Accidentally Crossing the Tycoon Chapter 155

Audrey's POV:

"I hope you haven't been waiting long," Mrs Cole said, her voice carefully modulated as she entered the living room.

"Not at all," I replied politely, feeling Caspar shift slightly closer to me on the sofa.

His presence was reassuring.

An awkward silence settled over the room.

"Perhaps we should move to the dining room," Mr. Cole suggested, breaking the silence.

"Our chef has prepared lunch."

I nodded, rising from the sofa. "That sounds lovely."

As we walked toward the dining room, Mrs. Cole reached out as if to touch my arm, but her hand was inadvertently caught by Daisy, who appeared at her side.

"Everyone, please, Chef Martin has outdone himself today."

Daisy announced cheerfully, linking her arm through Sara's with practiced ease.

She guided her mother forward, the picture of filial devotion.

I watched their intimate interaction with a complicated feeling in my chest.

To say it didn't affect me would be a lie—seeing the easy familiarity between them stirred something deep inside.

But I understood the reality: Daisy had been the Cole daughter for twenty-seven years.

She wasn't pretending; this was her life, her mother.

I pretended not to notice their closeness and continued toward the dining room.

Mr. Cole guided me to a seat directly across from him and Mrs. Cole, with Caspar next to me.

The table was elegantly set with fine china and crystal glasses—clearly, they had gone to great lengths for this meeting.

"Robert and I are so pleased you could join us today," Mrs. Cole said, her voice catching slightly.

"Thank you for having us, Mr. Cole and Mrs. Cole," I replied formally.

Something flickered across their faces—disappointment.

I hadn't meant to hurt them, but "Mom and Dad" were words I couldn't bring myself to say.

They quickly masked it with warm smiles.

"Please, eat as much as you'd like," Mrs. Cole said, smoothly changing the subject.

She reached for a serving dish.

"You must try the roasted vegetables—they're prepared with herbs from our garden."

Mr. Cole nodded enthusiastically.

"And the salmon is excellent. Our chef has a way with seafood."

He spooned a generous portion onto my plate.

"Thank you," I said, looking at my rapidly filling plate. "This looks delicious."

I kept my expression carefully neutral, but something inside me softened slightly.

In the Bailey family, no one but Margaret had treated me with such genuine concern.

"You know," Daisy suddenly announced, her voice cutting through the polite conversation.

"I think you should call them Mom and Dad."

My fork clattered against the plate.

Every head at the table turned toward Daisy.

"I mean, they *are* your biological parents," she continued, ignoring the warning glances from Ethan and Finley.

"Mom and Dad seem more appropriate than Mr. and Mrs. Cole, don't you think?"

"Daisy," Finley's voice was sharp. "This is too sudden."

William opened his mouth, likely to defend his sister, but one look from Ethan silenced him.

"Let's not rush things," Robert interjected smoothly.

He offered me a gentle smile.

"Audrey, this is our first meeting. It's perfectly normal that you wouldn't feel comfortable with such familiar terms right away."

He reached over to pat his wife's hand reassuringly.

"These things take time, and we respect whatever feels right for you."

Sara nodded quickly.

Daisy stood, turning to me.

"I'm sorry," she said, her eyes suddenly glistening with tears.

"I didn't mean to make things awkward. It's just that... I feel so guilty."

She dabbed at her eyes with her napkin.

"I've been occupying your place in this family for twenty-seven years. Living the life that should have been yours. "

Her performance was flawless—the trembling lip, the glistening eyes, the perfectly timed pause for emotional effect.

She turned to Sara and Robert.

"I've experienced what it's like to be loved by them, to be a Cole. And I'm sorry you didn't get that opportunity."

Inwardly, I remained detached, analyzing Daisy's performance.

I recognized her tactics—the public apology designed to make herself look magnanimous while subtly emphasizing that she had experienced what I hadn't.

If I called her out now, I'd look petty and resentful.

I wouldn't play into her hands, but I wouldn't expose her either.

"That's very kind of you, Daisy," I said, my voice gentle but firm.

"But you have nothing to apologize for. The only people to blame are those who orchestrated the kidnapping in the first place."

I reached for my water glass, taking a deliberate sip before continuing.

"What happened shaped all of our lives in ways none of us could control. Assigning blame now would serve no purpose."

Daisy lowered her eyes, her fingers delicately tracing the rim of her wine glass.

"There's something else I should apologize for," she said softly.

"I've been... inappropriate with Caspar in the past."

She glanced up, her expression a perfect blend of remorse and sacrifice.

"I want you to know that I won't compete with you for him. "

I had to suppress a laugh.

The way she phrased it—as if Caspar were some prize she was graciously conceding to me.

It was like watching someone magnanimously offer to give away something they'd never owned.

"That's very considerate, Daisy," I said smoothly, "but one can't really compete for something that was never in competition to begin with."

I smiled politely. "Mr. Thornton has always been very focused."

The slightest flush crept up Daisy's neck as my meaning registered—I wasn't accepting her "concession" because there had never been anything for her to concede.

Caspar's lips curled into the faintest hint of a smile.

"Indeed," he said, his deep voice resonating with quiet amusement.

"Audrey has always been my only choice."

His casual agreement with my assessment was more devastating than any direct rejection could have been.

The dining room fell silent again.

Even William, who had been ready to defend his sister moments ago, seemed to recognize that further discussion would only deepen Daisy's embarrassment.

Daisy cleared her throat, quickly pivoting to a new topic.

"Audrey," she said, her voice soft with what appeared to be genuine curiosity, "are you planning to move back in with Mom and Dad? They've been waiting for you to come home for so long."

I didn't answer immediately.

My eyes flickered to Sara and Robert's faces, both alight with barely concealed hope.

The naked yearning in their expressions made something in my chest tighten uncomfortably.

I looked away, studying the pattern on my plate.

The silence stretched.

I could feel everyone's attention on me, waiting.

"I'm... not used to having so many relatives suddenly," I finally said, choosing my words carefully.

"I think I'd prefer to maintain my current living situation for now."

Sara's face fell, though she tried to hide it behind a quick sip of water. Robert reached for her hand, squeezing it gently.

"Audrey," Robert said, his voice hesitant, "I have to ask. Do you blame us for not finding you sooner? "

I met his gaze directly. "No," I said truthfully.

"I've built a life for myself—it may not be the life I would have had with you, but it's mine. I'm not ready to change everything overnight."

"We understand," Robert said, though the disappointment in his eyes belied his words.

"We don't want to pressure you. Just know that our door is always open, whenever you're ready."

Sara nodded, blinking rapidly to hold back tears.

"Thank you for understanding," I said softly, and meant it.