late, and you haven't eaten."

She hesitated, her professional walls sliding back into place. "That's not necessary, I—"

"Please, Miss Audrey! Stay for dinner!" Noah tugged at her hand, using the one weapon I knew she couldn't resist: those wide, hopeful eyes.

"Alright," she eventually conceded.

At the table, I noticed a peculiar coincidence. Noah was meticulously pushing the carrots to the edge of his plate. I looked over, and Audrey was doing the exact same thing.

"You don't like carrots either?" Noah asked, his eyes lighting up with delight.

Audrey looked a bit sheepish. "Never have, even as a child."

"Me neither!" Noah exclaimed. "Daddy always says they're good for me."

I cleared my throat. "They are good for you."

Both of them wrinkled their noses in perfect unison. The resemblance in their mannerisms was striking—and deeply unsettling.

Throughout the meal, Noah was more talkative than he had been in the past year combined. He shared stories, laughed, and looked at Audrey with pure adoration. When the evening ended, she knelt down to meet him at eye level.

"Noah, you have to promise me something," she said, her expression becoming serious. "Your father loves you more than anyone. Don't use words to hurt those who care for you. Words can be like swords."

Noah looked at me, then back at her, and nodded solemnly. "I understand."

I stood there, utterly perplexed. If Audrey was a social climber, this was the moment she should have been using her leverage over Noah to get to me. Instead, she was strengthening the bond between father and son.

When she turned to me, the warmth in her eyes vanished, replaced by a cold, distant politeness. "Thank you for the meal. I’ve called a cab."

"It’s late," I said, the words leaving my mouth before I could stop them. "You could stay in the guest wing."

"No," she said instantly, avoiding my gaze. "I prefer to head home."

Watching her taxi disappear into the night, I felt a sharp, inexplicable irritation. I sat down next to Noah on the sofa.

"Daddy," he said quietly, "I'm sorry about this morning."

The apology caught me off guard. I ruffed his hair gently. "It’s okay, Noah."

He leaned against me, his small voice full of earnestness. "I love you, Daddy. And I really, really like Miss Audrey. When I grow up, I’m going to marry her so she stays forever."

I couldn't help but chuckle. "You’re only four."

"But I asked her to be my mommy," Noah whispered, his eyes welling up. "And she said no."

My smile faded. If Audrey were truly scheming, why would she refuse the one role that would grant her everything? No gold-digger would play hard-to-get with a child’s heart.

I carried Noah up to bed, but as I stood alone in my study later, looking out at the dark New York skyline, the question haunted me.

Audrey Lane, what is your true purpose? And why does it feel like you’re the only person I can’t read?