Chapter 3

Audrey's POV:

Sienna recovered almost instantly.

"Oh, Audrey," she sighed dramatically, placing one hand over her heart. "You have no idea how much we've missed you. Haven't we, Mom?"

No wonder she is an actress.

I maintained my neutral expression while internally rolling my eyes at her theatrical display.

I had no desire to play along with their pretense of family unity. But for Margaret's sake, I'd maintain a cold civility. Nothing more.

Eleanor's lips thinned into a tight line as she observed our interaction.

"Audrey," she said, her voice carrying that familiar note of disapproval, "your sister is trying to welcome you home. The least you could do is show some gratitude after all this time."

Before I could respond, Margaret's frail voice cut through the tension.

"That's enough, Eleanor. Let the girl breathe. She just arrived."

She reached out her weathered hand toward me, her eyes crinkling with genuine warmth.

"Audrey, dear, come sit by me. "

I took my seat at the long dining table beside Margaret. She was graciously pouring sparkling water for me.

"How was London, dear?" she asked, her eyes filled with genuine concern. "You look like you've lost quite a bit of weight."

I smiled as I accepted the glass. "It was fine."

Eleanor was clearly dissatisfied with the way Margaret treated me differently, letting out a bitter laugh.

"What hardships can she endure in London?"

Then continued, "If we're talking about hardship, we should ask Sienna about it. It was really hard when she was stranded away from home, didn't you?"

Sienna immediately picked up the cue, her eyes downcast in a pitiful expression.

"Mom, please don't say that."

Sienna sighed, her face wearing an expression of sorrow.

"While my days before returning to the Bailey family were indeed rather... difficult, that experience taught me so much and helped me grow."

She lifted her head, tears glistening in her eyes. "And being able to come back to my real family makes it all worthwhile."

I couldn't help but let out a cold laugh, watching this touching mother-daughter performance with cold indifference.

A flash of dissatisfaction crossed Eleanor's eyes.

"What kind of attitude is that? "

Sienna turned to me immediately, putting on her best victim voice.

"Audrey, I know you hate me. After all, I took what should have been your place..."

I wasn't planning to get involved in this drama, but if they insist on dragging me into it, I won't hold back.

"Cut the act, Sienna," I said with a cold laugh. "Nobody wants to watch your amateur hour performance."

Eleanor immediately fired back.

"How dare you talk to Sienna like that! You're the one who owes her! You stole everything that should have been hers!"

She shot to her feet, her finger trembling as she pointed at me.

"All of Sienna's misfortune is because of you! If you hadn't taken her place, she never would have suffered through all that pain! She should have been living like a princess, not struggling at the bottom for twenty years!"

The atmosphere turned toxic in a heartbeat.

Four years ago, accusations like these would have cut me to the bone, would have kept me awake at night.

But now, listening to Eleanor's hysterical accusations, I felt nothing but numbness inside.

Margaret slammed her cane on the floor, shutting down the drama. "Enough! I won't have this kind of talk at my dinner table!"

Just then, my foster father, George Bailey, pushed through the door and came home.

He glanced up and caught sight of me, surprise flickering across his face.

"Well, well, isn't that Audrey Bailey? I thought we'd have to send you a formal invitation to get you back here." His voice dripped with sarcasm.

I didn't flinch, dabbed at my lips with my napkin.

" Mr Bailey. I am now called Audrey Lane."

George's face turned purple with rage. "You!"

He pointed at me, his voice shaking with fury. "Whatever. The Bailey family doesn't want a daughter like you anyway!"

The dining room fell silent.

Eleanor reached over, tugging gently at George's sleeve, her eyes communicating something.

Whatever silent message passed between them seemed to have an immediate effect. George's breathing slowed, and the flush in his cheeks gradually subsided.

He straightened his tie and cleared his throat.

"Since you've returned," he said in a controlled tone, "you should prepare to meet with Samuel West soon. They're already making arrangements for the meeting."

Samuel West. The name on my marriage contract. My legal husband for nearly five years, and yet a complete stranger.

"I have no intention of meeting him," I said evenly, cutting into my steak. "Our contract expires in three months. There's no point."

George slammed his palm on the table, making the crystal glasses jump.

"This isn't a request, Audrey. This marriage secured the Bailey Group. Don't you know the stakes involved in this? "

I set down my knife and fork with deliberate precision, my eyes never leaving George's face.

"Oh, I understand the stakes perfectly well." My voice was calm, almost conversational, but edged with steel.

"What I don't understand is why, if this alliance was so critically important to the Bailey family, Sienna wasn't the one wearing the wedding ring."

Eleanor set down her wine glass with a sharp clink.

"What's the point of rehashing ancient history, Audrey?" she said, her voice clipped. "The marriage has already happened. The contracts were signed. The alliance was formed."

"What's the point of worrying about these things?"

A cold laugh escaped my lips, hollow and bitter.

"No point?" I looked directly into Eleanor's eyes, my voice dangerously quiet. "Is a human life significant enough for you?"

The color drained from Eleanor's face. Even Sienna, for once, couldn't maintain her practiced composure.

I let my gaze sweep around the table, meeting each of their eyes in turn.

"If you think I came back to play the role of your punching bag again, you're dead wrong."