Ch. 241..250

Chapter 241

People in the office buzzed with excitement as soon as they hear that.

One said, "I knew they were for Ms. Rhodes. She was a dazzling debut on the talent show. They must be from her fan." Another said, "Or maybe they are from her admirer."

The former person said, "Don't talk nonsense. Ms. Rhodes is married."

The latter one said, "So what? She is married to some pretty boy with no future. She could still get a divorce, you know."

They didn't dare to speak too loudly, but Emily still overheard them as she walked by.

She frowned and walked up to the delivery guy, asking, "Are you looking for Ms. Rhodes?"

The delivery guy nodded and said, "Yeah, these flowers are for her. Could she come out to sign for them? I have another delivery to get to."

"Hold on a sec." Emily glanced at the roses, then turned and ran to knock on Audrey's office door.

Audrey was shocked to learn that the extravagant 100 roses were a gift for her.

She asked, "Are you sure they're for me?"

Emily said enviously, "Yes. I saw a card with them, so it's not a mistake. Audrey, I don't expect your husband to be so flashy, sending you such a large bouquet of 100 roses."

Audrey still found it unbelievable. She wandered outside in a daze.

After confirming her identity, the delivery guy handed her a receipt to sign.

Audrey didn't think Alistair was the type to make such a bold gesture. As she returned the pen to the delivery guy, she instinctively asked, "Could you tell me the name of the person who sent them?"

The delivery guy scratched his head and replied in confusion, "He only left the word 'Hayes'. I don't know his full name."

Hearing this, Audrey felt relieved. She thought, 'It must be Alistair. I didn't expect him to prepare such a surprise for me.' Audrey happily accepted the roses.

Her colleagues finally realized that the flowers were from Audrey's husband, and they all expressed their envy.

One said, "Ms. Rhodes, you've been married for a few months now, and your husband is still so romantic. What a great guy he is!"

Another one said, "Yeah, totally, Ms. Rhodes, you're so lucky to have a handsome and thoughtful husband. I'm so jealous."

Someone complained, "Well, I've been married for years, but I have never ever received flowers from my husband."

Audrey blushed a little, feeling a bit embarrassed by people's teasing.

Even though she didn't really like red roses that much, it was, after all, Alistair's gesture of affection.

Any surprise from her husband would cheer her up.

Audrey gave a slight smile. When she was about to ask Emily to take the flowers to her office, she saw someone walking out of the elevator.

The person is called, "Audrey,"

The moment Audrey recognized his face, the joy on her face completely disappeared.

She asked, "Dominic, what are you doing here?"

Dominic seemed completely unaware of her cold demeanor, looking at her deeply and said with a rich and gentle voice, "Do you like the flowers?"

Audrey was surprised. She thought, 'What? Did he send the flowers?'

The moment Audrey knew the flowers were from Dominic, her face changed right away, and she quickly threw the roses into the trash.

Dominic acted like he didn't notice the look of disgust on Audrey's face. With a cheerful smile, he said, "Audrey, I know you love roses, so I personally picked out 100 of them for you, symbolizing our love will last forever."

"Shut up." Audrey almost gagged from his disgusting words. She replied coldly, "We ended a long time ago. I don't want to be forever with you?"

She couldn't believe Dominic would go this crazy, coming all the way to the company to make a big show of his love. She wondered, 'Did Fiona accidentally knock his brains loose or something?"

 

Chapter 242

Emily wa

also disgusted and quickly used the internal phone to call security to drive Dominic away.

Dominic's eyes turned red with a sense of grievance.

Feeling lost, he looked at Audrey and carefully said, "Audrey, I don't remember what happened over the past three years, but my love for you has never changed. Can we start over? I'll care much for you." Audrey was completely speechless. Just as she was about to say something to end Dominic's self-absorbed love confession, she looked up and saw another familiar figure.

Alistair, dressed in a long trench coat, stood quietly at the back of the crowd with a bouquet of yellow roses, watching her.

The moment their eyes met, Audrey couldn't help but feel a bit guilty.

She wondered, 'How long has he been standing there?'

Even though she hadn't done anything wrong by Alistair, the situation was certainly open to misunderstanding.

Without much thought, Audrey quickly pushed aside the bouquet next to her and walked quickly towards Alistair.

She said, "Don't get the wrong idea. It's not what it seems. I didn't mean to take his flowers. I thought they were from you."

"Don't worry." Once Alistair got over the mental hurdle, he gave a soft smile, gently ruffling Audrey's hair, and said quietly, "I didn't misunderstand, so there's no need to hurry to explain it."

He never expected to witness such a scene when he went out of his way to surprise his wife.

He didn't suspect Audrey would do anything to betray him. He was just disappointed he arrived too late.

He admitted he was a bit selfish and possessive, and for a moment or two, he honestly felt a little jealous.

But he knew Audrey well enough to understand that she had moved on from Dominic long ago. He knew there was no chance of Audrey and Dominic getting back together.

Even if Dominic lost his memory, it wouldn't change anything.

Hearing Alistair's words, Audrey breathed a sigh of relief.

She didn't know since when she started caring so much about Alistair's opinion, fearing he would get jealous, misunderstand, or even worse, be unhappy.

She didn't want to continue the topic, so she looked at the bouquet in Alistair's arms and asked softly, "Is this for me?"

"Yes." Alistair handed the bouquet to Audrey, unconcerned with the eyes around them, fixing his gaze solely on her. He asked in a gentle voice, "Do you like it?"

"I like it very much." Audrey carefully held the flowers in her arms, visible joy spreading across her face. She said excitedly, "Yellow roses are my favorite. Thank you."

-The bouquet was wrapped with exceptional detail, with the wrapping paper featuring calligraphy reminiscent of classic works.

Audrey could tell it was prepared with great care,

Alistair looked at her affectionately and said, "My pleasure."

Their intimate display, as if no one else was around, made Dominic's eyes burn with jealousy.

Quickly walking over to Audrey, Dominic looked at Alistair cautiously and demanded, "Audrey, who is he?"

From the moment Alistair appeared, Dominic had been watching him closely.

Alistair was cold and radiant, as unreachable as a lotus on a snowy peak.

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Dominic always prided himself on his impressive background and good appearance. Few in Riverdale could compare to him among his peers.

Even though Dominic had amnesia after he saw Alistair, a strong sense of threat surged within him because Alistair's dignified and refined aura wasn't something just anyone could imitate and Alistair's appearance was actually somewhat superior to his own. This made Dominic very displeased, and his hostility towards Alistair showed between the lines.

 

Chapter 243

Seeing Audrey remain silent for so long, Dominic grew impatient and annoyed. He asked, "Audrey, why are you so close to him? Aren't you my girlfriend?"

Audrey rolled her eyes, disregarding the impression, and said with a cold tone, "Dominic, are you just forgetful or plain. dumb? Stop asking such silly questions." Dominic lowered his eyes, feeling hurt. He asked in a low voice, Audrey, have you fallen for him?"

Audrey was more speechless. She asked in a colder tone, "Is this never going to end? Hasn't anyone around you told you that we broke up a long time ago?" Dominic's eyebrows furrowed instantly as he confidently argued, "No way. Audrey, I love you so much. There's no way we broke up. This can't be true."

Audrey said, "We not only broke up, but it was also because you cheated and skipped our wedding. Dominic, I'm not obliged to play this recalling the past and finding your memory game with you. Please don't appear in front of me." Dominic's expression completely froze. He looked at Audrey in disbelief and his face turned pale, as if he had just heard some unbelievable story.

He thought, 'I cheated? How's it possible? I am truly and completely in love with Audrey. No, this can't be true. Audrey must be saying this just to make me angry.

Dominic's mind was in chaos. He couldn't accept the idea of betraying Audrey.

He said, "You must be lying to me. It's this guy who seduced you right? How dare he take my woman? He's asking for

trouble."

Saying this, Dominic clenched his fist and aimed for Alistair's face.

Audrey's expression changed, and she suddenly stepped in front of Alistair, coldly challenging, "Dominic, dare you lay a finger on my husband?"

She threatened Dominic so fiercely, all to protect Alistair behind her.

Dominic was nearly driven insane by the provocation.

Ignoring everything, he grabbed Audrey's arm and asked with red eyes, "Audrey, didn't you say you'd marry no one but me in your life, and that you'd stay with me forever? How could you marry someone else and call him your husband?" The crowd watching the scene instinctively held their breaths.

They wondered, 'Oh my gosh. This is just like a dramatic scene. One is an amnesiac ex-boyfriend, and the other is her current husband. Who is Ms. Rhodes supposed to choose?'

Audrey said, "Dominic, I'll say it one last time. It's been over between us for ages. The person I love now is my husband, so please stop bothering me."

As she said so, Audrey lifted her eyes to Dominic, her gaze cold and her expression stern, as if she were looking at an insignificant stranger.

Dominic's eyes darkened like the night...

He held in a surge of anger with nowhere to release it, sneering. A guy who's so stingy to only give you a measly dozen. flowers isn't worth your affection."

Audrey thought, 'What's wrong with giving me a dozen flowers? like this modest little bouquet. It's just the right size to hold in my arms.'

Audrey was just about to retort, but someone beat her to it, sneering, "What a bumpkin with no sense."

Dominic was shaking with anger, pointing at Michael who had spoken and snapping, "What did you just say?"

In Dominic's life, no one had ever dared to speak to him like that

Michael didn't flinch at his rage. He crossed his arms and sarcastically said, "I said you're rustic. Do you really think sending 100 roses makes you that impressive? "Your bouquet relies on quantity over quality. The petals of a single Juliet rose outshine them."

Upon Dominic hearing this, his face suddenly turned dark.

He wondered, 'What? These unassuming yellow roses are Juliet roses?'

 

 

Chapter 244

Though Dominic had lost his memory, he wasn't stupid.

As a cultured rich kid, he knew better than anyone the value of Juliet roses.

Juliet roses first made their way in the 13th century, then spread to many countries, becoming a flower associated with the nobility of the Middle Ages, exclusively for the wealthy. Having the money didn't guarantee one would be able to buy them.

Dominic wondered, 'How could Audrey's husband afford such expensive flowers?'

When Dominic bought roses for Audrey, he specifically requested the staff to airlift the freshest and most expensive red roses from another country.

Even so, this bouquet of 100 roses only ŝet him back a little over 3 thousand dollars.

But Juliet's roses were worth a fortune, with rumors saying a single one would cost 9 million dollars.

That meant the eleven roses in Alistair's hands were nearly 100 million dollars.

While Dominic remained silent, he heard the exclamations and discussions of Audrey's colleagues nearby.

Someone said, "I can't believe Ms. Rhodes's husband sent her Juliet roses. I've only seen them online before. I can't believe I get to see the real things today."

One said, "These Juliet roses do look different from regular roses. The petals are more intricate, and they're not just plain white. There's a soft pink at the center. So pretty." Another asked, "Is there a chance they might be fake?"

Many people didn't believe Audrey's husband could afford such expensive flowers.

They thought even if he could afford a multi-million-dollar customized car, it would be ridiculous to spend 9 million dollars on eleven roses.

One said, "I think they're real. They look just like the ones I saw online, and Ms. Rhodes's husband doesn't seem like the type to send fake flowers. Would a couple mess around with something fake?" Someone said, "Maybe he's doing it to make Ms. Rhodes look good."

Another said, "Who exactly is Ms. Rhodes's husband to spend 9 million dollars buying roses like it's no big deal?"

A person said, "Who knows? What if Ms. Rhodes's husband is actually some hidden billionaire?"

Hearing the surrounding chatter without any reservations, Audrey immediately changed her expression.

She had never expected that this seemingly low-key bouquet would have such a remarkable origin.

But when she thought of Alistair's status, she knew this bouquet was the real deal.

"Hidden billionaire? That's ridiculous," Dominic scoffed. "He's simply some unknown guy with just a good-looking appearance."

Michael shook his head and looked at Dominic with sympathy.

Michael thought, 'How dare he describe Mr. Hayes like that? He is really bold.

Dominic didn't realize that the man he referred to as an unknown guy with just a good-looking appearance was Alistair Hayes, whom even his parents wouldn't dare to easily offend. Dominic looked down at Alistair and said in a mocking tone, "These flowers look like they were just picked from the roadside. There's no way they are Juliet roses."

Alistair watched Dominic silently, his gaze calm and indifferent, not the slightest bit angry about being exposed.

Seeing this, Dominic felt even more unsettled.

He thought, 'How dare he keep ignoring me like that?"

His breathing grew heavier with anger. He sternly warned, "You can't even present a decent bouquet. You're not worthy of Audrey. If you're sensible, step back on your own, or else—" "Or else what?" Audrey asked coolly.

She continued, "Even if my husband gave me ordinary roses, what's the problem? As long as they're from him, I love them. Who are you, an outsider, to judge?"

Dominic couldn't believe that he was merely an outsider in Audrey's eyes, and his mind was in turmoil when he heard Audrey's words.

He wondered, 'She would rather accept unremarkable fake flowers than my lavish bouquet of 100 roses. I've just taken a nap. Why has my whole life turned upside down after I woke up?' At first, Dominic thought it was a joke.

He didn't believe that Audrey was no longer his beloved girlfriend, but someone else's wife.

However, after seeing how much she cared for and loved Alistair Dominic couldn't deceive himself anymore.

Dominic knew that no matter what he did, he couldn't win Audrey back.

 

Chapter 245

Dominic felt so heartbroken that he could barely breathe and let with his head down.

Audrey didn't even glance at him and didn't have the energy to care.

Afraid that her colleagues who knew better might see through her facade, she told everyone, "It's lunchtime. Hurry up and go cat."

After exchanging a few polite words with her colleagues, she took Alistair by the hand and led him into her office.

Once the door closed, only the two of them were left in the office.

Only then did Audrey get the chance to ask, "Why did you suddenly come here?"

She added in her heart, 'You even bought such a flashy bouquet

Alistair said, "I missed you, so I thought I'd drop by."

This was his first time in Audrey's office. He looked around, imagining how she worked there every day

Audrey didn't believe him at all. She crossed her arms and leaned against the desk, asking, "Really? If it was a spur of the moment, how could you bring the rare Juliet roses?"

Alistair let out a soft laugh but didn't bother to explain.

If it were any other man, he would probably take this chance to confess his feelings to the one he loved, at least to make the flowers seem more meaningful.

However, Alistair never bothered with sweet talk.

He didn't want to say anything, but Audrey understood everything anyway.

She asked, almost sure, "Did Michael tell you about my problems?"

She thought, 'It must have been Michael noticing I was upset over Albert and Fiona and telling Alistair, which led to Alistair's special visit.'

Seeing she had figured it out, Alistair didn't hide it anymore and smiled, saying, "Yes. I heard my sweetheart was in a bad mood, so I came with a gift to cheer you up. I didn't expect it to almost go wrong." Hearing the words "my sweetheart", which were full of tender affection, made Audrey's face blush.

She wondered, 'Why is he so charming?"

She was initially mad at Michael for freely reporting her activities to Alistair, but she couldn't stay angry after hearing his words.

She slowly raised her eyes and glared at Alistair in frustration."

Alistair gently lifted her chin and leaned down to plant a soft, non-passionate kiss on her forehead. He said in a gentle voice, -"Don't be upset."

He patiently explained, "I didn't mean for Michael to spy on you I just worry about you dealing with those dangerous people alone, so I asked a few more questions and knew it."

Audrey carefully pursed her lips and whispered, "I'm not upset, so you don't have to apologize. It's just that...

She suddenly paused. In fact she wanted to say that it was just that she suddenly realized the gap between them, which left her with a sense of difference.

Even though they had gotten their marriage certificate for a period, she had never truly felt the reality of it.

She always felt like there was an untouchable barrier between them, especially after discovering Alistair's true identity. However, with everything happening recently, she hadn't had a chance to really sit down and think about it carefully. Audrey lowered her eyes to the bouquet on the desk.

She couldn't believe these dozen or so flowers were worth millions of dollars.

To support her, Alistair even secretly bought shares of Rhodes Enterprises.

All of this reminded her of the vast difference in status between her and Alistair.

Even though Alistair had been trying hard to make her feel secure, she still struggled with her own insecurities and self-doubt when standing by his side.

She felt uneasy and always worried about crashing down from the illusory high position and shattering into pieces.

She believed a marriage like this was hard to sustain for a long time.

Thinking of this made Audrey feel sad.

Noticing the change in her mood, Alistair lowered his voice and asked, "Audrey, what's wrong?"

After hesitating for a couple of seconds, Audrey finally spoke up. Is this bouquet really worth 9 million dollars?"

She had many questions, but only this one came out.

Alistair said seriously, "It's not that exaggerated. I grew them myself. Haven't you noticed the little garden outside our balcony?"

 

Chapter 246

Audrey looked completely confused and shook her head honestly.

She had never paid attention to what was on the balcony.

Alistair looked at her deeply and said, "Audrey, these flowers are not as valuable as you imagined. Even if they were worth millions, as my wife, you totally deserve them with no worries."

She was his wife. Forget about material things, he would even give his life to her if she wanted."

As Audrey looked at Alistair's serious and sincere manner, her heart grew increasingly heavy.

She knew he was sincere, but the more genuine he was, the more anxious she felt, even a bit resistant.

Even though they were married, she didn't want to become anyone's mere appendage.

After a moment of thought, Audrey turned serious and said, "Alistair, there's something we need to talk about seriously."

Seeing her seriousness, Alistair became more serious as well. "Alright. Go ahead."

Audrey nervously pressed her lips together and spoke up, her voice soft yet full of determination.

She said, "I know you have plenty of money and are never hesitant to spend it on me, but I don't want to be a pampered bird in a cage, nor do I want to be labeled as Mrs. someone. "Even if we get married, I still want to put myself first. You might call me selfish, but I really can't compromise or change that."

After that, neither of them spoke as they looked at each other for a long moment.

Audrey couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy inside.

Alistair always thought about her needs and cleared obstacles for her, yet she only thought about herself. Audrey thought he must have been really disappointed in her.

However, she couldn't worry about all that right now, because she truly didn't want to lose herself in the relationship.

Alistair gazed at her for a long time and said with his voice rough and low, "Audrey, are you afraid of becoming another Fiona, or do you think I'm like Albert, not worthy of trust?" Honestly, Alistair felt a bit uneasy inside.

He didn't mind Audrey seeking her own path, nor did he demand that she completely rely on him in their relationship.

Nevertheless, he felt she didn't trust him or understand him.

"You've

this?"

Audrey explained earnestly. "How could I compare you to Albert? It's just that... well, how do I say

Audrey looked into Alistair's deep eyes, carefully considering her words, and then said, "I just feel that there's too much of a -gap between us. I'm afraid of losing myself under your overly protective care." She continued, "I've seen many women, who were once brilliant and shone brightly in their own fields, quickly return home to be housewives and mothers after marriage, becoming just appendages to men. "Alistair, it's not that I don't trust you. I just don't want to become one of them."

A flash of pain appeared in Alistair's eyes. He wanted to say so much, but he was at a loss for words.

Audrey had to continue, "I know you bought shares in Rhodes Enterprises and gave me flowers to make me happy.

"But I'm scared that I'll start taking you anymore, I'll blame and resent you."

kindness for granted. I'm even more afraid that if one day you can't do this

Her sincere confession completely melted Alistair's heart.

He raised his hand and to Audrey's surprise, pulled her into his warm embrace.

Audrey's eyes widened slightly. She blinked as she leaned dazedly against his broad shoulder.

She wondered, 'Wasn't he angry? Why does he suddenly hug me Has his anger already gone?'

Alistair said, "Audrey, I'm really happy."

Hearing his deep voice, Audrey felt even more confused.

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Holding her close, Alistair softly said, "What I love is you who shines brightly and do what you love with your own thoughts and brilliance."

His deep voice had a captivating power as he said, "You don't have to change anything for me. Everything I do for you is done willingly and eagerly.

"If you don't like it, I'll ask for your opinion before doing anything in the future, so there won't be any pressure on you Audrey's pupils trembled, and her eyes welled up with emotion.

 

Chapter 247

Audrey stared straight at Alistair in front of her, feeling an unprecedented flutter in her heart.

Even though they were married, Alistair didn't have to go to such extremes for her.

He loved her and cared about her. That was why he was willing to humble himself to accommodate and tolerate her.

He was the most promising leader of the Hayes family in Willowdale, a top tycoon that everyone in the business world admired.

However, for Audrey, he repeatedly chose to show vulnerability

Audrey impossibly not be moved by this.

As Audrey faced Alistair's gentle eyes that were as deep as the ocean, her eyes filled with tears at that moment.

A surge of sincere passion and deep love almost overwhelmed her.

She no longer wanted to hide her feelings. Ignoring everything she had said before, she leaned in and hugged his lean waist, burying her face in his embrace.

She said, "Alistair, what should I do? I think I'm completely hopeless now."

She admitted that she had indeed fallen hopelessly for him.

"What?" Alistair looked at her, slightly puzzled, as his long fingers gently ran through her soft hair.

Audrey lifted her head from his embrace, gazed into his eyes, and said each word with deep sincerity, "Alistair, I really, really love you. Please, never leave me, okay?"

As soon as she finished speaking, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cool lips.

Alistair was stunned for a moment by her unexpected confession and forgot to breathe when she kissed him.

Audrey's face turned bright red.

Giving him a kiss was already pushing her limits, so after their lips briefly touched, she wanted to pull away. However, Alistair, regaining his senses, wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her tightly with an irresistible force. Alistair quickly took charge, pinning Audrey against the desk and deepening the kiss.

Audrey found herself completely trapped in his arms, feeling his warm breath on her face as his breathing became uneven.

He kissed her with great tenderness as if she were a rare treasure. His tongue gently brushed over her lips repeatedly, leaving her mind blank and eyes softly closed.

Usually composed and restrained as he was, Alistair was gradually losing control amid her sweet compliance and indulgence.

Even though she had declared her love for him before, he had thought it was just playful banter only to make Dominic jealous.

Alistair had never expected that she truly loved him, so much so that she was willing to give him everything he asked for.

Alistair's hand rested on her slender waist. With his heart beating wildly and his breath hot, he found himself unsatisfied with just a fleeting kiss.

At the very last second before losing control, his rational mind took over.

He pulled Audrey tightly into his arms.

They embraced each other so closely that even their heartbeats seemed to become one, inseparable.

Smelling the faint fragrance on Audrey, Alistair couldn't help recalling a rainy night six years ago.

When he pulled the barely-conscious girl from the burning car back then, her face was too dirty to reveal her features clearly, but her eyes shone like stars as she looked at him.. Before passing out, the girl said softly, "You're a hero, right? When I grow up, I'll marry you."

Her youthful, fragile voice carried a strong determination.

Through the pouring rain, Alistair developed a fixation because of those gentle and focused eyes, and so the waiting began, lasting six years.

Nobody expected that a casual joke back then would come true.

 

Chapter 248

Audrey had truly become Alistair's wife, and she was devoted to him completely.

Alistair felt a surge of warmth in his heart as he pondered this. With one hand, he gently lifted Audrey's chin and, unable to resist, leaned in to kiss her red lips once more.

Alistair wanted to show Audrey through his actions that he was hopelessly in love with her and he loved her more than anyone else.

Enveloped in their kiss, they lost track of time and their surroundings.

Suddenly, a knock on the office door jolted them back to reality.

Audrey shivered all over and suddenly realized where she was.

Her eyes widened as her lashes fluttered quickly, and she pushed Alistair's handsome face away with her hand.

She whispered, "Stop, someone's coming!"

Audrey wondered, 'I was completely smitten! How could we have kissed so intently at the office?'

Audrey's cheeks flushed instantly as she recalled the moment she felt weak all over in Alistair's embrace.

She almost made the same mistake as Albert.

She wondered how embarrassed she would be if someone barged in and saw them kissing.

Seeing Audrey all flustered, Alistair leaned against the desk and chuckled.

He gazed at her tenderly and said gently, "Don't worry, I locked the door when I came in, so no one can get in."

Audrey remained silent, but her thoughts raced, 'Should I compliment him on his thoughtfulness? Hold on. Why did he lock the door? Has he been scheming since we first stepped into the office?' Audrey's eyes suddenly became serious as she glared at Alistair.

She completely forgot it was she who made the first move earlier.

Alistair slightly narrowed his eyes with affection.

Emily had been waiting outside the office for a while after knocking.

wondered, 'Could Audrey not be in the office? I didn't see her leave. Did she not hear the knock?'

Just as Emily raised her hand to knock again, the office door opened halfway, with Audrey holding the doorknob and looking at Emily.

Emily looked up and saw Audrey's swollen lips, forgetting what she was going to say. She asked, "Audrey, did I interrupt you?"

Emily blamed herself, thinking, 'I'm such an idiot! I saw Audrey just enter the office with Alistair.

There had to be a reason why they hadn't opened the door for so long. Why did I knock on the door at such a time?'

Audrey's expression turned a little awkward, her cheeks slightly warm. She avoided eye contact with Emily, pressing a fist against her lips, and softly asked, trying to stay composed, "Ahern... Did you need something?"

Emily straightened up and said, "Mrs. Rhodes has arrived and is requesting to see you. I've escorted her to the reception area."

Audrey frowned slightly, and a hint of coldness flickered in her eyes.

Fiona's arrival at Audrey's place now suggested that she must have had a disagreement with Albert's mistress and was seeking Audrey's support.

Thinking of this, Audrey showed a hint of sarcasm in her eyes.

Fiona had chosen Eliza without hesitation, even after finding out about all of Eliza's bad deeds: Now that Fiona was in trouble, she wanted Audrey to help her. Noticing Audrey seemed upset, Emily offered, "Audrey, if you don't want to meet her, I can cover for you."

The fallout between Fiona and Albert at the TV station was the talk of the entire company.

Emily understood that Fiona had come to Audrey because there was some trouble she needed Audrey to handle, and Audrey might not want to get involved. Audrey lowered her eyes and thought for a moment.

She knew that Fiona was determined. If Fiona couldn't meet Audrey, she would definitely be waiting at the office entrance.

Audrey simply couldn't avoid Fiona.

Since Fiona had come to her, Audrey would like to take the opportunity to explain things clearly.

"I'll go see her," Audrey said.

With that, Audrey walked out of the office without a second thought and headed to the reception area.

"Well, Audrey..." Emily called after her.

Audrey turned back and asked, confused, "What's the matter?"

Emily pointed to the office door, which was slightly open, and whispered, "Audrey, your husband is still in there. Aren't you going to let him know?" Emily thought, 'It's expected she'll bring him along for support in this situation.

 

Chapter 249

Audrey slapped her forehead""""stration.

She had forgotten Alistair was still in the

office.

Then she said to Alistair, "I'm going to meet Mrs. Rhodes, but I'm not sure how long I'll be. Do you want to go home first?"

Hearing this, Alistair was momentarily disappointed.

After his confession, he thought she would get a bit closer to him

However, Audrey still didn't want Alistair to help.

Even though he felt a bit helpless, he didn't want to push it..

He agreed, "Okay, I'll head home first. I'll make your favorite Honey Mustard Ribs and Garlic Butter Shrimp for dinner. How does that sound?"

Thinking about the food, Audrey felt better, and with a cheerful mod, she said, "Sure."

Emily watched their natural and sweet interaction, sighing with envy.

They weren't making any intimate gestures or saying sweet words.

However, whenever they appeared together, they seemed very close and admirable.

Emily was happy for Audrey.

She pondered, 'After freeing herself from that jerk Dominic, Audrey finally found her true love.

'Even though her husband doesn't appear as wealthy as Dominic, they look so adorable together.'

After seeing Alistair off, Audrey handed her phone to Emily and said, "Emily, there's a document on the phone. Print it for me and bring it to the meeting room in half an hour." "Okay," Emily said without asking any questions. Then she took the phone and left.

Three minutes later, Audrey arrived at the meeting room entrance.

She took a deep breath, rubbed her cheeks slightly, and then reached out to open the door.

Fiona sitting on the couch turned her head like a startled bird.

The moment Audrey saw Fiona, she was surprised.

Fiona's usually neat hair was now messily draped over her shoulders. A visible slap mark was on her cheek, and her eyes were red and swollen. She looked quite disheveled.

It was hard to imagine that Fiona, who usually valued her appearance and even put on delicate makeup at home, would show up in front of Audrey looking like this one day.

As soon as Fiona saw Audrey, her eyes filled with tears, and she sadly called out, "Audrey..."

Had Audrey witnessed Fiona in such a pitiful condition previously, she would have been overwhelmed with sorrow and would have preferred that she had been the one to suffer the pain. But now, when she saw Fiona's eyes full of eagerness and pleading, Audrey felt nothing inside.

Audrey walked calmly to Fiona, pulled out the chair across from her, and sat down. With a detached tone, Audrey asked, "Mrs. Rhodes, what brings you here?" Fiona felt a strong wave of panic rise within her.

She looked at Audrey's indifferent face, pressed her lips to hold back tears, and stood up to reach for Audrey's hand. She said, "Audrey, your dad..."

Audrey suddenly raised her eyes and gave Fiona a cold look, saying, "He's not my dad."

At that moment, Fiona felt as if she were frozen by the icy gaze of Audrey, and her throat felt constricted, rendering her speechless.

Fiona's expression changed, and she awkwardly said, "Right, he's not your dad; he's a brute! Audrey, I never imagined he'd keep a mistress and even hit me."

Talking about it, Fiona couldn't hold back the sadness any longer and her voice became choked with emotion.

Seeing that Audrey still remained expressionless, Fiona felt even more uneasy.

She looked directly at Audrey, reaching out to take her hand.

However, Audrey quickly moved away, clearly not wanting any physical contact with Fiona.

Fiona's eyes widened. Her expression turned downcast, and she started sobbing in pain and embarrassment.

Audrey let her cry, showing no intention of offering comfort.

Tired from crying, Fiona wiped her tears with her hand, rolled up her sleeve to reveal red marks on her arm to Audrey, and said, "Audrey, look, I got these bruises from that home-wrecking witch. "Your dad... Albert even helped her hit me, and now he wants a divorce. They've bullied me so badly. Can you please help me?"

After receiving the divorce papers from Albert and witnessing his affair, Fiona was devastated.

She never formed her own opinions. In this situation, with no other options, she could only resort to throwing a tantrum and crying. Ultimately, she had no choice but to seek Audrey's assistance. However, Audrey replied coldly, "Why should I help you?"

Hearing this, Fiona froze, weakly collapsing onto the couch, and muttered, "Audrey... If you don't help me, who will? Without you, I can't go on."

Audrey wasn't moved by this plea, her tone even colder, "What does your life have to do with me? Mrs. Rhodes, have you forgotten that we're no longer connected?"

Fiona didn't know how to reply for a moment.

 

Chapter 250

Fiona never thought Audrey would be so cruel. She was at a loss, staring at Audrey, not even crying.

Fiona had originally believed that as long as she acted weak and miserable in front of Audrey, Audrey would surely sympathize and help her.

After all, Audrey used to be so kind to Fiona, almost as if she wanted to offer Fiona everything wonderful in the world.

Fiona couldn't figure out why Audrey had suddenly become so indifferent to her.

With her head down and face in her hands, Fiona asked in distress, "Audrey, do you hate me so much?"

Audrey replied, "You think too highly of yourself."

Though Audrey didn't hate Fiona, her love for Fiona had vanished the moment Fiona hurt her without hesitation for Eliza.

Fiona went on, "Audrey, I know you're angry because I helped Eliza and not you."

Audrey looked down impatiently, not wanting to argue with Fiona.

Fiona, thinking she had guessed correctly, continued eagerly, "I was wrong. I shouldn't have felt indebted to Eliza and let her get away with so much. I hurt you in the past, and I apologize to you." Audrey let out a scoff, a hint of disappointment in her eyes.

She wondered, 'Does she really mean it? It's probably just for show. Unfortunately, I'm not that easy to fool anymore.

Audrey just said, "Mrs. Rhodes, no need to apologize. I don't need it and can't accept it. I have to work and don't have time to waste with you."

Seeing Audrey about to leave, Fiona panicked and quickly grabbed her hand to stop her.

Fiona exclaimed, "Audrey, please don't go!"

Audrey looked at Fiona coldly, her expression unreadable.

Fiona looked a bit embarrassed.

She didn't anticipate Audrey's coldness towards her now, nor Audrey's refusal to accept her apology.

In the past, whenever Fiona got unhappy, Audrey would immediately try to cheer her up no matter what.

At that moment, Fiona clearly understood exactly what she had missed out on.

Feeling awkward, Fiona looked at Audrey and softly asked, "Audrey, what will it take for you to forgive me? We've been like mother and daughter for so many years, you can't just forget all of that." Audrey almost laughed in anger.

Fiona turned against Audrey first, but now she actually had the nerve to blame Audrey, for being cruel.

First, it was Dominic, and now it was Fiona.

Audrey pondered, 'Why do they think that after hurting me, a simple insincere apology can make me forgive them?'

Audrey wasn't interested in continuing the evasive conversation with Fiona. She directly asked, "If you want my help, you'll have to offer something worthwhile in return." 22:00 Wed, Dec 25

Audrey's tone was cold and impersonal as she continued, "After all, we're not related now. I can't just risk offending Albert for you."

Fiona was at a loss for words.

Audrey slightly raised an eyebrow, pretending to mock as she asked, "You don't expect me to help you out of charity, do you? Mrs. Rhodes, that's not how business operates." Fiona thought, 'Business?'

Fiona's hidden motives had been exposed by Audrey.

Fiona looked into Audrey's eyes, which seemed to see through everything, and she felt embarrassed.

She realized Audrey was losing her patience and emotional appeals would no longer work.

At this point, Fiona bit her lip and reluctantly said, "If you're willing to help me, I can transfer my shares to you."

Fiona supposed that the shares of Rhodes Enterprises would be quite an enticing offer.

She believed that Audrey surely couldn't refuse her.

Just as Fiona thought everything was under control, Audrey said, "I don't need them."

Audrey didn't even think twice and immediately refused Fiona's offer.

Fiona's expression froze in disbelief as she urgently asked, "Why?"