Accidentally Crossing the Tycoon Chapter 173

Audrey's POV:

To my surprise, Dorothy's expression softened as she looked at me.

She gently but firmly extracted her arm from Amelia's grasp.

"Audrey, my dear, I must apologize," Dorothy said, her voice carrying the weight of genuine regret.

"I should have informed you immediately when Ms. Harrison approached me. This is not how I intended things to unfold."

She shot Amelia a withering look.

"I specifically instructed Ms. Harrison to remain in the east sitting room while I made a quick call to Caspar. It seems the moment I stepped away to arrange his return, she took it upon herself to wander the house uninvited."

I blinked in surprise, momentarily speechless.

Did I hear wrong? Dorothy actually fully stands on my side.

Before I could respond, the sound of rapid footsteps echoed down the hallway.

All heads turned toward the doorway as Caspar appeared, his tall frame filling the entrance.

His eyes quickly swept the site before locking onto Noah and me.

The naked concern in his expression softened momentarily when he saw we were physically unharmed.

Then his gaze shifted to Amelia, and his face hardened into cold.

"Well, you're back just in time," Dorothy said dryly, gesturing toward Amelia with a graceful wave of her hand.

"Your mess has arrived for cleaning, Caspar. I suggest you attend to it promptly."

"Daddy," Noah called out.

"What's happening here?" he asked.

"Daddy, make this bad lady go away," Noah demanded, pointing at Amelia. "She pretends to be my mom."

Caspar's eyes narrowed as they shifted to Amelia.

"I thought I made myself clear yesterday."

"I came to see my son," Amelia replied defiantly.

Caspar's jaw tightened, but his expression remained controlled.

"Edward," he called, his voice calm but authoritative.

"Please take Noah to his room. Perhaps you could help him set up that new model airplane kit?"

Edward appeared almost instantly. "Of course, Mr. Thornton."

Noah looked up at Caspar, then at me, reluctance clear in his eyes.

I gave his hand a gentle squeeze.

"It's okay, Noah. We'll talk later, I promise."

After Noah had left with Edward, Caspar gestured toward the sitting area.

"It seems we need to have a good talk."

The tension was palpable as we arranged ourselves in the elegant living room.

Dorothy wasted no time with pleasantries.

"Let's cut to the chase, Ms. Harrison," she said, her aristocratic voice crisp. "What's your price?"

Amelia's eyebrows shot up in genuine surprise. "My price?"

"Oh, spare us the theatrics," Dorothy said with a dismissive wave of her hand.

"We've been down this road before, haven't we? Last time it was what—fifty million? eighty? I've lost count."

Her lips curved into a sardonic smile.

"Spent through that already, have you? Fifth Avenue boutiques and European vacations do add up rather quickly."

Amelia's face flushed. "How could you think of me this way! You make me sound like some... some gold-digger!"

"Isn't it?" Dorothy replied coolly.

"I am here for my son," Amelia insisted, her voice rising with indignation.

She pressed her hand dramatically against her heart.

"I've realized what truly matters in life. I just want to grow up with Noah."

Her voice softened, taking on a persuasive tone as she turned to address Dorothy directly.

"Mrs. Thornton, you've seen how he's asked for his mother since he was little. And while Audrey has been filling that maternal void, we all know she isn't his biological mother."

Amelia leaned forward, her expression earnest.

"Can you really bear to separate a child from his birth mother?"

A shadow passed over Dorothy's face.

Her normally composed features betrayed a flicker of genuine uncertainty.

"It's true that Noah has asked about his mother since he was old enough to form the question."

The admission clearly pleased Amelia, whose eyes lit up with triumph. But Dorothy wasn't finished.

"However," she continued, her spine straightening, "I haven't forgotten that you willingly signed away your parental rights in exchange for a rather substantial sum. A mother who abandons her child for money once will do so again."

Sensing her advantage, Amelia pressed on.

"Please believe me, Mrs. Thornton. If you allow me to stay in Noah's life, I promise to coexist peacefully with Audrey. I won't compete with her for anything else! I only want my son!"

Her voice cracked with seemingly genuine emotion.

"All these years, I've dreamed of Noah, dreamed of him calling me 'Mom'..."

Dorothy's lips parted slightly, momentarily speechless.

There was genuine conflict in her eyes.

To my surprise, Caspar finally broke his silence.

"What do you think, Audrey?" he asked, his eyes meeting mine with an unreadable expression.

I froze, suddenly the center of attention .

Amelia quickly jumped in before I could respond.

"I'm sure Audrey understands," she said with a sympathetic smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"After all, as an orphan herself, she must know the pain of growing up without parents. Surely she wouldn't want Noah to experience that same emptiness when his birth mother is right here, willing to—"

"Who the hell said my daughter is an orphan?" a deep, authoritative voice boomed from the doorway.

All heads turned toward the entrance, where an imposing figure stood.

Robert Cole filled the doorframe with his broad shoulders, his silver-streaked dark hair, and tailored suit spoke to both wealth and power.

Beside him stood his elegant wife, Sara, and slightly behind them, their son Ethan.

The color drained from Amelia's face.

"Mr. Cole," she whispered, clearly recognizing the patriarch of the influential family.

A flustered maid hurried in behind them, wringing her hands anxiously.

"Mr. Thornton—Mr. Cole insisted he's Audrey's father and... and we couldn't stop them from coming in."

Now the security detail rushed into the room, surrounding the three Cole family members, tension thick in the air.

"Everyone out," Caspar ordered the security team sharply, recovering his composure.

No one had expected the Cole family to suddenly appear, and even I was staring at them in complete astonishment.

Sara and Ethan immediately rushed toward me.

Sara grabbed my hands in hers, her eyes filled with maternal concern. "Audrey, darling, are you alright? You don't have to worry anymore. Mom and Dad are here now. We won't let anyone bully you."

The warmth of her touch and the fierce protectiveness in her voice struck me deeply.

I felt a lump forming in my throat as I looked at the family I'd reconnected with only recently after years of separation.