Accidentally Crossing the Tycoon Chapter 182

Audrey's POV:

The dining hall was so quiet that the ticking of the clock could be heard.

"When are you leaving, exactly?" Caspar asked, breaking the silence.

"Monday morning," I replied with a lightness I didn't feel.

"It's just a quick trip to check on the exhibition preparations. Three days, four at most."

Caspar nodded, his expression unreadable.

But I noticed how the temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees.

Noah, who had been chattering happily about school just minutes earlier, now pushed his peas around his plate, eyes downcast.

"Is something wrong with the food, sweetheart?" I asked, reaching over to smooth his hair.

Noah shook his head but didn't look up.

---

Later that evening, I sat on the edge of Noah's bed, a storybook open in my lap.

It was about a little lion cub learning to be brave when separated from his parents.

"'Even though his mother and father had to go away for a while,'" I read, "'Little Leo knew he needed to be strong. He practiced his roar every day and learned to hunt for berries all by himself...'"

Noah's small hand suddenly covered the page, stopping me mid-sentence.

I looked up to find his dark eyes studying me intently.

"Is that why you picked this story?" he asked, his voice so small yet so precise. "Because you're going away?"

My heart clenched.

Sometimes I forgot how perceptive he was, how deeply he understood things children his age shouldn't have to think about.

"It's just a short trip, Noah," I said, trying to keep my tone light. "I'll be back before you even have time to miss me."

He didn't look convinced.

"That's what they told Little Leo too," he pointed out, referencing the story. "But he still missed them."

I set the book aside and gathered him close.

"You're right," I admitted. "And it's okay to miss people. But that doesn't mean I'm abandoning you."

"Promise?"

The word hung between us, weighted with all the fears of a child who had already experienced too much uncertainty.

"I promise I'll come back as quickly as I can," I said carefully.

I couldn't lie to him about the exact timing—not when I truly didn't know how long it would take to secure Jasper's antidote and address our other problem.

Noah nodded solemnly.

"I'll be brave like Little Leo," he declared. "I'll practice my drawing every day while you're gone, and I'll make sure Daddy smiles more."

I blinked back tears. "That sounds perfect."

"And when you come back, I'll be even more independent," he continued earnestly. "So you'll be proud of me."

"Noah," I whispered, cupping his small face in my hands.

"I'm already so proud of you. More than you could ever know."

I held him until his breathing deepened and his small body relaxed against mine.

A lump formed in my throat as I gazed down at his peaceful face.

The universe had a cruel sense of timing—my son had been right before my eyes for months without my knowing, and now that I'd finally discovered the truth, I was forced to leave him.

*Life gives with one hand and takes with the other*, I thought bitterly.

But I pushed the self-pity aside.

Unlike before, this time I was leaving by choice, fighting for a future where I could be there for all his tomorrows.

I carefully tucked him in, placing a soft kiss on his forehead before quietly leaving the room.

---

In search of Caspar, I headed toward his study.

The door was ajar, a sliver of light spilling into the hallway.

In the far corner, partially hidden behind some leather-bound volumes, was a stack of photos.

The top one was clearly visible—a baby, probably just weeks old, bundled in a blue blanket.

*Noah as an infant.*

I moved toward them automatically, fingers itching to touch this missing piece of my son's early life that had been stolen from me.

"Audrey."

Caspar's voice stopped me in my tracks.

I turned to find him watching me.

"I want to talk to you," I asked.

His expression softened immediately. He nodded, moving to sit in one of the chairs.

"I'm listening," he said, his voice gentler now as he leaned forward slightly, giving me his full attention.

"Caspar, while I'm gone..." I hesitated, gathering my thoughts.

"Noah will need extra attention. Try to smile more around him. He notices when you're tense."

Caspar's expression stiffened, "I know how to care for our son, Audrey."

I took a deep breath. "If something were to happen... if we weren't together anymore, for whatever reason... promise me you'd find someone good for him. Someone kind who would love him properly."

Caspar's eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about? Why can't we be together?"

"It's just a hypothetical," I assured him quickly. "But every parent should consider these things, shouldn't they?"

"No," he said flatly, his gaze intense and unwavering.

"There is no such hypothetical. Noah's mom can only be you."

He studied my face for a long moment. "Is there something else you want to tell me, Audrey?"

I shook my head, surprised by the sudden tightness in my throat.

"Just... take care of yourself while I'm gone."

Caspar sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair.

"I know you're not going to London just for some gallery exhibition," he said, his voice softer now but no less serious.

My pulse jumped. "What makes you say that?"

A small, knowing smile played at the corner of his mouth.

"Perhaps I understand you better than you think, Audrey." His eyes held mine with uncomfortable intensity.

For a moment, I was tempted—so tempted—to tell him everything. About the organization, about the kill switch in my body, about Jasper's antidote. But the words stuck in my throat.

"There are some things I need to handle on my own," I finally said.

Caspar's eyes darkened. "Are you afraid of putting me at risk? Or do you not trust my abilities to help you?"

I sighed, touching his arm gently.

"I know you're concerned for me," I continued, my voice softening. "I promise I'll protect myself. Right now, nothing matters more to me than coming back to you and Noah."

Caspar remained silent, his lips pressed into a thin line, forehead creased with worry that created a shadow across his features.

I rose up on my tiptoes and pressed a gentle kiss to his furrowed brow.

"Come on," I said with a smile, taking his hand and giving it a playful tug.

"Lighten up. Don't make this feel like some tragic farewell."

"You should focus on planning our wedding while I'm gone," I continued, my voice taking on a lighter tone.

"I expect everything to be perfect when I return, and then I'll officially become Mrs. Thornton."

I gave his hand a gentle squeeze, my tone shifting to teasing.

"If everything isn't perfect when I return, I might have to reconsider my answer."

I winked at him, and the tension in his expression finally melted into a tender smile.

"Let's go to bed," I suggested, still holding his hand as we left the study.

Later, as we lay in bed, I felt Caspar's arms tighten around me.

His body radiated heat like a furnace, warm and solid against mine. I didn't pull away, letting myself sink into his embrace.

I knew I would miss this—the safety of his arms, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against my cheek.

Now, I studied his face in the darkness, memorizing every line, every angle.

If these were to be our last moments together, I wanted to carry the memory of him with perfect clarity.

*I will find a way back to you both*, I silently promised. *Whatever it takes.*