Chapter 94

Edwin & Audrey Edwin's POV

Before I could watch Audrey go. Claudia was already pulling me aside with a tight grip on my arm. I knew what this wast about, although I feigned ignorance as though that would somehow help.

"It's about Fiona," Claudia said, her grip on my arm tightening. "You haven't spoken to her in a long time. She's getting impatient."

Even though I knew that this was what Claudia was going to mention, I felt my stomach drop. Of all the topics Claudia could have brought up, this was the last one I wanted to discuss. I struggled to keep my expression neutral, acutely aware of Audrey's retreating form just a few feet away.

"I've been busy with work," I replied, the lie tasting bitter on my tongue.

Claudia's eyes narrowed. "Too busy to call your fiancee?"

I winced at that word: fiancee. As if Fiona and I had come to that arrangement mutually.

"I speak to her soon," I promised, hoping to end this conversation as quickly as possible. "Please send her my regards."

Claudia's grip loosened ever so slightly, but her gaze remained piercing. "Send my regards?" she scoffed. "I'll do you one better. Come to my home for brunch this weekend."

My eyebrows shot up. "Brunch?

"Yes, Edwin. Brunch," Claudia sighed. "Look, I know you're just shy around my daughter, but you have no reason to be. It will be lighthearted-we can play games, chat a bit. Like old days"

Part of me wanted to tell Claudia to stuff it, but I couldn't. I cared for her too much, and societal expectations kept me from saying no. And besides, she had always been kind to me, and I enjoyed her company, at least.

So, I nodded stiffly, watching as Claudia turned and walked away.

As soon as she was out of earshot, I cursed under my breath. A family brunch was the last thing I wanted to do. "Coward," my wolf hissed.

1 grit my teeth, my eyes flicking to where I had last seen Audrey. Perhaps I was a coward. But what choice did I have? My mind drifted back to six months ago, back to the day that Fiona first mentioned marriage...

"I told you to bring me red wine," Fiona hissed, splashing the glass of white wine into the human s*t's f**ace. "Idiot, Bring me another."

I felt a pang in my chest as I approached Fiona through the thick crowd of

asked, shoving my hands into my

her eye. I knew that look all too well, and

but our familiarity had never bred any sort of affection.

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Chapter 94

hard to believe she was Claudia's daughter-Claudia, who was kind to everyone so long as they were kind to her. Claudia, who

she had to say. I took a glass of champagne from a passing

preposterous. Of all your horrible jokes, Fiona, that one might

not a joke. Think about it, Edwin. Our families

have no interest in getting involved with anyone romantically, I said firmly. Especially not you, I wanted to

status. And don't worry, I won't expect you to love me. If you want a little plaything on the side, I won't object, so long

cruelty. Plaything? "The answer is

wedding gown picked out. You have two years to wait for me at the end

I would have hardly considered myself

away.

bitter day. The feeling of helplessness had only intensified when I had spoken to my father about it the

it and marry the d*a*n woman," he had said,

I had protested.

This union will benefit us all. And you're not getting any younger; you should have been

that I had realized that my fate had already been decided. My father had accepted the proposal on my behalf, trapping me in

the crowd, I felt that same sense of helplessness wash over me. I

I was, expected to play the role of devoted

of a b***dy coward to call

Audrey's POV

Claudia, their hushed conversation echoing in my ears, I couldn't help but wonder who this "Fiona' was. I furrowed my brow, scratching my

at my memory, and if I could just locate

Tue, Sep 17 B

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