Chapter 207
Chapter 207
A sly smile flickered in Steven’s eyes. Instead of answering Audrey’s question, he said, “Go home and take your medicine properly. Take care of your body, or when you do get pregnant, you’ll be considered advanced maternal age.”
“I’m only 23,” Audrey pouted.
“It doesn’t necessarily mean you. It depends on the man’s age, too.” Steven lifted the curtain for Audrey to leave. “Yann is 30 this year. At his age, most men already have toddlers running around.”
Audrey stepped out.
Steven’s assistant handed her three medicine packs for topical use and reminded her, “After these are finished, you can bring the patient here for acupuncture.”
Audrey glanced back at the consultation room before leaving.
She thought, ‘Something is weird. First Calvin, now Steven. Yann and I only reconnected recently, yet they all seem to know every detail about my
situation.‘
Audrey clutched her phone, debating whether to call Calvin. After a moment, she dismissed the thought, wondering, if Calvin was Yann’s spy placed by my side, he would be loyal to Yann. Asking him would be pointless.’
When Audrey arrived at Baldwin Biotechnology, Baldwin was just about to leave.
“Perfect timing,” Baldwin said with a smile. “I’m heading to the hospital’s east district project site. Audrey, care to join?”
“Sure.” Audrey handed him the medicine packs, explaining that after this round of applications, he could prepare for acupuncture.
Baldwin brought his secretary and invited Audrey to ride in his car.
The hospital’s east district project, backed by strong government support and oversight, was in full swing.
Upon their arrival, a man escorted them inside.
Audrey recognized the man. He was the representative from Hawdia Group, whom Yann had blacklisted before. Clearly, Baldwin had his means. The two companies had jointly secured the project.
This hospital had been in planning for five years but stalled during the loan crisis, becoming an abandoned development.
Now, with strong funding, it was slated for completion by year–end.
The group bypassed the construction site and reached the back lot, where rows of vehicles were parked. A small crowd was seeing off a man. It was none
other than Yann.
With a casual glance, Yann spotted Audrey looking his way. His eyes softened slightly.
Calvin, standing beside him, immediately noticed the shift and followed his gaze. Recognizing Audrey, he murmured to Yann before striding over.
“Go on ahead. I’ll meet someone real quick,” Baldwin said, deftly dismissing the Hawdia Group representatives.
That apartment he’d gifted Calvin hadn’t gone to waste. Calvin had smoothed over the project’s tangled interpersonal hurdles, securing the bid.
As Calvin approached, he winked at Audrey.
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Chapter 207
Audrey caught on instantly. “Mr. Connor, you two talk. I need to use the @restroom,”
Baldwin nodded, pulling out a cigarette to offer Calvin, who waved it off and subtly stepped to block the direction Audrey was leaving.
Calvin said, “Mr. Connor, this project has strict requirements. We can’t cut corners on materials.”
Baldwin smiled, “Relax, Mr. Jenkins. Hawdia Group is overseeing procurement. Everything’s eco–compliant.”
While they discussed timelines and specifications, Audrey slipped past the group and circled toward the parking lot’s rear. She was peering around when the sliding door of a black Mercedes van suddenly opened. Someone yanked her inside.
“Ah!” she gasped, tumbling straight into Yann’s lap.
Seated by the door, Yann pinched her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. “You went to see Steven?”
“How did you know?” Audrey pushed herself up and brushed a kiss against his jaw.
Unsatisfied, Yann pulled her back for several deeper kisses before murmuring, “You smell like medicine.”
Audrey giggled, tilting her head. “When I said I wanted to work in Ironhaven, you didn’t object at all. I thought it was because you trusted me. Turns out you planted spies around me.”
Instead of suspecting in silence, she decided to just bring it up directly.
Yann toyed with her fingers, his tone deceptively calm. “Spies?”
“Still playing dumb?” Audrey sat beside him. She pointed out the window. “Calvin is your guy. What are the odds he’d just happen to move next door to my new place?”
Yann’s brows furrowed slightly, and he pinched her hand in playful punishment. “You’re my person.”
Audrey twisted away, rubbing her waist. “He’s your eyes, reporting my every move back to you. That’s why you two were in such frequent contact that Amelia questioned your relationship.”
“Don’t even deny it.” She cut him off as Yann opened his mouth, her gaze softening as it locked onto his.
To outsiders, Yann was icy and detached, the type to take offense át a single wrong word. But with Audrey, he was like an obedient golden retriever–eyes only for her, smiling at her.
Audrey stared into his eyes. “So you’ve been watching over my life all along? Clayton’s law firm improved because of you, right?”
After a long pause, Yann gave a slight nod.
Audrey’s eyes instantly welled up with tears, her nose stinging. She punched his shoulder in mock outrage, her did you do that?”
Yann caught her fist and sighed.
thick with unshed tears. “Why? Why
He thought, ‘Back then, she loved Clayton, What could I do? I couldn’t just stand by and watch her struggle. If Clayton had truly cherished her, I’d have buried my feelings forever, never disturbing her life. But he betrayed her. His blindness was my luck.‘
Audrey nestled into Yann’s embrace, discreetly wiping her tears. “Don’t ever do this again.”
“Mm.” Yann nodded.
Audrey’s lips quivered as tears welled up in her eyes again, this time from overwhelming emotion.
Chapter 207
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When she had first fallen for Yann, she had sternly warned herself not to entertain impossible hopes because their worlds were too far apart.
After seeing Lucia marry Logan, she had clamped down even harder on reckless impulses. Moving to Ironhaven had been half about severing those lingering feelings, escaping the life where such fantasies could thrive.
Yet against all odds, here they were, stayed together by fate.
Hearing her sniffle, Yann tilted her chin up, thumb brushing away her tears. “Don’t cry. Unless it’s in bed.”
Audrey laughed through her tears and swatted his chest.
After Baldwin finished expressing his gratitude, curiosity got the better of him. “I noticed Darkshell International’s official account forwarded Mr. Winifred’s tweet?” He studied Calvin’s face as he spoke, hoping to catch the slightest shift in expression that might hint at the truth.
“Yeah.” Calvin nodded.
Baldwin bit back his real question “Then what about you” and forced a chuckle, “Mr. Winifred’s sudden announcement… Is the group planning something big?”
Over weekend dinners with his wife’s parents, Baldwin had brought this up. They speculated that Yann’s marriage was a smokescreen, paving the way for an alliance with a powerful family to boost corporate momentum. Otherwise, why would Calvin, “Yann’s rumored partner“, seem utterly unbothered?
At the thought of Yann’s next move, Calvin smiled. He rubbed his neck absently. “Keep watching.”
The more eyes on this, the better the payoff.
To Baldwin, this was confirmation. He thought, ‘Yes. If I follow Darkshell International’s moves and invest accordingly, I’ll drown in profits.”
His gaze snagged on a red mark near Calvin’s collar. He thought, ‘Clearly, things between him and Yann are rock–solid.’
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
