Cohen Howell glanced at the WhatsApp notification from Cleo Hall inviting him to dinner, feeling indifferent. His mind was occupied with the scene Audrey Perry had created earlier that day. If he didn't go home tonight, who knew what chaos Audrey might cause? He decided to have dinner at home, telling himself it was just to keep things calm.
As Cohen got into the car and directed the driver to head home, his phone buzzed with a video call from Cleo. "Cohen, are you busy? Did you see my message earlier?" she asked. Because of their shared history, Cleo held a special place in his life, and Cohen rarely let her down. Yet this time, he replied with a simple "Yeah." Before Cleo could continue, Cohen quickly added, "Cleo, I have a meeting tonight and I'm rushing to get there. You should rest after work."
"Alright," Cleo replied, trying to smile despite the disappointment she couldn't hide. After getting no response to her earlier message, she had already reached out to Cohen's friends, who denied he had any plans. Cleo now wondered if Cohen was dining with someone else or if he had chosen to be with Audrey.
Distracted from her filming, Cleo pretended to be unwell through her assistant to sneak away, secretly waiting near Cohen’s home. The assistant, though hesitant, considered the challenges of the job: managing Cleo’s moods and laundering her clothes, even her delicates. She wished to stay clear of any drama in others' personal lives but kept these thoughts to herself. As an assistant, she had no choice but to comply.
Back at home, Cohen found the living room dark. Where was everyone? No matter how late it was, Audrey always waited for him; sometimes he'd find her dozing at the table and would gently wake her to move upstairs. He hung his coat by the front door, announcing wearily, "I'm home." Silence responded until Mrs. Smith hurried over. "Sir, you're back tonight?" she asked, surprised. It seemed everyone assumed he wouldn't return, not even bothering to keep up appearances for his sake.
Cohen asked about Audrey’s whereabouts, and Mrs. Smith looked puzzled. "She said she told you she was going home." Cohen frowned. Gone? Was Audrey serious about the divorce? The thought of their home without her presence unsettled him. He quickly dialed her number.
Meanwhile, Cleo's car was parked a short distance from Cohen's home, hoping he would just pop in to change clothes. But he hadn't left since going in. Frustration tightened her grip on the steering wheel.
With a mix of anxiety and determination, Audrey returned to her family home. She dreaded facing her family, haunted by memories of a previous life where her financial support of Cohen had led to the Perry family’s downfall and eventual takeover by Cohen himself. Although eager to see her family, finding them away on business brought her some relief. Given a second chance, Audrey recognized the shift in societal norms: women were becoming more self-aware, prioritizing independence and empowerment over romantic fantasies. Though the Perry family seemed robust, internal and external threats were ever-present. Determined to strengthen herself and protect her loved ones, she picked up a real estate proposal from the table.
The "Renaissance Heights" project caught her attention. She remembered the modest villa project in a small town. Her grandfather once offered it as a learning opportunity, but she had been too consumed with chasing Cohen to focus on work, resulting in the project falling into the hands of a less reliable family branch, leading to... "Audrey, you're home?" her grandfather's delighted voice interrupted her thoughts.
Noah Perry had returned early, not expecting the surprise of seeing his granddaughter. Audrey hugged him tightly, tears of regret over past grievances streaming down. She wondered if her grandfather's heart condition was partly her fault, having missed his final moments due to her stubborn quarrel with Cohen.
Seeing his granddaughter cry pained Noah. "What happened, Audrey? Did Cohen give you a hard time again? I'll handle it," he reassured. Audrey shook her head. "No, he won't hurt me anymore." An unknown call came in on her phone, which she promptly ignored, sharing her decision to divorce Cohen with her grandfather. "Cohen's company will repay the loan to our family, leaving us unharmed."
Noah sighed, a hint of traditional values in his response. "Who says there’s no harm? My precious granddaughter's first marriage..." Yet, he was pragmatic, adding, "Better to be divorced than unhappily married. I'll always support you." Audrey smiled through her tears, determined, "Grandpa, I'll grow quickly so you can finally enjoy life peacefully."
He affectionately smoothed her hair. "As long as you're happy, I'm at peace." Audrey picked up the project plan again. "Grandpa, may I take on this project?" "Of course, it was meant for you," Noah said, instructing his secretary to announce her leadership over "Renaissance Heights" at the company.
He briefed her on potential challenges, especially the relocation agreements involved, advising her to learn from experienced colleagues. "Understood!" Audrey agreed, though her phone buzzed again. "Who's that?" Noah inquired. "Just spam!" Audrey dismissed the interruption, blocking the number.
The reality of learning from others proved more challenging than expected. Despite their seemingly friendly demeanor, experienced colleagues withheld guidance, wary of supporting the wrong person in internal family politics. Unsure of her genuine intentions or if she’d soon abandon the project again, they remained silent.
Kaison Perry, having heard the whispers of her return, couldn’t stay calm. Having recently pocketed part of the relocation funds, he feared exposure. Yet, recalling Audrey's former unfocused ways, he reassured himself she wouldn’t uncover anything. Thus calm, he carried on with his day as usual.
Spotting Audrey, he feigned surprise, "Audrey! What brings you here?" Contrary to his expectations, Audrey, having diligently studied the project files, immediately questioned the project’s delays and financial discrepancies, causing Kaison's smile to fade as she earnestly demanded accountability.
