My Stand-In Groom Is A Secret Tycoon (Audrey)

Chapter 2 A Bank Card

The Rhodes family lived in a nice two-story cottage in a wealthy part of Riverdale, complete with a spacious parking pad in front. A low-profile Volkswagen pulled up in front of their door.

Audrey hopped out, her long white wedding dress getting caught on the seat. She felt a tear as she stepped out-there was a big hole in the hem.

But surprisingly, she didn't seem bothered at all. Instead, she quickly ripped off the trailing tail of the dress and glanced sideways at the closed villa door nearby.

"Do you want me to come in with you?" a low, mellow voice asked from behind her.

Audrey suddenly remembered she wasn't alone. She turned to look at her new husband from their whirlwind marriage, feeling a bit awkward. She touched her nose nervously and smiled. "No, I've got this on my own." Even though they'd just tied the knot, she wasn't quite ready for Alistair to meet her family.

It felt like saying he wasn't part of her world yet. Luckily, Alistair didn't push the issue. He simply pulled out a dark green bank card and handed it to her without a word. "Take this."

It was a dark green bank card. He held it out between his slim fingers. Audrey blinked in surprise. "What's this for?"

"I have some stuff to take care of, so I can't wait around," Alistair explained calmly. "Just head to our new place and grab whatever you need. If anything's missing, go ahead and use this card-no password needed."

On the way there, Alistair had mentioned buying a new house in Riverdale and hoped she would move in with him. Audrey wasn't too keen on sticking around her family, so she hadn't objected.

But she hadn't expected him to hand over the financial reins like this, basically making her the one in charge. 'Talk about adapting quickly,' she thought.

Still, she wasn't exactly thrilled about spending his money. She didn't know much about him, aside from the fact that he drove an older Volkswagen worth around tens of thousands of dollars.

His family seemed pretty average, so it felt wrong to let him foot the bill, especially since he just bought the house. But rejecting his offer outright didn't seem like a good idea either. After all, guys liked to keep their pride intact.

Audrey rolled her eyes and gently placed her hand on his wrist, pushing the card back toward him with a flirtatious smile. "Come on, you know we haven't even gotten our license yet. Aren't you worried I might just run off with your money?" "Not a chance," Alistair replied, raising his enchanting eyes slightly, a playful glimmer dancing in them. "Unless your proposal was just a whim, and you have no intention of being responsible for me."noveldrama

There was something odd about how the word "responsible" slipped from his lips, so devoid of emotion yet charged with meaning. Audrey blinked, taken aback. "Of course I'm serious. It's just that..."

She hesitated, still wanting to refuse him. But before she could finish her thought, Alistair had already slipped the bank card into her hand without a second thought.

"Listen, we might not have the legal certificate yet, but since we had a wedding, I feel like I ought to do my part, even if we're not officially husband and wife." He looked at her with a serious expression, an undeniable presence radiating from him. Before Audrey could respond, he continued, "Just take it. It's not a huge amount, but it should help take care of our family."

The edge of the card grazed her palm as Audrey clenched it gently. "It's not like you're the only one responsible for the family."

Alistair chuckled softly, a hint of charm in his voice. "Then think of it as my way of trying to earn some brownie points. Just don't turn me down."

It would be pretty embarrassing if his buddies in Willodale knew that he made the first move and got shot down. He insisted, and she sighed in exasperation. "Fine, I'll just keep the card for now."

But in her heart, she was determined not to touch the money. She still didn't know if they could make it work, so there was no point in spending his cash.

Alistair gave her a knowing look, as if he sensed her thoughts, but he didn't push it. For him, her accepting the card was a solid step forward.

With that, he climbed into his car, ready to leave. Audrey stood by the curb, almost instinctively saying, "Drive safely."

The moment the words left her lips, the atmosphere shifted, and a cozy vibe of a newlywed couple settled between them. A smile tugged at the corners of Alistair's mouth. "Alright, I'll see you later."

After watching the car drive away, Audrey finally made her way to the front door of the Rhodes family villa, taking a deep breath at the entrance. Her thoughts wandered back to the frostiness in her parents' voices during their phone call.

She hesitated as she pushed the gate open, feeling an unease settle in. Once inside, she had to navigate through a flower-lined cloister and past a quaint little garden before reaching the main hall. "Dominic..." The soft whisper seemed to float from the flowers.

Audrey found herself drawn to the sound, her feet moving almost of their own accord. But just as suddenly, she stopped dead in her tracks, a cold wave washing over her, seeping into her very core.