One Night
One Night 94

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.”

The human, sputtering and wiping the sticky liquid from her eyes, murmured a tearful apology and scurried away. I felt a pang in my chest as I approached Fiona through the thick crowd of partygoers-no one said anything. Hardly anyone here cared how the human or halfblood s**nts were treated.

“Bothering the s***ts again, Fiona?” I asked, shoving my hands into my pockets.

Fiona turned to me with a predatory gleam in her eye. I knew that look all too well, and I knew she wanted something the second I saw it. “Edwin, darling. We need to talk.”

1 grimaced. I had known Fiona since childhood, but our familiarity had never bred any sort of affection. She was arrogant.

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Chapter 94

cruel, and treated humans worse than the dirt beneath her feet. Sometimes, it was hard to believe she was Claudia’s daughter-Claudia, who was kind to everyone so long as they were kind to her. Claudia, who was intelligent and successful and clever. Not at all like her daughter, the spoiled heiress who thought that the world owed her something just for breathing.

“What is it, Fiona?” I asked, already dreading whatever she had to say. I took a glass of champagne from a passing se***ticing my display, leaned close to me and lowered her voice. “I think it’s time we got married.”*

I nearly choked on my drink. “Married? That’s preposterous. Of all your horrible jokes, Fiona, that one might be the worst.”

Fiona examined her manicure, unfazed by my reaction. “It’s not a joke. Think about it, Edwin. Our families combined would be unstoppable. The wealth, the power… it’s a perfect match.”

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

She laughed, a cold, brittle sound. “Oh. Edwin. This isn’t about romance. It’s about 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 as you don’t knock her up.

My blood ran cold at her casual cruelty. Plaything? “The answer is no, Fiona,” I said c**lly

Her eyes hardened. “I’m not taking no for an answer. I already have the wedding gown picked out. You have two years to wait for me at the end of the aisle, or I’ll make sure everyone knows what a pl***oy you really are.”

“I’m not a pla**y.” It was true, technically; while I was no stranger to the occasional one-night stand, I would have hardly considered myself a p*, though, won’t they?” she cooed, before turning on her heel and sauntering

away.

I shuddered now as I remembered that bitter day. The feeling of helplessness had only intensified when I had spoken to my father about it the next morning over breakfast.

“Get over it and marry the d*a*n woman,” he had said, not even looking up from his papers.

“You can’t be serious,” I had protested. “Fiona is-”

“A perfect match,” my father had interrupted. “The Klein family is powerful, Edwin. This union will benefit us all. And you’re not getting any younger; you should have been married a decade ago.”

It was then that I had realized that my fate had already been decided. My father had accepted the proposal on my behalf, trapping me in an engagement I wanted no part of.

As I stood on the sidewalk, watching Claudia disappear into the crowd, I felt that same sense of helplessness wash over me. I didn’t love Fiona I didn’t even like her.

But here I was, expected to play the role of devoted fiance.

And I was too much of a b***dy coward to call it off.

Audrey’s POV

As I walked away from Edwin and Claudia, their hushed conversation echoing in my ears, I couldn’t help but wonder who this “Fiona’ was. I furrowed my brow, scratching my head as I wandered down the busy street.

The name tugged at my memory, and if I could just locate the specific moment I had heard it

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Chapter 94

Suddenly, it hit me the woman from the restaurant all those weeks ago. The one who had thrown wine in my face.

“Go back to whatever hole you crawled out of, Fiona,” Edwin had said.

I remembered how Edwin and Fiona had seemed to know each other, how furious she had been upon seeing me with him. But how? And why did Claudia seem so invested in their relationship?

1 shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. It wasn’t my business, I reminded myself. Fiona could be a common name, after all. Perhaps it wasn’t even the same woman.

Still, the sound of a woman’s name in reference to Edwin made my heart sink a little.

As I made my way back to campus, I tried to focus on the positive aspects of my meeting with Claudia. She was going to be my mentor, and that was huge news, something I should be celebrating.

Later that evening, as I was working on some sketches, my laptop pinged with a new email notification. It was from Claudia.

“Dear Audrey.

thrilled to continue working with you on your thesis project. Your talent and passion for design are truly inspiring.

I would like to invite you to an upcoming brunch at my home. I will be a wonderful opportunity for you to network with some influential people in the fashion industry. Please let me know if you’re available next Saturday at 11 AM

I’ll send a car to pick you up and take you home, so you don’t need to worry about transportation. Wear appropriate footwear for some outdoor games!”

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Claudia Klein”

I read the email twice, my excitement growing. This was a huge opportunity. Without hesitation, I clicked reply and typed out my response. Of course I would attend a brunch at Claudia Klein’s home.

Now.. What to wear?

Or rather, what to make?

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