Chapter 234
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All the luggage had been loaded. As Audrey stepped into the car, her gaze unintentionally swept across the distance, where she caught sight of Clayton, standing alone.
His eyes were red–rimmed, fists clenched tightly at his sides, like a man swallowed by silent anguish, with nowhere to release it.
The rawness of his emotion reached her even from afar. Regret was etched into every line of his expression, sorrow bleeding from his very stance.
Audrey’s eyes moved past him without pause. She closed the door and rolled up the window.
Freya had arranged a room for Emilia at the hotel. Work wouldn’t begin until the following day, so she was dropped off first to rest.
The rest of the group continued on to Yann’s estate in Hillcrest Gardens.
The butler, Ted King, already informed of their arrival, stood at the entrance with several staff members. As the car approached, he descended the steps briskly to greet them.
“Sir, welcome home,” Ted said, opening the car door.
Yann stepped out and offered his hand to Audrey. Once she was out of the car, he spoke with unmistakable gravity, “From now on, Audrey will be in charge of all matters within the household. See that everyone understands.”
Ted cast a quick glance toward Audrey before bowing respectfully. “Understood, sir.”
As they walked inside, Audrey leaned slightly toward Yann and murmured, “Isn’t that a bit… dramatic?”
“You’re my wife,” he said, his tone unwavering. “You deserve nothing less.”
In their world, respect wasn’t freely given. Whether it came from the household staff, business executives, or society at large, all eyes followed Yann’s
lead.
And though Audrey now bore the title of wife, if Yann showed her indifference, no one would treat her with genuine regard.
How others perceived her would be shaped entirely by how high Yann chose to hold her.
Audrey, moved by his resolve, tightened her grip on his hand. He responded in kind. Fingering the edge of his ring, she walked with him through the open doorway.
“Welcome home, Mr. and Mrs. Winifred,” the staff greeted in unison.
Audrey felt as though she had stepped into a scene from a lavish drama.
Ashbourne was known for its unforgiving real estate market, yet here they were, entering a three–thousand–square–foot villa in the prestigious Hillcrest Gardens. She wouldn’t have dared to imagine this, even in dreams.
“Ted, bring out the caviar. Handle the rest as you see fit,” Yann said casually, wiping his hands with a warm towel from a silver tray. “And have someone pick up a pecan pie from Honeycomb Bliss.”
Ted hesitated briefly, his eyes flicking from Audrey back to Yann, before bowing again. “Yes, sir.”
Yann then guided Audrey through the villa, pointing out the layout and features, when his phone rang. It was Logan, calling to invite them to dinner at the manor.
Yann’s expression cooled as he turned back to Ted.
“If you can’t keep your mouth shut,” he said evenly, “perhaps you’d be better off working back at the manor.”
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Chapter 234
Ted lowered his head further. “Sir, the news of your return to Ashbourne with Mrs. Winifred has already circulated among the family circle Mr. Logan Winifred called to ask, so I simply confirmed it.”
Ted had served the Winifred family since Yann was a boy. Now, he served as Yann’s personal butler.
“And what else did you say?”
“Nothing, sir.”
“Then that’s enough. You can leave.”
“Yes, sir.” Sweat beaded at Ted’s temples as he turned to go.
It had been a long time since he’d felt this old pressure, the kind that didn’t need to raise
its voice to command absolute fear.
At the foot of the stairs, Ted glanced back at Audrey. A flicker of worry passed through his eyes before he disappeared from sight.
“Don’t be too hard on Ted,” Audrey said gently, taking Yann’s hand. “We came back. It was only a matter of time before your family found out.”
Yann placed an arm around her shoulders and led her to the master bedroom.
It adjoined two walk–in closets. One was his own, built into the suite, and the other was formed by combining the adjacent guest room, tailored entirely
for her.
Inside was an overwhelming display, racks of designer clothes, accessories, handbags, shoes, and hats in every style and color.
“Some I chose, others my mother sent over,” Yann explained, leading her toward the wardrobe. “These are just the summer collections. The autumn and winter shipments are on their way. Take your pick.”
Audrey stood speechless, mouth slightly open in awe.
She could wear a new outfit every day for an entire summer and still have options left untouched.
An entire wall was dedicated to shoes, sneakers, stilettos, practical pumps, and an endless variety.
“This is… a bit much,” she murmured, pausing in front of a glass cabinet shimmering with golden jewelry and ornate hair clips.
She turned toward Yann. “It’s all so extravagant.”
Yann stepped behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. “What’s mine is yours. If there’s anything you want that I don’t already have, I’ll find a way to get it for you.”
She tipped her head up and kissed him on the cheek. “Then… would it be alright if I didn’t wear that leopard print set?”
He silenced her with a kiss. “Not a chance.”
The Audi A6 rolled to a smooth stop outside the gates of Winifred Manor.
Yann stepped out first, then turned to take Audrey’s hand as she exited the car with effortless grace.
At the entrance, a servant stepped forward to greet them, only to be preempted by Yann’s calm command. “There’s caviar in the trunk. Have it added to ‘dinner.”
“Yes, sir.”
The two walked side by side through the grand doorway, their presence both poised and assured.
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Chapter 234
Inside, the servant handed them coffee before hurrying upstairs to summon Lucia, Logan’s wife, from the art studio on the second floor.
Roughly ten minutes later, the rhythmic click of heels echoed down the staircase. A woman appeared, dressed in lavish elegance, her hair swept into a sculpted high bun. Her face bore a warm, practiced smile.
“Yann, you’re back at last! I had the kitchen prepare your favorite steak.” Her voice was sweet, her movements graceful as she descended.
At that moment, Audrey remained near the entrance, out of Lucia’s line of sight. Lucia knew Yarn’s wife was visiting today.
Yann had once rejected a high–profile arranged marriage, sparking serious conflict with Logan. That period had nearly seen the Winifred Group fall prey to a hostile takeover.
Only when Logan relented, granting Yann the freedom to choose his own wife, did he step in to save the company. Not only had he steadied the ship, but he had turned the tide entirely.
Lucia had been curious ever since about what sort of woman could win the heart of a man so notoriously aloof in matters of love.
She pictured someone shrewd and ambitious, and resolved to make her presence known.
In this house, Lucia had little real authority. Decisions were either dictated by Logan or finalized by Yann.
Now, with a new woman entering the picture, she was determined not to be pushed further down the pecking order.
So she didn’t bother to ask about Audrey or greet her. She would wait, expecting the newcomer to make the first move.
Audrey, meanwhile, stood silently near the entryway, coffee cup in hand, studying a large oil painting on the wall.
It was a landscape, rather awkwardly executed, more symbolic than artistic. The sort of piece one hung not for beauty, but for the claim it staked over the
room.
From her place on the sofa, Lucia watched Audrey’s back with growing irritation. The girl wasn’t just ignoring her. She was scrutinizing her painting like a
critic.
But Lucia was too practiced to show displeasure openly, especially in front of Yann. Her image of gentle elegance remained intact.
“Yann, I’m truly glad you’ve found someone,” she said, her tone light. “But marriage is a serious step. You should have at least brought her home for your
father to meet first.”
“He didn’t consult me before remarrying,” Yann replied coolly, sipping his coffee.
The smile on Lucia’s face froze for a second before she recovered, quickly shifting topics. “You’ll stay for a few days, won’t you? Your father’s sixtieth birthday is next week.”
She glanced discreetly at Audrey’s back and added, still smiling, “It’ll be a small gathering. Just family and close friends. Best not to bring… outsiders. Some of them might feel uncomfortable.”
At that, Audrey turned around, her voice smooth and steady. “And what exactly makes someone an outsider?”
The familiar voice made Lucia’s expression tighten. She looked up and froze.
The coffee cup slipped from her hand and shattered on the floor as she shot to her feet.
“You!”
