Dorothy's POV:

I hung up the phone, sighing deeply as I placed it on my antique side table.

"End things with the Bailey girl," I muttered to myself, rising from my chair. "Perhaps not the worst idea."

After that disgraceful incident with the stolen painting, I'd developed serious doubts about Sienna Bailey's character.

If Caspar wanted to terminate the contract, I couldn't be more supportive.

The only problem was that I couldn't remember where I'd put those documents. It had been five years, after all.

I'd only looked at them once when they first arrived, then filed them away somewhere safe and hadn't touched them since.

I made my way to my study, determined to locate the marriage contract and certificate.

They had to be somewhere among my personal files. What had started as an organized search quickly devolved into chaos as I pulled out drawer after drawer, emptying filing cabinets and boxes.

Three hours later, my normally immaculate study looked as if a hurricane had torn through it.

Papers lay scattered across the Persian rug-financial statements, property deeds, old photographs-but the one document I desperately needed remained elusive.

"Where is it?" I muttered, yanking open another drawer.

A soft knock interrupted my thoughts.

"Come in," I called, not looking up from the antique writing desk I was now examining.

Martha entered, my housekeeper of thirty years and the only servant I truly trusted.

Her eyes widened at the chaos surrounding me.

"Mrs. Thornton, what's going on here?"

"Lock the door, Martha," I instructed, cutting her off. "I am looking for a file."

Martha immediately complied, then approached me with concern etched on her face. "May I help you,ma'am?"

I tapped my lower back with my fist, straightening a posture that had been bent over for too long. "I need the marriage contract between Samuel West and that Bailey girl. I know it's here somewhere."

Martha's eyes registered understanding. Everyone in my household knew of my disappointment in Sienna Bailey.

"Have you checked the hidden compartment in your desk?" Martha suggested.

I paused and smacked my forehead in frustration. How could I have forgotten there?

With Martha's help, I pressed the hidden lever beneath the third drawer.A small panel slid open, revealing a compact wall safe I hadn't accessed in

years.

"The combination," I murmured, closing my eyes to recall. "Harold's birthday and our anniversary."

The safe opened with a satisfying click.

Two copies of the marriage contract slid out, along with the marriage certificate itself.

Martha bent down to retrieve them, and as she gathered the papers, the marriage certificate flipped open.

She paused, staring at something on the document, her expression shifting from confusion to astonishment.

"Mrs. Thornton," she said slowly, "isn't that the young lady who teaches Noah at the gallery?"

I frowned in confusion. "What do you mean? There shouldn't be any photo of Audrey here."

I leaned forward to see what Martha was pointing at-a photograph paper-clipped to the second copy of the contract-the bride's signed photo required for the documentation.

My heart skipped a beat. The woman in the photograph was decidedly not Sienna Bailey.

I reached for my reading glasses with trembling hands. "That can't be right,

" I whispered, adjusting the glasses on my nose. "Let me see that."

The photo showed a woman with the same delicate features, the same expressive eyes as Audrey. She looked younger, with longer hair and a

solemn expression, but it was unmistakably her.

I suddenly remembered why Audrey had seemed so familiar when I first met her at the Luminous Gallery.

A wave of realization washed over me-I had been wrong from the very beginning.

I had always assumed Sienna was the Bailey girl in the contract,but this changed everything.

"But this doesn't make sense," I muttered, frowning deeply."I was told the Bailey family only had one daughter.But why-"

The contract clearly stated "Audrey Bailey" as the bride.

"I need to confirm this immediately," I said, reaching for my phone. "Get me the number for the Luminous Gallery's board director."

Within minutes, I was speaking with Mrs. Smith, the gallery's director.

"Mrs. Smith, this is Dorothy Thornton. I want to ask you something about Noah's teacher."

"Are you talking about Audrey Lane? Of course, Mrs. Thornton. What would you like to know?"

"Would you be so kind as to email me her employment file? Including her photo ID and resume?"

Mrs. Smith's tone immediately hesitated. "I'm afraid that won't be possible,Mrs. Thornton. Our employee files are confidential. It would be against our privacy policy to share such personal information."

I quickly adjusted my approach. "I completely understand your concern

for privacy, Mrs. Smith. Perhaps just a copy of her ID photo would suffice?"

Mrs. Smith paused, seemingly relieved by this more reasonable request."Well. I'll send that over right away."

"Thank you, Mrs. Smith. I appreciate your assistance."

I ended the call and turned to Martha, who had returned with my tea.

Within minutes, my tablet chimed with an incoming email.

I opened it to find Audrey's professional ID photo from the gallery.

Placing it side by side with the contract photo, there was no doubt. Same woman,different stages of life.

"It's her," I breathed, studying both images carefully. "The eyes, the bone structure-it's definitely the same person. But why did she change her surname from Bailey to Lane? What happened there?"

Despite my questions, I could barely contain my excitement.

This was extraordinary! Audrey Lane-the very woman who had captivated Noah and, if I wwasn't mistaken, had begun to capture Caspar's interest as well-was actually his legal wife.

I needed to tell Caspar immediately. Oh, how I wished I could see his face when he learned the truth!

"Martha, get me Caspar on the phone immediately," I ordered, my fingers practically trembling with anticipation.

Martha returned moments later, her expression apologetic. "I'm sorry, Mrs.Thornton. Mr. Thornton's assistant says he's currently on a flight to

London.He can't be reached for several hours."

I let out a disappointed sigh, shaking my head. "How typical.Just when I have the most important news, he's unavailable."

Then a small, mischievous smile curved my lips. "Actually, Martha, hand me my phone."

I took a quick photo of just the marriage certificate's cover-enough to show what document it was without revealing the names inside.

Perfect. This would certainly get his attention without giving away the surprise.

"There," I said, attaching the image to a text message with the words:*Found something interesting. Call me when you land. It's about your wife.*

I hit send with a satisfied nod.

I closed the safe with a decisive click. "My grandson has been married to a woman he's actually falling for-without even knowing it."

"But Mrs. Thornton," Martha asked hesitantly, "does Miss Lane know?"

I shook my head, settling back into the leather chair. " I handled almost all the arrangements myself back then. Caspar was using his Samuel West identity when connected with the Bailey family. They never saw his face,just signed the papers."

I lean against my chair, imagining Caspar's face when he discovered the truth.

"Martha," I said, a smile playing at my lips, "I believe things are about to get very interesting in the Thornton household."