Audrey's POV:

"Listen," I said, leaning slightly forward and softening my voice.

"I want to help you, but I need to know what to do. Would it be okay if I took you to a police station? The police officers there could help you find your way home.Would that be alright?"

His eyes widened slightly, and after what seemed like careful consideration.he gave a small, deliberate nod.

Relief washed over me. At least now I had a direction, a next step that he had agreed to.

After paying the bill, I gently took the boy's hand and led him outside.

Just as I was looking up the nearest police station on my phone, four men in dark suits appeared so suddenly that I gasped and instinctively pulled the boy closer.

They moved with military precision, surrounding us in seconds.

One of them pressed a finger to his ear and spoke in a clipped,professional tone.

"Target secured. Young master located."

My heart hammered against my ribs.

"Wait, you don't understand," I said, raising my hands defensively.

"I found him alone in the restaurant. I was just taking him to the police station. I'm not-I wasn't kidnapping him or anything!"

They didn't seem to hear me.

Two of them flanked me while a third reached for my arm.

"You'll need to come with us," he said, his grip painfully tight as hebegan steering me toward a black SUV parked at thecurb.

"Let go of me!" I protested, panic rising in my throat. "I was helping him!"

The boy suddenly darted forward, positioning his small body between me and the security men.

His face, which had been so expressionless before, now showed clear determination as he spread his arms protectively in front of me.

The security team froze, clearly surprised by the child's intervention.

"Young master," one of them began cautiously, "please step aside."

The boy didn't move. Instead, he fixed them with a stern look that seemed impossibly mature for his age, and firmly shook his head.

The security men exchanged glances, clearly at a loss.

After a brief, tense standoff, the one who appeared to be in charge sighed and gestured toward the waiting SUV.

"Very well. Both of you,please."

I hesitated, but the boy took my hand and tugged me gently toward the vehicle.

With security personnel surrounding us and few options available, I reluctantly followed.

At least this way, I could explain the situation to his parents directly and clear up the misunderstanding.

As we drove, the city lights gradually gave way to tree-lined roads and increasingly spaced-out properties.

Finally, we turned through massive wrought-iron gates that opened automatically upon our approach,revealing a winding driveway flanked by perfectly manicured gardens.

When the mansion came into view, I couldn't suppress a small gasp.

I'd guessed from his expensive clothes and perfect manners that the boy came from money, but this... this was another level entirely.

The SUV stopped at the main entrance, where a distinguished older man in impeccable attire stood waiting, his posture rigid with worry.

The moment he saw the boy step out of the vehicle, visible relief washed over his face.

He took a quick, assessing glance over the boy, confirming he was unharmed.

"Noah, where have you been?" he exhaled.

Noah. So that was his name.

Instead of answering verbally, Noah walked over and gently took the older man's hand in his small one, patting it reassuringly.

The man's expression softened momentarily at Noah's touch, but when he raised his head to look at me, his eyes turned sharp and assessing,filled with suspicion.

One of the security men quickly stepped forward.

"Mr Edward,we found the young master leaving a restaurant with this woman," he reported formally. "She was holding his hand and walking away from the establishment when we intercepted them."

Edward's eyes narrowed dangerously as he continued his assessment of me.

"Who are you?" he demanded. "Who sent you? How dare you attempt to kidnap a Thornton child?"

Thornton? The name hit me like a physical blow.

My mind raced through business magazine covers, newspaper headlines,and charity gala announcements I'd seen over the years.

The Thorntons were not just wealthy. Their family had shaped the financial landscape of the country for generations.

And the current patriarch, Caspar Thornton-nicknamed "King C"-was famous for his ruthless efficiency and cutthroat business tactics.

The thought that I had just casually shared dinner with his four-year-old son made me lightheaded.

Everyone in New York knew that Caspar had a young son whose mother's identity remained the biggest mystery in high society circles.

They also knew one unwritten rule: anyone who touched the Thornton heir would face Caspar's unrestrained wrath.

"Who touches, who dies" wasn't just a rumor.

"You've got it all wrong," I said, trying my best to keep my voice steady. "I

just happened to meet him. They found me when I was trying to take Noah to the police station."

Edward's expression remained coldly skeptical. "A remarkable coincidence,isn't it? And you expect me to believe you had no idea who he was?"

"It's the truth," I insisted, hearing the desperation in my own voice. "Look,I understand how this looks,but-"

Edward held up his hand,cutting me off.

"That's enough. We'll get to the bottom of this."

He turned to the security team. "Take her to the east wing study and keep her there. Mr. Thornton will want to question her himself when he returns."

Two security men immediately moved toward me.

My heart hammered against my ribs as the reality of my situation crashed down.

Suddenly. Noah tugged free from Edward's grip and positioned himself between me and the advancing guards as he watched them approach.

His small frame stood directly in my path, arms spread wide in an unmistakably protective stance.

The security men faltered, their disciplined movements giving way to uncertainty.

Then, the unexpected happened again.

"She... helped," Noah said, his voice small but clear.

The effect was immediate.

Everyone froze. Edward stared at Noah with undisguised shock.

"Noah?" Edward's voice was barely above a whisper. "You spoke."

Noah nodded firmly, pointing at me. "She helped."

Two simple words, but fromn the reactions around me, they might as well have been a lengthy oration.

Edward and the security team exchanged stunned glances,clearly struggling to process what had just happened.