Chapter 51
Audrey's POV:
My phone vibrated with an incoming text.
I glanced at the screen, seeing George Bailey's name, and immediately felt my stomach tighten.
Messages from him rarely brought anything good.
I'm sending you Samuel West's phone number. He insists on speaking with you directly. Contact him immediately.
Attached was a phone number I'd never seen before.
Four years of marriage to a man whose voice I'd never heard, whose face I'd never seen.
A phantom husband who existed only on paper and in the Bailey family's desperate financial schemes.
I set my phone down without responding.
Twenty minutes later, I stepped into the Bailey family's Upper East Side apartment.
The tension in the air was palpable, like walking into a thunderstorm.
George stood by the window, his face flushed with anger. Eleanor perched on the edge of an armchair, her expression a perfect blend of disapproval and smug satisfaction. Sienna was nowhere to be seen, which was actually a relief.
"There you are," George snapped. "Did you receive my message?"
"I did."
"And? Why haven't you replied to me? "
I placed my bag on the side table. "I've been busy."
"Busy?" George's voice rose. "Do you understand what's at stake here? The agreement—"
"George," Eleanor cut in sharply, placing a hand on his arm.
She gave him a meaningful look before turning to glance toward Margaret.
Margaret appeared in the doorway, her frail figure leaning slightly on her cane.
Despite her age and failing health, her eyes remained sharp and observant.
She gestured for me to follow her.
"Come, Audrey. Let's talk in my room."
Margaret's bedroom was a sanctuary within the Bailey household—the one place where I still felt welcome. I helped her settle into her favorite chair by the window.
"How are you feeling today?" I asked, genuinely concerned.
"Oh, these old bones protest more each day," she replied with a small smile. "But that's not what we need to discuss. Have you contacted Samuel West yet?"
I shook my head. "No."
"Why not, dear?"
I stared out the window, watching the city lights begin to emerge as dusk settled over Manhattan. "What's the point? The contract ends soon."
Margaret reached for my hand.
"Audrey, I know this arrangement wasn't what you wanted. But perhaps there's more to Samuel West than just a name on a contract. Perhaps meeting him could lead to something real."
I couldn't help the bitter laugh that escaped me. "Something real? After four years of silence? He's never once tried to meet me."
"People change, dear. Circumstances change." Her eyes grew distant. "When I was young, I thought I knew exactly what my life would be. But everything changed."
She squeezed my hand. "All I'm saying is, don't close doors before you've looked to see what's behind them."
"I'll think about it," I promised, knowing how much Margaret wanted to see me settled before... I pushed the thought away. I couldn't bear to think about losing her.
"That's all I ask." She smiled, then grew serious. "And Audrey? Whatever you decide, know that I'm proud of you."
---
Back in my room at the Bailey apartment, I lay on the bed staring at the ceiling.
The conversation with Margaret weighed heavily on my mind.
I picked up my phone and found the contact information George had sent earlier.
I stared at the unknown number that belonged to my paper husband of nearly five years.
Taking a deep breath, I typed out a message:
Hello Samuel West. I think we should meet to discuss our contract marriage since it's ending soon. Let me know when you're available.
I hit send before I could change my mind, then set the phone down beside me.
I wondered what kind of man Samuel West was, and why after all this time, he suddenly wanted to contact me.
My phone chimed with a response. That was fast.
No need to meet. Let's just divorce. My lawyer will contact you.
The bluntness of the response caught me off guard.
I stared at my phone, trying to process his curt dismissal.
I understand if you're busy, but I think we at least owe each other a brief meeting after all this time. This isn't about extending the contract—I just believe ending things in person would be more respectful to both of us.
His reply came almost instantly:
I've had enough dealings with the Bailey family to last a lifetime. I won't waste more of my time on someone who agreed to sell herself for financial gain.
I gasped, heat rising to my face. How dare he? After everything I'd endured.
My fingers flew across the screen:
How DARE you judge me when you know NOTHING about me or my circumstances? You think I wanted this arrangement? You think I enjoyed being a nameless, faceless wife to a stranger?
I was breathing hard now, years of pent-up frustration pouring out. Before he could respond, I added:
And for the record, I've been counting down the days until this farce of a marriage ends. So please, by all means, have your lawyer contact mine as soon as possible. I'm just as eager to end this as you are.
I threw my phone down beside me, my hands shaking with anger.
Who did this Samuel West think he was? After all these years of silence, to speak to me like I was some gold-digger? The absolute nerve of the man!