“I found it,” Lucia cut in before Audrey could speak, plastering an overly sweet smile on her face.
She went on, “I just said she’s a bit of a scatterbrain–always forgetting what she’s holding You can’t be this forgetful once the Bables Audrey?”
As she spoke, she shot Audrey a desperate, wide–eyed look, practically begging for cooperation.
Yann hadn’t missed the exchange, but since Audrey had signaled she wanted to handle it alone, he pretended not to notice
“Is that so?” he asked, his tone slightly probing.
Audrey looped her arm through Yann’s and held out her hand. “My hands are swollen, I can’t get the wedding ring on anymore.”
Yann took her hand and squeezed it gently. “I’ll have a new one made.”
Audrey said, “Isn’t that a waste? What ift lose weight after having the babies?”
“Then we’ll have another one made,” Yann said.
The couple turned toward the master bedroom, chatting quietly.
Lucia tried to follow, but Sylvie stepped in her path. “Mrs. Audrey Winifred needs to rest now. Please go.”
Lucia felt a surge of frustration.
She’d come all this way, gained nothing, and almost annoyed Yann. Talk about a pointless trip.
She thought, ‘The moment I took the bags, Audrey couldn’t find her ring? Sylvie must have encouraged it! Audrey is clearly taking sides with outsiders, making trouble for me, her own mother.‘
At the front door, Lucia turned to glare at Sylvie, who’d accompanied her out.
She sneered, “You can’t wreck my relationship with Audrey with a few sneaky comments. She’s keeping you around for the babies, but just wait until
they’re born.”
Sylvie smiled serenely, saying nothing.
Lucia felt her anger fizzle out, like hitting a soft cushion. She spun on her heel and marched to her car..
By the time she got back to Winifred Manor, dinner was over. Logan hadn’t waited. He was already in the study, on a video call.
Judging by his easy laughter, he was probably on the call with Amelia.
Lucia made a point of raising her voice. “Have you had dinner?”
The smile vanished from Logan’s eyes in an instant. He motioned for her to leave. “Yes.”
Pretending not to understand the cue, Lucia stepped farther into the room. “The doctor said you need to avoid spicy food while using that ointment. No
more of those spicy dishes you love. If I don’t keep an eye on you, you’ll definitely sneak something.”
Slap. Logan slammed his phone facedown on the desk and glared up at her. “Did Audrey find her ring?”
Lucia froze. She might as well have shouted her guilt.
She said, “Yes, Audrey just forgot. Turns out it wasn’t in the bag at all.”
1/3
Chapter 368
“Whether it was in the bag or not, you had no right to take her things,” Logan snapped, his hand covering the phone, “od to her mother. If you don’t i want to buy her gifts, fine, but how can you leech off her like this?”
Lucia had been simmering with anger since her visit to Hillcrest Gardens. Now, coming home to more criticism, she exploded.
She roared, “Leech off her? I’m her mother. It’s only natural for her to be nice to me. Besides, they’re just worthless old bags she doesn’t is mady being nice by not looking down on these old bags. And now she’s making a fuss about it?”
Logan frowned, hardly recognizing the Lucia in front of him.
He said, “You barely use your own designer bags before replacing them. Why on earth do you need her cast offs?”
“What do you think? I’m obviously…” Lucia nearly spilled the truth.
She paused, then snapped defiantly, “I’m helping her declutter. Once the babies arrive, she’ll need to carry so much stuff. Those tiny bags are usedroo and just take up space.”
Logan’s eyes sharpened. “Hillcrest Gardens is their home. Even if it were a mess, it’s not your place to interfere. Stay out of it.”
Lucia trembled with rage.
By that lògic, since she’d married Logan, this was her home too.
‘So why do I need Yann’s approval to change the decor?‘ she thought.
When he said no, she could only tweak her bedroom and study. ‘How dare he, a younger man, dictate my chotes? Yet here Logan is, telling me not to touch their home? Isn’t that just double standards?‘ she thought.
“I’m not just her mother–in–law. I’m her mother!” Lucia’s eyes welled up as she choked out the words. “My own daughter is pregnant and struggling What’s wrong with me helping her tidy up?”
Logan’s gaze turned cold. No trace of warmth left, just a mix of weariness and disdain.
“Unbelievable!” He grabbed his phone and wheeled toward the door.
The wheelchair ran over Lucia’s pinky toe, making her yelp in pain. Logan didn’t pause or look back.
Gritting her teeth, Lucia limped after him, but the hallway was already empty.
“Where’s Logan?” she asked.
“Guest room.” Jenna nodded toward the far end of the hallway.
Lucia stamped her foot in anger, jabbing her sore toe again.
That night, Logan stayed in the guest room.
Lucia tossed and turned, waking with dark circles under her eyes. After breakfast, Logan had Eden wheel him out without a word to her.
When the car pulled away, she slammed her fork onto the plate in irritation.
That afternoon, Clayton called again, pressing her for a decision.
‘Always rushing, like he’s in a damn hurry to die!‘ she thought.
Lucia made excuses, but Clayton showed up at Winifred Manor’s gate unannounced.
She panicked, refusing to let him in, and rushed to a nearby café instead.
2/3
Chapter 368
Clayton’s transformation stunned her. He was a complete overhaul from head to toe, inside out.
His sharply defined features were framed by gold rimmed glasses. A 10 thousand dollar watch adorned his wrist, and a designet down coat hang the back of his chair.
Clayton cheerfully ordered her a cappuccino.
Lucia squirmed in her seat, constantly scanning the room for anyone she knew.
She said, “Clayton, I brought up your request to Audrey. She said she’d consider it.”
Clayton took a slow sip of his coffee and didn’t respond.
Lucia kept talking. “These things can’t be rushed. We have to wait until after she has the babies, right? Why not head back to Ironhaven for now and focus on your own thing? I’ll reach out the second I have news.”
Clayton saw right through the obvious stalling.
After chattering to herself for a minute, Lucia snapped, “You can’t keep showing up like this. If Yann finds out I’m trying to set you two up, we’re in big
trouble!”
Clayton nodded.
Relieved he seemed to get it, Lucia started to stand. “Glad you understand the problem. I should go. You should leave too.”
“I’ll go once I give her the files,” Clayton said.
Lucia froze mid–stand, eyeing the briefcase beside him like it was a ticking time bomb.
She sank back into her seat, her face turning pale with anger.
Seeing her speechless, Clayton added calmly, “Ashbourne’s
s economy is better than Ironhaven’s. I found a solid job here. I can deal with most issues, but housing… I’m not planning to leave yet, and living in a hotel long–term isn’t feasible.”
Lucia’s fists tightened, her eyes practically popping out of her head.
Ashbourne’s housing prices were absurd. Haldenwick was around 3,700 dollars per square foot, Dalenford 2,700 dollars, Aldenwood just over 2,300 dollars.
After years with Logan, she still didn’t own a single property.
Clayton asking her for an apartment was like asking for her life.
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.
