Chapter 76.
Chapter 76
“It wasn’t me! I didn’t do it!” Valerie screamed, clutching her head as she dropped to the ground, sobbing hysterically.
Luna cowered in the female officer’s arms, her face buried deep against the uniform. The officer looked down at Valerie with an expression as cold and sharp as steel.
Moments later, a stack of injury reports was dropped in front of Clayton.
“Valerie Patterson is under investigation for suspected child abuse. She’ll remain in custody. The child will be placed under temporary care with social
services.”
Clayton stared at the photos, clusters of circular bruises and puncture wounds, utterly stunned.
‘Vally? The gentle, elegant woman I thought wouldn’t even hurt a kitten? Now accused of abusing a child?‘
As Valerie was led away, she cried out for him again and again, pleading for help. Guilt twisted in his chest. Torn and helpless, he turned and chased after Audrey.
He caught up to her quickly and reached out, only for Carson to step in front of him.
“Get out of my way,” Clayton said through gritted teeth. “I need to talk to her. Alone.”
Audrey glanced at the time, clearly annoyed. “If it’s that important, say it here. I don’t do private conversations with people I don’t trust.”
Clayton tried to reach for her again, but Carson immediately stepped between them.
Clayton shot him a furious glare before looking past him at Audrey.
“You knew, didn’t you?” His voice trembled with frustration. “Just like last time. You knew everything and didn’t say a word. You let it get to this point, dragged it all the way to the police station just to humiliate us!”
Audrey finally looked at him, calm and cold. “The only person humiliated here is the woman who hurt Luna. I did what was right. I don’t feel ashamed. I feel proud.”
Clayton’s brows furrowed as he stared at her. ‘She’s changed.‘
She used to look at him with admiration, eyes full of affection that once made him feel validated and important. Now, she looked at him like he was beneath her. There was no warmth, no hesitation. Only exhaustion and disdain.
“Audrey, what happened to you?” His voice broke. “Don’t you see this pride you wear? It came at Vally’s expense.”
Audrey didn’t even flinch. “And your precious Vally hurt Luna in ways I never could. So tell me, what exactly gives you the right to accuse me?”
The light flipped green. She stepped into the crosswalk.
Carson moved to the street side without a word, lifting his arm slightly to shield her. Clayton rushed ahead to take the opposite side.
“Audrey, wait-”
“Don’t follow me,” she cut in. “Because if you do, I’ll drag every filthy secret from the Patel family into the light.”
“You haven’t already?” Clayton exploded. “You already destroyed my father!” he snapped.
All the bitterness he’d been holding back these past days poured out like poison. “My parents might not have liked you, sure, but they never laid a hand
on you! They’re my family. You couldn’t show them any respect for my sake?
“If you’d told me earlier that Riley was misusing funds, I.could’ve stepped in. We could’ve fixed this before it spiraled.”
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20:57. Sat, 31 May
Chapter 76
Audrey stopped halfway across the road and turned to face him. Her eyes were like ice.
“Was I the one who told John to open backdoor channels for Ashwood Mental Hospital? Was I the one who had him clean up after your firm’s mess? Was I the one who bribed him and got framed for theft afterward?”
Three direct questions. Each one landed like a hammer.
Clayton froze. Panic flashed across his face.
“How do you…” His voice faltered. ‘How does she know?‘
Audrey gave a humorless laugh. “You want to know why John never supported your legal career? Because he knew you didn’t have what it takes.”
“That’s not true,” Clayton said, desperate. “I handled the wage dispute case!”
He clung to the memory like it was a lifeline. His eyes searched hers, pleading. “I helped your father get justice. Doesn’t that count for something? Doesn’t that make me your savior? Just give me one more chance. We can start over.”
Audrey took a step back. “You helped one of the victims in that case. I married you because of that. Now we’re divorced. We’re even. If you keep pushing me, I’ll settle the rest with your family.”
She turned and walked away without looking back.
Carson moved to follow, but Clayton grabbed him by the collar. “Stay the hell away from her!”
“This isn’t your call.”
“She’s my ex–wife!”
“Exactly,” Carson snapped. “Ex–wife.”
Clayton’s jaw clenched so hard it looked like he might break his teeth. His voice dropped low. “You’ve liked her all along, haven’t you? Was it you? Did you push her to divorce me?”
Carson slammed the shoebox he was holding into Clayton’s chest. “Funny how you’re the mess and still think everyone owes you something.”
The sharp edge of the box scraped against Clayton’s neck, leaving a thin red mark. His expression darkened immediately.
Carson spit toward the curb. “Valerie used that kid to keep you tied up. If you’d paid the slightest attention, you would’ve seen something was wrong. But no, you liked feeling needed.”
He stepped closer. “Audrey came here alone. No connections. No backup. She worked her ass off just to keep her footing in Ironhaven. She didn’t cry,
didn’t beg, didn’t fake weakness.
“And because of that, you treated her like she was made of stone, something you could lean on, dump on, walk over.”
Clayton’s eyes were bloodshot. A vein pulsed hard in his temple. “You want to keep pretending you never had feelings for her?”
Carson wiped the corner of his mouth and smirked. He looked like trouble and didn’t care.
“Valerie’s dad helped yours, and you gave her everything out of guilt. Audrey helped me. So tell me, what should I give her in return?”
Clayton lunged. “You son of a-”
They went at it again, fists flying right there on the sidewalk.
Audrey didn’t even turn around. She walked straight to the boutique Edana had recommended.
2/3
20:57 Sat 3T May
Chapter 76
The sign on the door said CLOSED. Of course it was.
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She’d have to come back tomorrow to pick something for the event. When she got home, Calvin and Yann were in the living room talking. They stopped when they saw her walk in.
“Don’t mind me,” she said, slipping off her shoes and setting the box down by the shoe rack. “You two keep talking.”
She started up the stairs and then paused halfway. “What should we do for dinner? I’ll cook.”
Yann looked up. “Anything’s fine.”
“Alright,” she replied, heading up.
By the time she came back down and changed into something casual, the living room was empty. On the table sat a large square box.
“I thought I was cooking,” she said, walking toward the kitchen.
པ དེ ཞེས 1:|:ཀ ན ན ན བ ས 1 :
Yann was already there, wearing an apron, and rinsing vegetables. He glanced back and nodded toward the living room. “Plans changed. We don’t need the gown anymore. Try it. If it fits, wear it to the gala.”
p4
Audrey raised an eyebrow. “There’s no way your secretary and I are the same size,” she said. ‘And I’m pretty sure a dress like that doesn’t qualify for company reimbursement.‘
“Just try it,” Yann said, still calmly chopping. The tone left no room for argument.
Audrey walked over and opened the box. Her breath caught.
Smooth satin. Intricate beadwork on the shoulders. Rhinestones glittered along the bodice. Whether they were real or not didn’t matter–the cut, the craftsmanship, the weight of the fabric–it was haute couture.
Her fingers itched. Even if it didn’t fit, she had to try it on.
To her surprise, the dress fit perfectly. Not just close, precise. As if it had been tailored to her body.
The only issue was the low back… too low.
A knock came at the door.
“Can I come in?”
“Yeah, please.”
Yann stepped inside, and for the briefest moment, something flickered in his gaze. “How is it?”
“The fit’s perfect. Just…” She caught his reflection in the mirror and spun around quickly. The low back exposed too much… her waist and the tattoo. She lifted her arm to cover it instinctively.
3/3
AD
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