Chapter 39
Audre, o POV
Sitting in my race car, I should have been preparing for my next round, but my attention was locked on Dr. Evans 4 message lighting in my phon
Fifty million dollars.
The numbers seemed to mock me as I read the message again: “Mrs. Parker, they’re offering fifty million for the remaining doses. If you can match that amount, they’ll withdraw their request. Would that be acceptable?”
A bitter laugh escaped my lips before 1 could stop it. Fifty million might be pocket change for Blake Parker, something he could produce without a second thought. While I had saved some money these past years as his secret wife, it was nowhere near that astronomical figure. Perhaps fate was telling me it was time to stop fighting, to accept my limited time….
“Audrey!” Astrid’s voice cut through my dark thoughts
as
she bounded over to my car, her face flushed with excitement.
I quickly locked my phone screen, forcing a smile. “Whe
Blake wants Laurel to race against you.” She leaned against my car door, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “They haven’t set the stakes yet.”
The mention of Blake and Laurel sent a familiar ache through my chest, but I kept my expression neutral.
“Since you won’t get much in the divorce,” Astrid continued, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, “why not take him for all he’s worth? How about ten million? He’s loaded anyway.”
Maybe it was the lingering shock from Dr. Evans’s message, or perhaps th
the
absurdity of the situation, but something made me say, “Ten million isn’t enough
Why not fifty million?”
I meant it as a joke, a bitter reference to the sum I so desperately needed but couldn’t hope to obtain. But Astrid’s eyes lit up in a way that made my stomach drop.
“Fifty million…” Her grin turned predatory. “Perfect! Fifty million it is!”
“I was joking, don’t…” I tried to grab her arm, but she was already racing across the track toward where Blake stood with Laurel.
What have I done?
I climbed out of the car, and quickly caught up with Astrid.
Before I could hold her back. “We’ve decided,” Astrid’s voice rang out with a tone of determination. “If you lose, you pay Audrey fifty million. Dare to race?”
“Fifty million?” Blake froze for a moment, a puzzled expression clouding his features. His gaze shifted restlessly between me and Astrid. “Was this your idea, or did Audrey put you up to it?”
Astrid, not bothering to entertain his question, shot back curtly, “That’s not your concern. All I need is a simple yes or no.”
Laurel’s perfect mask slipped for just a moment before she recovered, her smile turning sharp.
“Miss Sinclair,” she stepped forward, her words a deceptive blend of sweetness and hidden malice. “no need to be nervous. I understand your humble background means you don’t have such money.”
She paused for effect, making sure she had everyone’s attention. “If I lose, Blake will pay you fifty million as agreed. If you lose…” Her smile widened. “Well, Miss Sinclair, you’ll leave New York immediately and never show your face to Blake and me again. Can you do that?”
The time froze instantly. I could feel shocked/stares darting between Laurel, Blake, and me, clearly sensing the explosive tension crackling in the air
en
- us.
I just found her condition quite ironic. In three months, I’d be gone anyway – whether from New York or from this world entirely. What did I have to lose?
1/2
I replied, my voice steady despite the churring in my tomach
Exactly!” Astrid jumped in, her protective instincts flaring, “You think. Audrey enjoys seeing you two?–
I caught Blake’s expression darkening at our exchange, saw the muscle jumping in his jaw. But for once, I didn’t care about his rexetion: heeded to survive cost fifty million dollars. If I won this race, I’d have that exact amount, If I lost well, I’d be leaving New York one wee
Sometimes fate has a twisted sense of humor, I thought, watching Laurel’s triumphant smile. Let’s see who gets the last laugh.
Blake’s POV
I watched the scene unfold, something dark and uncomfortable twisting in my chest. This wasn’t how I’d expected the morning to go. The sight of Andrey in her racing suit, commanding the track like she’d been born to it, had already thrown me off balance. Now this?
“How did you come up with such stakes? I kept my voice low as I turned to Laurel, my thoughts drifting to Audrey’s situation. The Sinclairs might live in their Upper East Side mansion, but they had made it crystal clear they preferred their adopted daughter. Their biological child meant nothing to them. Without the Parker family’s support these past years, Audrey would have faced a much harsher reality in New York.
Now watching Laurel’s confident smirk as she issued her challenge, knowing she was sure to win any race, something cold settled in my chest. This wasn’t just about racing anymore.
“Blake, darling.” Laurel’s soft voice pulled me from my thoughts ‘I’m just having a little fun with sister–in–law.”
as she leaned close, her lips curved into that practiced smile she’d perfected in Hollywood.
Her fingers brushed my arm in that deliberately casual way of hers. “Even if she loses, I won’t really make her leave New York. A pause, then with perfect calculated innocence: “I just want her to take this race seriously.”
Her eyes met mine, wide and earnest. “You know how much she cares about you. How could she possibly bear to leave New York and never see you again? She’ll give everything she has to win against me.”
The tension in my shoulders eased slightly at her explanation, though something still felt off. My gaze drifted to Audrey. She was sitting on the sofa in the prep area, her back straight and her gaze fixed intently on the racetrack.
“Blake… Felix’s uncertain voice cut through my observation. He seemed almost dizzy trying to process the scene unfolding before him.
then turned to me with that eager–to–please expression I remembered from our He gestured for one of the track assistants to help Laurel select her car, school days. Guiding me toward the front row of the spectator stands, he attempted to smooth things over.
*Come on, Astrid and Audrey must be kidding about those stakes.” He gave a nervous laugh. “If they win… look, just throw them a million. That’s like pocket change for you, right? No need to make this complicated.”
I turned my full attention to him, letting my displeasure show. “You can make decisions for them? Are you that close?”
Felix swallowed hard but pressed on. “I mentioned in the group chat, I’m planning to pursue Audrey.”
“Don’t bother.” The words came out colder than I intended, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. “Give up that idea now.”
‘Blake, that’s not fair, I think I…”
“Get ready, ladies! Next is the warm–up lap. Please board your cars!” The announcer’s voice cut through our conversation, saving Felix from whatever he’d been about to say.
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