25

AUDREY
Today was the day we all had to finally say goodbye to Samuel. It’s like the pain I had tripled as I watched Anton putting the ceramic jar of his remains in the internment. Though I could no longer shed tears, my heart was broken into tiny pieces. The day was so serene that only the closest friends and relatives attended, but Dad wasn’t present. He locked himself in his room, and Anton couldn’t convince him to come.
It was a beautiful day with clear skies and the sun, but I couldn’t appreciate it. I felt empty. There was no chance in this life that I’d ever see Samuel’s face or hear his voice again.
“Audrey, wait!” Charles called from behind us and tried to catch up. Chelsea and I stopped.
“Charles.”
He was still panting when he reached us. “Can I speak with you?”
“Yes, of course. What is it?”
“I know it’s a bad time,” he breathed, “but can we talk?”
“I was planning on giving this day a break, Charles.”
“I know. I know, as I said, this might be a bad time but hear me out. This is about the mansion. There’s been a change—”
“Audrey, come on!” Anton called from the car, waiting for Chelsea and me.
“Are you going back to the mansion?” Charles asked.
“No, to the Waldorf.”
“Then I’ll come to you in the afternoon at four, maybe? I was really hoping to talk to you about this. This is pretty important, and I know you’d be interested in hearing what I’m about to say.”
“Is this bad?” I paused. “Oh no, please don’t tell me.” I sighed. I had no more strength to protest or hear anything stressful. I just want to get over this and head back to the hotel to rest. “At four then, Charles.”
He sighed in relief. “Sure, great. Um, condolences again, Audrey. Samuel was a good man. I miss him.” He embraced me and then briefly rubbed my back, and I hugged him back. Apparently, Charles’s body was warm, and I momentarily felt secure.
I nodded. “We’re heading back now, Charles. See you later.”
He left a squeeze on my body before he let me go. “See you.”
Charles headed out first, and we watched him hop into his Mercedes. Then, two black cars followed him from behind.
“Wow, that man is a catch and handsome,” Chelsea commented. “And he’s completely smitten.”
“He’s a childhood friend.” We continued to walk again.
“Well, aren’t you lucky?” She grinned. “Charles really seems like a good guy.”
“He is, but it’s not like how you think it is. He’s just very close to Samuel.” I stopped again, and I felt the trembling of my knees. Chelsea held my hand.
“I know. Come on. You need to rest.”
I nodded.
Anton drove us back to the Waldorf that morning, but none of us said a word in the car, just an empty silence. I still couldn’t get over the fact that he was gone. Samuel was really gone. Finally, I shed the tears that I had been building in my chest. I cried. Chelsea immediately wrapped her arms around me.
A few minutes later, I’d managed to calm down, and we were already in front of the hotel.
“You’ve got a nice place here, Aud,” Anton says.
“My boss got this for us,” I said. We were now standing at the entrance.
“Stark?”
“Yes.”
“Then you’ll be meeting Charles here later?”
“We agreed to meet in the afternoon to talk about the house. Why don’t you come?”
“Nah. Charles and I don’t get along.” He slipped his hand into his pocket. “Besides, it is up to you now. It’s your house. Juliet and I will be living in Dublin for good. We will visit Dad sometimes, but I guess this is how we’re going to live our lives now, Audrey. We are meant to grow apart after all.”
His words alone made me go back to the memories of us growing up together in that mansion. I wouldn’t be surprised if Anton wouldn’t get along with other people. He was brusque and short-tempered. I set aside the fact that he had hurt Liam for Samuel’s sake. I could never forget it, and I was still mad and hurt about it, but at the end of the day, he was still my brother. The only one I had left.
“But can I see you again before we leave this place?” Anton asked.
“Of course.” I forced a smile.
“I have a lot to say to you, Audrey. You see, meeting Juliet has been a wake-up call for me to reflect on my mistakes.” Oddly, my brother sounded sincere. “I’m still lucky after all I’ve done.”
“I know. Juliet is a very kind woman, Anton.”
Anton pulled me into his arms and held me tight. I felt his chest vibrate and turn into a sob. “I’m really sorry, Audrey. Dad and I have been unfair to you. I don’t deserve this life. I don’t deserve Juliet.”
“But you make her happy.” I lifted and curled my arms around him.
“Yes.” He nodded. “And I will do it every day.” He let me go. “Good luck this afternoon with Charles.”
“Wait, Anton, before you leave. Did you know the new owners of our estates? Is it the Scotts? I had to ask. I’d like to have a little bit of knowledge of the situation before I talk to him later.”
“No, it’s not the Scotts, but there’s only one owner. I haven’t met him or her, nor would I be interested in knowing it.” He shook his head. “It hurts to see our properties being taken away, but I intended not to know it to move on. Samuel knew, but he wouldn’t be able to tell us now.”
I nodded. “I see. Then it’s just the house, and it’s almost gone.”
“I hope Charles will give it consideration.”
“Me too.”
“So, I’ll be heading back now. Juliet is waiting for me at the Central.”
“Sure. Take care, you two.” We hugged each other briefly again, and then Anton said goodbye to Chelsea.

***
Charles was already in the hotel’s restaurant when I came. And with a sky-blue designer suit, he dazzled even more than those black suits he wore that last time I saw him. I approached him, and then he kindly helped me sit on the chair and called for a waiter for our snack.
“The macaron here is good,” he said when he offered me one of the plates of colorful sweets alongside a latte.
“Thanks.”
“I’m sorry if I had to take this time while you should be resting, but this is urgent. But, oh, you can eat first if you like,” he suggested.
“No, it’s okay, Charles. We can talk about it now.”
“Oh, sure. So…” He picked up the briefcase on his side and drew out black folders from it, and he handed one to me. “That is your copy.”
I opened the folder and found documents inside our mansion in Glendale written at the top. I had no idea what was on the paper.
“I can’t read this, Charles. Enlighten me.”
“Well, as you can see, it’s an agreement of your stepmother and me to loan her money using the house as collateral,” he began to explain. “Your family has been friends with mine for a decade, Audrey, and I won’t lie to you. I’m interested in the mansion.”
“I guess. Anton said so.”
“I’m sure he would think so too, but don’t get me wrong. I watched your properties slowly being taken, and as a friend, I wouldn’t wish that to happen to the house as well, and as a close friend. It’s a waste to see it fall into someone else’s hands. So, I approved Cecile’s application.”
“With my father’s state right now, that’s more likely to happen,” I said, understanding his point.
“As you can see, I lent her 3 million dollars, not much for the mansion’s value, but given that your father is still legally and partly entitled to the mansion’s ownership (about 25%) and in your absence, he has the right to use that portion as collateral. But that, of course, will change when you show up to claim the larger part. I know I should’ve tried to reach out to you, but I didn’t know where you were.”
“Will I lose the house or not?” I asked straightforwardly.
“No, fortunately, not now, but since your father already got his part with his new wife, he’s no longer entitled to the owners because they weren’t able to pay back the money they loaned with the given deadline. In short, Scott Corporation owns 25% of the mansion now, but 75% is still yours.
“However, it is stated that if you wish to take the 15% back, you, Audrey, have to pay the 3 million dollars and a 7% interest, so the mansion will be yours again. It’s business, Audrey. I hope you understand.”
My chest had lightened a bit, knowing that I hadn’t completely lost the house. “So even in the given deadline, I can still take the house back?”
“Yes, because it’ll be another concession on your part. Your father no longer has the power on this.”
“If I don’t pay within the given deadline,” “Scott Corporation will buy the remaining 75% with a decent amount, of course, and you will receive the money.”
“Can’t we just become co-owners until I can finally pay you back?” I asked.
“Audrey, I wanted to, but the company isn’t solely mine. I have the largest share, but I have a board to answer to. My Uncle, in particular, is very interested in the mansion. I have to apologize, but your father agreed and already signed up to those terms on your behalf, but you will still get the money. I can assure you that.”
“I don’t need the money, Charles. The point is, it’s my mother’s house. The only thing that she left for me. The mansion has been with her family for decades. When is the due date?”
“One month.”
“Damn.” I cursed. “Where could I get that money in a month?”
“Actually, I have another offer. It may sound ridiculous to you, but it’s one of the solutions I can think of. I can’t lend you my money either since I can’t come up with that—”
“Just tell me about that other solution, Charles,” I snapped, cutting him off.
“I may have to ask you to marry me instead of my father, Audrey. I will offer myself to you.”
I froze. I could not speak for a moment, but I felt like I was going to explode inside.
“Audrey, I know this is crazy, but if you become a Scott and legally bear the name, I’d take your house back. We can get a divorce after that. I can even make you a contract. But if you think you can be happy with me, I will cherish you, Audrey.”
There was no malice in his voice. In fact, once in my life, I thought it should’ve been Charles instead of his disgusting father since he was young and unmarried. But I didn’t run away and ended up in the same situation.