Chapter 8

The two went upstairs, each took their pajamas, and went to the bathroom to take a shower. A few dozen minutes later, they came out dressed in their new clothes. Audrey was wearing the white silk pajama that Ada had given her. She had a slender figure and fair skin. The noble aura that emanated from within her was undeniable. She was simply breathtakingly beautiful.

Aida stared at her, somewhat lost in thought. She thought to herself, “My sister is really beautiful. If I were a man, I probably wouldn’t be able to resist her. No wonder my brother keeps pursuing her.”

Audrey glanced down at her pajamas, a hint of sadness appearing on her face. She spoke in a low voice, “I’ve never worn anything so expensive or nice before. I never imagined that one day, I’d be able to wear clothes like these.”

Upon hearing this, Ada felt a pang of sorrow in her heart. A dull pain spread through her body. She went over to Audrey and hugged her gently. “Sis, I’m sorry you had to go through this. The Cheng family isn’t that poor. Why didn’t they buy you nice clothes? Don’t they know that daughters should be raised with comfort?”

Audrey smiled bitterly and shook her head gently. “Heh, they only buy such nice clothes for Daisy Lawrence. After all, I’m just their adopted daughter. There’s no reason for them to spend a lot of money on me. It’s already very kind of them to provide me with food and a place to live.”

Ida watched her submissive demeanor and felt her anger flare up again. Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to lose her temper with Audrey. She forced down her anger and said firmly, “Sis, it won’t happen again. With me here, I’ll buy you lots and lots of beautiful clothes. You won’t have to cater to anyone else’s wishes or put up with any more unfair treatment.”

“Alright, alright,” Audrey gently patted her back, her voice soft. “It’s all in the past. Let’s not talk about these unhappy things anymore. Let’s get some rest. We still need to go to your friend’s birthday party tomorrow.”

“Hmm, okay,” Ada nodded. “Sis, let’s sleep together tonight. I’ll be with you.”

That night, the two of them had no secrets or barriers between them. They slept extremely peacefully. It was the most restful and comfortable night Audrey had slept in over a decade.

The next morning, as soon as day broke, there was a knock at the door. Bella Fisher’s voice came from outside: “Aida, get up already! It’s already past eight. Weifen Tangsund should be here any moment.”

Aida’s voice was extremely lazy as she replied vaguely, “Mom, I know. I’ll get up now. Please stop pushing me.”

“Well, your dad and I’ll go to work now,” Bella Fisher said gently. “The food is already ready. You can eat it when you come downstairs. Remember to have breakfast before going out, and don’t go out on an empty stomach.”

“I know, go ahead.” Ada waved her hand impatiently, pulled Audrey along, and slowly got up from the bed.

A few minutes later, the two of them got ready and were about to go downstairs when there was another knock at the door.

“Enter.” Ada’s tone remained simple, without any unnecessary words. This was her usual manner toward her servants.

Sister Li pushed the door open and said respectfully, “Miss, Young Master Finn Townsend has arrived. He’s waiting for you downstairs. He’s here to take you to Young Master Xu’s birthday party.”

Aida frowned and said to Sister Li, “I understand. Tell him to wait a little longer. Audrey and I will be down in a moment. Also, give the order that from now on, this is Miss Audrey. She’s my good friend and also a guest of the Russell family. Anyone who dares to treat her rudely or ignore her will be dealt with by me personally. Do you understand?”

“Yes, miss, I’ll arrange it right away,” Sister Li replied respectfully, then turned and left.

Ida turned to Audrey, wearing a flattering smile. “Sis, would you go with me? It’ll be so boring if I go alone. With you around, I’ll feel more at ease.”

Audrey hesitated slightly, her tone slightly awkward. “But yesterday, Weifen Tangsund said that it was you they wanted to meet with. I think it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to go. It might disturb you.”

“What’s wrong with that?” Ada waved her hand dismissively, acting deliberately stubborn. She walked over to the bed and lay down. “I’m going to take you with me. If you don’t come, I won’t go either. You decide for yourself.”

“You little brat, how dare you threaten me?” A gentle voice, tinged with affection, suddenly came from the doorway. Weifen Tangsander pushed the door open and stepped in, wearing a slightly exasperated smile on his face.

Aida suddenly sat up in bed, looking surprised. “Brother, how did you get up here? Weren’t you supposed to wait downstairs?”

Wei Fenn Townsend walked over to her, rubbed her hair gently, and said with a hint of exasperation, “How dare you even ask? Look at my phone—every call is from Zijun, urging me to take you there. He’s driving me crazy. I promised him I would take you there. Please don’t make me look stupid. Besides, you promised me the same yesterday.”

As he spoke, he once again brought his face close to Ada’s, in a affectionate manner. Ada instinctively glanced at Audrey and noticed that something wasn’t right with her expression. Her eyes held a hint of disappointment, and even a trace of sadness that was hard to detect.

Ida felt a pang in her heart and immediately understood—that Audrey was jealous. She quickly pushed away Weifen Thorsander and rushed after her, afraid that Audrey might misunderstand.

Audrey was walking downstairs with her head down, her face filled with disappointment. When she heard footsteps behind her, she turned to look, but Idara grabbed her hand instead.

“Audrey, Audrey, please listen to me,” Ada said urgently, speaking quickly. “There’s nothing between me and my brother. Really, nothing at all. He’s just my brother, and he’s the person you like. How could I possibly compete with you for him? I don’t like my brother at all. I swear, Audrey, from now on, I’ll keep my distance from him. I won’t be close to him anymore. Please believe me, okay?”

Audrey raised her head, her eyes filled with apology. Her voice sounded embarrassed. “I’m sorry, Ada. I… I don’t know what happened. When I saw you like that, I felt uncomfortable for some reason. I was being too petty. Please don’t be angry. I understand everything you said. I believe you.”

Seeing that she hadn’t misunderstood things too badly, Ada felt relieved. She smiled and said, “It’s okay, I’m not angry. I know you didn’t do it on purpose. Come on, stop being sad. Let’s go to the party together, okay?”

Audrey nodded, a faint smile appearing on her face. “Okay.”

“Audrey? Are you really Audrey?” Weifen Tangsund’s voice suddenly came from the top of the stairs, filled with both shock and excitement. He had just come down from upstairs and overheard their conversation. Hearing the word “Audrey” sent him into a flurry of excitement.

He walked over quickly, his gaze fixed intently on Audrey, his eyes filled with disbelief. Seeing that neither of them replied, he grabbed Audrey’s hand eagerly. “Audrey, it really is you, isn’t it? I’ve been looking for you for years. Finally, I’ve found you! How have you been all these years? I’m sorry for not being there to protect you all this time. You must have suffered a lot.”

His hands tightly held Audrey’s, his eyes filled with deep affection and guilt. He had so much he wanted to say to Audrey.

Audrey’s body stiffened, and her heart ached. She wished so much that she could be held in Wei Finn Townsend’s arms, telling him how much she had missed him over the years, how much she had suffered. But she couldn’t. She had her reasons for keeping her identity hidden from him. She couldn’t let him know who she really was.

She forcefully broke free from Weifen Thorsander’s grasp, lowered her head, and said coldly, against her will, “I’m sorry, you’ve got the wrong person. My name is Cheng Yuno, not Audrey as you said.”

“Impossible!” Weifen Townsend became extremely agitated, almost frantic. He grabbed Audrey’s hand again, his gaze fixed on the Ice Tiger necklace around her neck. “You’re not Audrey. How could you have the Ice Tiger necklace? I gave it to you back then. It’s our symbol of love. How come you have it?”

Audrey’s body trembled slightly, and her heart ached unbearably. Yet, she forced herself to remain calm, her voice lacking conviction: “This… I found it. I have no idea what kind of talisman this is, nor do I know who Audrey is. You must have the wrong person.”

Her lies were so far-fetched that even she found them ridiculous.

Wei Fenn Townsend watched her evasive gaze and her weak excuses. Disappointment filled his heart. Slowly, he released her hand, his voice weak: “Oh, then… I’m sorry. I was too emotional just now. I mistook you for someone else.”

Aida stood aside, her jaw practically hanging open. She thought to herself, “Good heavens, Audrey’s lying skills are terrible! To come up with an excuse like ‘found it’… And what’s even more ridiculous is that my brother actually believed it! She’s usually so smart, so why does she act so foolish whenever it comes to Audrey?”

She felt helpless inside, but since the people involved had already said their piece, as an outsider, she couldn’t say much more. All she could do was try to smooth things over: “Alright, alright, let’s not stand here anymore. If we don’t leave now, Zijun will start nagging again. Audrey, let’s go together. Brother, stop standing there and come on, let’s go.”

The three of them walked out of the villa in silence, with the atmosphere being extremely awkward.

Weifen Tangsander walked over to his car, stopped, and turned to look at Ada. “Ada, let Audrey sit in my car. You can have your driver drive your car. We’ll go together that way, and it’ll be safer.”

Aida glanced at Weifen Tangsund, then at Audrey. She thought to herself: This is a great opportunity to bring them together. I mustn’t miss it. She deliberately said, “I can’t make that decision. You should ask Audrey yourself. It depends on whether she’s willing or not.”

Wei Finn Townsend’s gaze immediately fell on Audrey, his eyes filled with anticipation. “Audrey, would you like to ride in my car?”

Audrey looked at him with expectant eyes. She felt awkward, but she couldn’t refuse. She could only nod, her voice flat: “Okay.”

In just one word, she seemed to have exhausted all her strength. She didn’t dare look Wei Fenn Townsend in the eyes, fearing that he would see the panic and reluctance in her eyes. She simply lowered her head, quickly walked to the passenger seat, opened the door, and got in, saying not a word the whole time.

Wei Fenn Townsend watched her retreating figure with a sense of disappointment growing in his eyes. He was certain that she was Audrey, the one he had been searching for all those years. But why wouldn’t she admit it? That ice-tiger necklace was clearly a token he had given her personally back then. How could it possibly be “found” by her? And then there was her gaze, her expression… Even after all these years, he would never mistake them for anything else.

Ida sat in her car, watching the scene through the rearview mirror. She felt both anxious and helpless. She understood Audrey’s predicament. But seeing the two people who loved each other yet couldn’t be together, and seeing how devastated Weifen Townsend was, she couldn’t help but feel heartbroken. She resolved in her mind that she would find a way to resolve their misunderstandings and help them be together sooner rather than later.

The car slowly drove away from Russell’s villa. The atmosphere inside the car was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe. Weifen Tangsund focused on driving, occasionally glancing at Audrey beside him. He wanted to say something, but didn’t know how, fearing another cold rejection from her. Audrey kept her head lowered, her fingers tightly gripping the hem of her dress. Her mind was filled with the passionate and affectionate expression on Weifen Tangsund’s face earlier. A sense of guilt and sorrow overcame her.

How she wished she could tell Weifen Thorsander that she was indeed Audrey, the person he’d been searching for all those years. How she wanted to throw herself into his arms and pour out all the pain and longing she’d felt over the years. But she couldn’t. The threats from the Cheng family were like an invisible rope, tightly binding her. She didn’t dare take any risks. She couldn’t let Weifen Thorsander get involved, nor could she bear to see Ada get hurt because of her.

Half an hour later, the car came to a stop in front of a luxurious private club. Xu Zijun’s birthday party was being held there. The entrance was already filled with various luxury cars. The people coming and going were all well-dressed members of wealthy families, chatting and laughing in a lively atmosphere.

Weifen Tangsander got out of the car first, then quickly walked over to the passenger side to open the door for Audreyla. His tone remained gentle and cautious: “We’re here. Get out slowly.”

Audrey nodded, lowered her head, and carefully got out of the car, avoiding Wei Finn Townsend’s gaze. Ada arrived shortly after, walked up to Audrey quickly, took her hand, and said with a smile, “Don’t be nervous. I’m here with you. Let’s go in.”

The three of them entered the club together. Xu Zijun immediately stepped forward with a smile. He was dressed in a custom-made suit, his smile bright. But the moment his eyes met Audrey’s, his smile faded slightly before returning to its usual warmth. “Aida, you’ve finally arrived. I thought you might change your mind again. Who’s this?”

Aida took Audrey by the hand, speaking affectionately, “This is my good friend, Cheng Yuno. You can just call her Audrey. Audrey, this is Xu Zijun, the person celebrating his birthday today.”

Audrey quickly flashed a polite yet distant smile and nodded gently. “Happy birthday, Young Master Xu.”

“Thank you,” said Xu Zijun with a smile, his eyes filled with curiosity. “Miss Audrey looks familiar to me. Have we met before?”

Audrey’s heart tightened suddenly. She instinctively gripped Ada’s hand, her tone somewhat unnatural. “Young Master Xu is just joking. I’ve never been to an event like this before. Perhaps we just look a bit similar.”

Aida quickly tried to defuse the situation: “Oh, Zijun, please don’t scare Audrey. She rarely goes out and is quite introverted. Let’s go inside. No need to stand here anymore.”

Xu Zijun smiled, didn’t press further, and nodded. “Okay, please come in.”

Entering the party, soft music filled the air, the lights were dazzling, and people were mingling joyfully. Audrey stared at everything around her, feeling a bit overwhelmed. She had never seen such a lively and luxurious scene before. It was a stark contrast to her previous life. Instinctively, she moved closer to Ada, her eyes filled with unease.

Ida sensed her nervousness, gently patted her hand, and said softly, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here with you. Let’s find a quiet place to sit and not have to interact with them.”

Just then, Weifen Townsend came over with two glasses of juice. She handed one to Audrey and said gently, “Have some juice. Don’t be nervous.”

Audrey hesitated for a moment, but still reached out to take it. She whispered, “Thank you.”

Weifen Thorsander looked at her, his eyes filled with affection and confusion. After hesitating for a long time, he couldn’t help but ask softly, “Audrey, are you really not the person I’m looking for? I know you have your reasons. If you’re going through any difficulties, you can tell me. I’ll definitely help you. No matter what it is, I’m willing to do anything for you.”

Audrey’s heart ached violently, and her eyes instantly filled with tears. She looked up at Weifen Thorsander’s sincere gaze, almost unable to hold back the truth. But thinking of the Cheng family’s threats and of Ada, she forced down the words that were on her lips. Her tone remained cold: “Young Master Xu, I really am not the person you’re talking about. Please stop misunderstanding me.”

After saying that, she turned around and walked toward a corner, not daring to look Wei Fenn Townsend in the eyes anymore. She was afraid that if she looked at him one more time, she wouldn’t be able to control her emotions, and everything would be revealed.

Weifen Thorsander watched her resolute figure disappear into the distance. The juice cup in his hand trembled slightly, and the sadness and pain in his eyes were almost overwhelming. Ada stepped forward, patted his shoulder gently, and said helplessly, “Brother, please stop pushing her. She has her own difficulties. When the time is right, she’ll tell you everything.”

Weifen Tangsander turned her head and looked at Ada, her tone somewhat urgent. “Difficulties? What difficulties? Who is she exactly? Why won’t she admit it? That necklace was clearly given to Audrey by me. How does it end up on her?”

Aida sighed and shook her head. “I can’t tell you. It’s her secret. I promised her I’d keep it for her. Brother, please believe me. I’m not lying to you. She’s the person you’re looking for. But right now, it’s not yet the time for them to meet.”

Weifen Tangsander fell silent. Looking into Ada’s determined eyes, he knew she wouldn’t lie to him. But he simply couldn’t understand what Audrey’s motives were. Why would she torment herself—and him as well? He resolved in his heart to find out what was going on and to help Audrey overcome her difficulties, so that she would be willing to confess the truth on her own.

In the corner, Audrey held her juice cup, staring at Weifen Tangsund not far away. Tears streamed down her face without her even realizing it. She knew she was being cruel to Weifen Tangsund, but she had no other choice. All she could do was apologize silently in her heart: “Finn Tangsund, I’m sorry, I’m truly sorry. Once I’ve sorted out everything, I’ll tell you the truth and come back to you. Please, give me a little more time.”

Just then, a girl in a red dress quickly approached Finn Townsend, put her arm around his affectionately, and said with a sweet smile, “Finn Townsend, what are you doing here? I’ve been looking for you for ages.”

When Audrey saw this, her heart felt as though it were being tightly grasped by an invisible hand. The pain was so severe that she could barely breathe. Instinctively, she turned away, not daring to look anymore. Tears streamed down her face even more fiercely. She knew that girl must be someone who was truly worthy of Finn Townsend. As for her, she was merely a foster daughter living at someone else’s expense—she certainly wasn’t good enough to be by his side.

When Aida saw the girl, her expression darkened instantly, and her tone was filled with displeasure: “Lin Weiwei? What are you doing here? You’re not welcome!”

Lin Weiwei is the daughter of the Lin Group. She’s always liked Wei Fenn Townsend, constantly pestering him and deliberately making things difficult for Ada. Ada had always disliked her. She never expected Lin Weiwei to show up at Xu Zijun’s birthday party.

Lin Weiwei glanced at Ada with disdain. “Ada, this is Xu Zijun’s birthday party. It’s not your Russell family’s territory. Why do you have the right to say you don’t want me here? I can come and go as I please.”

As she spoke, her gaze fell on Audrey in the corner. Her eyes held a hint of contempt and hostility. “Who is this? I’ve never seen her before. Where did you pick her up as a friend? She’s dressed so plainly. How does she even deserve to be here?”

Audrey’s face turned pale instantly. She instinctively lowered her head and clenched the juice cup in her hands. This was exactly the kind of situation she feared the most: being looked down upon by others, causing trouble for Ada.

Seeing this, Ada immediately rushed over and stood in front of Audrey. With a cold look in her eyes, she said to Lin Weiwei, “Lin Weiwei, stop talking nonsense! Audrey is my good friend and also a guest of the Russell family. If you dare to be disrespectful to her, I won’t forgive you!”

Wei Fenwen Townsend also walked over quickly, pulled Lin Weiwei’s hand away, and said in a cold tone, “Weiwei, don’t go too far. Apologize to Miss Audrey.”

Lin Weiwei was stunned. She couldn’t believe her eyes. How could Finn Townsend be so cruel to her just because of some stranger? Her eyes immediately filled with tears, and her voice trembled with hurt. “Finn Townsend, what have I done wrong? How can you be so cruel to me for her sake? I’ve loved you for so many years. Can’t you see that at all?”

“I feel only friendship for you, nothing more than that,” Wei Fenn Townsend said in a cold tone, showing no signs of relenting. “I’ll say it again: I apologize to Miss Audrey.”

Lin Weiwei looked into Wei Fenn Townsend’s determined eyes and knew he meant it seriously. Her heart was filled with jealousy and resentment, but she didn’t dare go against Wei Fenn Townsend’s wishes. Reluctantly, she turned to Audrey and whispered, “I’m sorry.”

After saying that, she turned around and ran out, tears streaming down her face non-stop.

Audrey watched this scene with mixed feelings. She could sense Wei Fenn Townsend’s efforts to protect her, but those efforts only made her feel more guilty and sad. She knew that continuing like this would hurt not only Wei Fenn Townsend and Ada, but also herself.

Aida patted Audrey on the shoulder and said gently, “Audrey, ignore her. She’s just jealous of you. Don’t take it to heart.”

Weifen Thorsander also looked at Audrey, his eyes filled with concern. “Audrey, I’m sorry that you’ve had to go through this.”

Audrey shook her head and forced a smile. “It’s okay. I don’t blame you. It’s my own fault for coming here.”

“Don’t say that,” Ada said quickly. “I’m so happy that you could come. Let’s ignore her and go get something to eat, okay?”

Audrey nodded, saying nothing. She knew that this party was bound to be chaotic. The misunderstandings between her and Finn Townsend, Audrey’s own secrets, the Cheng family’s threats, and Lin Weiwei’s jealousy—all these formed an invisible web that trapped them. It was unclear when they would be able to break free from this web and embrace the light that belonged to them.