Audrey’s POV
The simple act of changing clothes felt like an ordeal, each movement sending waves of discomfort through my body. I’d managed to slip off the hospital gown, replacing it with the comfortable clothes James had brought, but even that small effort left me breathless. As I was pulling the hoodie over my head, the door suddenly opened.
“Audrey, it’s all done. Dr. Evans said that…” Ethan’s voice trailed off abruptly. Through the fabric of the half–pulled hoodie, I heard his sharp intake of breath, followed by complete silence.
Finally freeing my head from the garment, I found him standing frozen in the doorway, his face flushed a deep crimson. He immediately averted his gaze, the phone in his hands suddenly becoming the most fascinating object in the room.
I couldn’t help but smile at his reaction. For someone who worked at a nightclub, he could be surprisingly proper. “Sorry about that,” I said softly, quickly adjusting the hoodie. The reflection on the window made me acutely aware of how the once well–fitted fabric now hung loose around my frame. Three years of maintaining the perfect figure as Mrs. Parker, and illness had accomplished what no diet ever could.
Ethan cleared his throat, still studying the phone with intense focus. “Dr. Evans said that if handwritten logs are difficult to maintain, you can keep them on your phone,” he managed, his voice slightly strained. “Just… don’t let what happened last night repeat itself. Having to send someone back for the logs when you were already in critical condition…”
My hands stilled on the zipper. “The medication logs… someone had to go back for them?”
“Yeah.” He straightened slightly, watching my reaction. “Dr. Evans mentioned your friend James seemed lost in your apartment. Took him ages to find them. Almost delayed the emergency treatment.”
A chill that had nothing to do with the hospital’s air conditioning ran down my spine. Why hadn’t James mentioned this second visit to my apartment? The unease that had been building since our earlier conversation about Snow crystallized into something sharper.
I reached out for my phone, dialing James again.
“James,” I called out, my voice was cold. “You went to my apartment twice last night, didn’t you?”
The pause before his answer was barely noticeable. “Yes, I did.”
“Then tell me again about Snow. You’re absolutely certain you didn’t see her? Either time?”
Another pause, longer this time. When he spoke again, his tone had shifted from concern to something else entirely. “Why do you care so much about that cat, Audrey?”
His voice dropped lower, attempting sympathy but landing somewhere near condescension. “Is it because Blake gave her to you?”
The question hit like ice water. “No, it has nothing to do with Blake.”
Snow had been my emotional anchor these past two years. Even if she hadn’t been a gift from Blake – if she’d just been a stray I’d taken in – I wouldn’t abandon her after two years together. But James wasn’t interested in my explanation.
‘Seriously, Audrey, I watched you stand up in front of everyone, declaring your independence. It was… impressive. Bold. But now? Clinging to some pet Blake gave you?”
I closed my eyes in resignation. “James. Simple question. Did you see my cat or not?”
I hadn’t called for his analysis of my emotional state. I needed information, not another person telling me how to feel.
“No.” He answered.
“I see.” Another thought surfaced, demanding attention. “One more thing. Astrid says my apartment looks ransacked. Did you do that last night?”
‘No, I didn’t touch anything.”
1/2
Chapter 56
“Got it, thanks.” I narrowed my eyes and suddenly smiled. ‘Til have Astrid arrange something appropriate. To show my… appreciation for last night’s
assistance.”
The line went dead before he could respond.
“Alright, let’s go now,‘ I said, managing a slight smile at Ethan.
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