Chapter 82
Audrey’s POV
Looking at these papers, my heart stuttered. Blake Parker, studying gastric cancer research? For a moment, wild hope flared in my chem. Had ha cimet discovered my condition? Was there still enough of the man I’d married left to care?
A tiny spark of hope flickered to life in my chest. Perhaps beneath all his cruelty and indifference, some part of him still cared. Maybe he’d discovered my condition and was secretly trying to help me. The thought made my throat tighten with unexpected emotion.
Audrey Sinclair. What are you doing?”
I was still crouching on the floor collecting papers when Blake’s cold voice cut through my thoughts. I instinctively looked up, my voice slightly trembling as I asked the question burning in my mind.)
Blake. Why… why are you researching this illness?”
His expression darkened immediately. He strode over and snatched the files from my hands, his movements precise and angry as he carefully placed the scattered papers back into the folder.
“Who gave you permission to look at these papers?.,\
could hear the anger and frustration in his voice.
“These cost a fortune to obtain from overseas medical schools. They need to be returned intact.” He continued, coldly glaring at me.
The tiny spark of hope that had just risen in my heart instantly dissipated, leaving behind only the familiar cold emptiness. He wasn’t doing this for me. Of course he wasn’t. When had Blake Parker ever done anything for me?
I watched him organize the papers with meticulous care, his attention to these documents far exceeding any attention he’d shown me in years. My mind raced, trying to make sense of the situation. Blake wasn’t a medical professional. Parker Group didn’t deal with pharmaceuticals. So why…
Wait.
Every time Laurel feigned illness, she complained of stomach pains – Blake wasn’t researching gastric cancer for me. He was worried that Laurel’s stomach pains might develop into something more serious.
The realization felt like ice water in my veins.
I couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh. The memories I’d tried so hard to bury came flooding back.
Those first six months after he regained consciousness, when his eyes would light up at the sight of my homemade beef stew, when he’d insist on having dinner together no matter how late his meetings ran. The way he’d wrap his arms around me in the kitchen, stealing bites as I cooked, laughing at my protests. Back then, my cooking had been his favorite thing in the world.
But somewhere along the way, everything changed. The warmth in his eyes cooled, the shared dinners became rare, then stopped entirely. Still, I kept cooking, kept waiting with meals that grew cold on the table. Night after night, ignoring my cramping stomach, telling myself he’d come home eventually. Even William Parker noticed – “Boy, look at your wife. She’s getting too thin.” But by then, it was only Michael who checked on me.
The man who never even spared me a glance was studying top–level gastric cancer research papers because of Laurel’s fake stomach pains. So this is what it looked like when Blake Parker truly cared for someone,
I was pulled from my bitter reflections by Laurel’s voice drifting out from the hospital room.
“Blake darling,” her voice was weak but carried that distinctive wheedling quality I’d come to recognize, “I heard a noise outside, what happened?”
“Nothing happened, Blake responded, his tone instantly softening to something I barely recognized. “Audrey just knocked over a water bottle!”
‘I told you earlier that leaving Miss Sinclair alone outside would be boring for her, but you wouldn’t listen, Laurel continued, her voice dripping practiced concern.
“Why don’t both of you come in? The three of us can chat together, wouldn’t that be nice?”
1/3
Chapter 82
Blake turned to me, all traces of tenderness vanishing from his expression: Tat a go, he ordered.
shook my head. 1 have nothing to discuss with you two.”
looked at him directly, keeping my voice steady despite the storm of emotions inside me, “You’ve confirmed that your precious Miss Rose emotiona calmed down, right? Delete those photos and their backups now, and I’ll leave immediately, not disturbing your private time with Miss Kore
His brows furrowed deeply. “Audrey Sinclair, don’t speak so unpleasantly. He lowered his voice, though I could still hear the edge of anger. What private time? In my eyes, Laurel is like a sister!”
The corner of my lips curved upward into a mocking smile. ‘Oh, sister?”
Such an act. He had booked the venue and cake for the Laurel as a sister?
enement a month before Laurel returned from Europe. Now he was telling me he only saw
“We’re completely innocent, whether you believe it or not,”
isted, his tone growing increasingly irritated.
Before I could respond, the door to the hospital room opened wider, and Laurel appeared in the doorway. She was dressed in a designer hospital gown, her hair perfectly styled despite her supposed illness.
“Blake darling, Miss Sinclair…” she said softly.
Blake immediately turned to her, his expression transforming into
one of concern. “Why did you get out of bed!”
I… I saw that neither of you were coming to find me, so I came out to check…” Laurel’s voice quavered delicately. She turned to me, her eyes widening with practiced innocence.
“Miss Sinclair, you’ve already apologized to me… we should consider our grievances resolved…” She gestured toward the room behind her. “Don’t mind my small hospital room, please come in and chat with Blake darling and me, would you?”
I have nothing to discuss with you two,” I repeated firmly.
Laurel reached out and tightly grabbed my sleeve. Though she was pretending to be ill in front of Blake, the hand gripping my arm was surprisingly strong. I frowned and instinctively tried to pull her hand away, but she clung tighter. When I tugged more forcefully, she stumbled from the force, nearly falling.
Blake quickly caught her body, positioning himself protectively between us. Despite my efforts, I couldn’t pull Laurel’s hand away from my sleeve.
“Miss Sinclair,” Laurel looked up at me, eyes red, tears streaming down her face, do you hate me?”
I fought the urge to laugh at the absurdity of the question. Instead, I shook my head insincerely. “No, I don’t.”
“Then why won’t you join Blake darling in keeping me company?” Her lower lip trembled perfectly.
Blake, who clearly couldn’t stand seeing Laurel cry, tugged at his tie with obvious irritation. “You don’t have any urgent matters, so there’s no harm in staying to chat with Laurel.” His tone left no room for argument as he added, “I’ll take you home afterward and help you with what needs to be done.”
What he meant by “what needs to be done” was deleting Astrid’s photos. Clearly, Blake’s implication was that if I didn’t comply, he wouldn’t delete the photos. This man was threatening me again for Laurel’s sake.
I took a deep breath, suppressing my emotions, and laughed coldly. “Fine.”
Laurel’s insistence on having me stay must be part of some plan. I wanted to see what she planned to say to me in front of Blake this time.
