Audrey's POV:

Noah fell asleep in the car, his small head resting heavily against my shoulder. I carried him up to his room, tucked him in, and lingered for a moment, stroking his hair until his breathing became deep and regular.

When I stepped back into the living room, the silence between Caspar and me felt heavy. Without Noah as a buffer, the air seemed to shrink. The memory of my previous drunken outburst—and his surprising patience—hung between us.

"I should go," I said hastily, reaching for my bag.

"Miss Lane, please wait." Caspar intercepted me, his presence overwhelming but his expression unexpectedly soft. "I want to apologize for my previous behavior. I shouldn't have questioned your motives regarding Noah."

I was stunned. Caspar Thornton, the man who commanded empires, was actually apologizing to me. "I... I appreciate that, Mr. Thornton. And please know, I would never let our personal misunderstandings affect my care for Noah."

Just then, Noah appeared in the hallway, rubbing his eyes. "Miss Audrey, are you leaving?"

I knelt down to comfort him. He looked at both of us, his innocent mind trying to bridge the gap. "Can we all take a nap together? Like a family?"

The silence that followed was agonizing. I gently explained that marriage was a special commitment and that adults didn't just 'sleep together' without it.

"Then you can marry Daddy!" Noah announced with the simple logic of a four-year-old.

Caspar’s expression remained unreadable as I steered the conversation back. Eventually, I agreed to stay by Noah’s bedside until he drifted off again. I told him a story about a quiet forest creature who found strength in silence, and as he fell asleep, he mumbled, "Don't go..."

Later that afternoon, Noah insisted on going to the indoor pool. Half an hour later, I was sitting poolside in a lounge chair, watching Caspar and Noah.

Caspar’s athletic build was undeniable, a testament to his disciplined routine. I found myself staring a moment too long. When he caught my gaze, a small, knowing smile played on his lips. Flustered, I stood up too quickly, my foot slipping on the wet tiles.

Terror seized me as I felt myself falling. Childhood memories of a near-drowning incident flooded back, paralyzing me. I hit the water and felt the cold depths closing in.

Suddenly, a pair of strong, steady arms caught me. Caspar had swum over with lightning speed. He supported my weight, pulling me toward the edge. I gasped for air, instinctively clinging to him as the fear receded.

"I've got you, Audrey," he murmured, his voice steadying my frantic pulse.

In that moment, the water around us was forgotten. I was safe, and for the first time, the man I had spent so much time avoiding felt like the only anchor I had in the world.