Chapter 235
“What’s going on?”
The front door swung open as Logan stepped inside.
He handed his briefcase to the butler, his eyes quickly catching the shattered coffee cup on the floor before shifting to Lucia’s tense expression,
When he noticed her staring in stunned silence at someone nearby, his gaze followed hers, landing on Audrey
His face immediately clouded over.
“You’re back,” he said, his tone cool and distant.
Yann set down his cup and stood, a few inches taller than Logan. “Didn’t you call and ask me to come?”
Logan drew in a breath, forcing down whatever he wanted to say. He gestured for the staff to clean up the mess on the floor and, as he rolled up his sleeves, added, “Let’s eat first. We’ll talk after dinner.”
He shot Lucia a subtle but unmistakable warning glance before telling the staff to serve the food.
Lucia couldn’t stop staring at Audrey. Her mind was in chaos.
Never in her wildest imagination had she thought that the woman Yann married would turn out to be her own daughter.
To her, Audrey had always been difficult, rebellious and appreciative of the sacrifices a mother made. Worse, she had always sided with her father, never with Lucia.
‘How could she marry Logan’s son?‘ she thought bitterly.
Lucia walked quickly toward Audrey, about to speak, when Yann stepped between them and held out his hand.
Audrey took it without hesitation, and the two headed toward the dining room together.
Lucia’s eyes burned red with fury. Her throat felt tight with everything she wanted to say, but she held it in and followed behind them in silence.
Once seated, the staff began serving dinner.
But as soon as the caviar was placed on the table, Lucia gagged. She turned to the servant and snapped, “Who told you to bring that?”
“Mr. Yann Winifred requested it,” the servant replied. “He said to add it to the menu.”
Lucia looked across the table at Audrey, her eyes filled with unshed tears. “Audrey, you know I can’t stand this. Did you come here just to spite me?”
Audrey didn’t look up. Her voice was calm, even playful. “I’m just an outsider. How would I know what you can or can’t tolerate?”
Lucia’s fingers tightened around her knife and fork.
She forced herself to calm down and even tried to sound apologetic. “I didn’t know it was you. I mean, I’m married to Logan now. How could you end up with Yann…”
Yann’s voice cut through the air, cold and unmistakably hostile. “Lucia, are you trying to interfere in my marriage?”
He motioned for the servant to move the caviar in front of Audrey, then served her a small portion.
“Try it.”
Audrey picked up her spoon, took a bite, and smiled. “Tastes great.”
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Chapter 235
“Have some more.” Yann added another spoonful to her plate.
That was the last straw for Lucia. She jumped up from her chair and rushed to the bathroom.
Faint sounds of retching could be heard in the distance.
Logan sat stiffly in silence, his face a storm.
Lucia eventually returned, looking pale
I drawn. She picked at her food without saying a word.
Across from them, the newlyweds were in their own world, smiling, whispering, clearly enjoying each other’s company.
Audrey loved caviar. She ate nearly half of it.
Yann kept refilling her plate, the two of them leaning in close from time to time, exchanging quiet words and sharing laughter.
Dinner, somehow, finally ended.
Logan told Yann to meet him in the study.
Yann turned to look at Audrey, who gave him a reassuring smile.
He knew exactly what she meant. If he stayed, Lucia wouldn’t get the chance to speak with her.
Sure enough, the moment he headed upstairs, Lucia was already by Audrey’s side. “Come with me! To the garden.”
Audrey followed without a word.
The back garden was beautifully maintained. Flowers and greenery grew in well–manicured arrangements, tended regularly by professional gardeners.
In the center stood a small koi pond, its surface veiled in mist, golden fish weaving silently through the water beneath.
Lucia waited until they were alone before turning around. Gone was the elegant, composed lady from a moment ago. Her face now betrayed nothing but
irritation.
“How could you marry Yann?”
“Why not?” Audrey replied, her tone flat and composed.
That calmness only fueled Lucia’s anger. “I’m married to Logan! You’re Yann’s stepsister. How could you two possibly think that’s okay?”
A faint, almost mocking smile tugged at Audrey’s lips as she delivered the one line Lucia could never have anticipated.
“Then maybe you should divorce Logan.”
“You!” Lucia raised her hand as if to slap her. “Don’t forget, I’m
your
mother!”
Audrey didn’t move. She tilted her chin up, eyes meeting Lucia’s without a trace of fear.
“A mother?” she said coldly. “What kind of mother fights for custody just to get the child support money and then dumps her kid at her ex’s doorstep as
soon as the check clears?
“You think that makes you a mother? That word doesn’t even apply to you. It’s an insult to mothers everywhere.”
Lucia’s lips quivered with fury, her face paling her voice unsteady. “If I owe anyone, it’s George. He never blamed me for anything. Who the hell are you to judge me?”
She took a deep breath, visibly trying to collect herself.
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After a pause, she stepped closer to Audrey, this time with a gentler tone, full of wounded emotion.
“Do you have any idea what I’ve given up to stay with Logan? I couldn’t even have children of my own. And now you’re telling me to divorce him? What am I supposed to do? How am I supposed to survive?”
Audrey gave a short, bitter laugh. “You married Logan for his money, didn’t you? He’s a businessman. He knows how to protect his interests. There’s no way he’d let your child compete for his inheritance.”
Lucia had known that from the start, and it was even her suggestion.
To put Logan’s mind at ease, she’d gone so far as to have herself sterilized. And now here she was, playing the victim.
She’d never cared about anyone but herself. But to live the life of a rich man’s wife, she hadn’t hesitated to sacrifice her own body. Audrey had just laid it
bare.
Lucia’s expression darkened with embarrassment.
Seeing they were still alone, she suddenly reached out and grabbed Audrey’s hand.
“Sweetheart, I’m not young anymore. With my health and my age, I can’t remarry. But you’re still so young. You’ve got your whole future ahead of you. If what you want is to marry into wealth, I can help. I can introduce you to someone…”
Audrey calmly peeled her fingers away, one by one, her eyes utterly devoid of warmth.
“I’m an adult,” she said coldly. “I can decide who I marry.”
Realizing persuasion wouldn’t work, Lucia wiped at the corners of her eyes, though there were no tears there, and straightened her posture, putting on the dignified airs of a wealthy matriarch once more.
“Logan will never acknowledge you. Fighting me won’t change that. If you just listen to me, I can still help you find someone decent. But if you insist on going your own way…”
“If he won’t acknowledge me,” Audrey cut in, turning to walk away, “then what’s the point of this conversation?”
She stepped into the living room just as Logan and Yann came down the stairs.
Yann was ahead, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a leather document folder. He moved with easy confidence, casual and assured.
He walked up to Audrey and held out his hand. “Let’s go home.”
Audrey smiled and slipped her hand into his.
Behind them, Logan looked grim. His eyes landed on Audrey’s wrist and the bracelet she was wearing. A flicker of disbelief crossed his face. He missed a step on the staircase, barely catching himself.
Lucia had hurried after Audrey, ready to say more, but the moment she saw both Logan and Yann in the room, she forced a cheerful sm already? Why not stay a little longer?”
No one responded, not even Logan.
u’re leaving
His gaze stayed locked on Audrey’s bracelet. He hadn’t noticed it at dinner, but now that he saw it up close, he realized it had been years since he last saw that piece.
A creeping sense of dread began to rise in Lucia’s chest. Something had shifted. She didn’t know what Logan and Yann had talked about, but suddenly, Logan’s attitude toward her felt different.
