Chapter 83
Audrey POV
The moment I agreed to stay, Laurel’s transformation was instantaneost. The fears that had been threatening to fall seinätata des, replaced by a triumphant gleam that she didn’t even try to hide. With practiced grace, she melted into Bilaketaine, bee bags fo possessive intimacy.
Blake darling, how wonderful! 1 knew you’d help convince Miss Sinclair to stay!
She turned that perfectly calculated smile my way. “Miss Sinclair, thank you for agreeing to keep me company
I moved past them without acknowledgment, heading straight for the hospital room.
Blake’s frown was almost audible as he disentangled himself from Laurel’s clinging embrace. Laurel, let’s go in too.”
As soon as Blake helped Laurel back to her bed with practiced care, she spoke up, ‘Blake darling, her voice quavered with measured distress, and one hand” rose to touch her face. “I was crying… does my makeup look terrible? Am I a mess?”
I couldn’t help but notice her perfectly intact makeup in the room’s harsh fluorescent lighting. Only her eyes showed the slightest hint of redness – the kind that came from careful rubbing rather than genuine tears.
What a performance, I thought with grim amusement.
Blake’s fingers found his temples – a gesture showing his resignation. “We’ll get you cleaned up.”
When he turned to me, his expression had already shifted into that particular blend of authority and annoyance. “Get some warm water for Laurel.
The casual command hit something raw inside me. After all these things, he still thought I was that same woman who would leap to fulfill his every whim.
A cold smile touched my lips as I met his gaze. “Mr. Parker, let me be clear. I agreed to stay and chat with your precious Miss Rose. I didn’t agree to be her
servant.
“It’s not about being a servant,” he snapped, “it’s just a simple favor.”
Looking at him – this man who had once been my whole world – I couldn’t help but marvel at how much had changed. How many nights had I waited up, warm towel ready, fresh coffee brewing, desperate to prove my worth through these little services? The memory of my own devotion left a bitter taste in my mouth.
“Well, then,” I leaned back in my chair. “I refuse.”
Something shifted in Blake’s expression when I refused – a flicker of emotion I couldn’t quite name. He stared at me longer than necessary, as if seeing a stranger wearing his wife’s face.
“Oh, it’s okay if Miss Sinclair doesn’t want to help.” Laurel’s voice cut through the tension. She bit her lip, the perfect picture of delicate concern. “I wouldn’t want just anyone handling my water, they might get the temperature wrong…”
Then she turned to Blake, her expression softening into something intimate and trusting. “Blake darling, would you mind getting it for me? You’ve taken care of me so many times, you know exactly how I like it. I trust you completely!”
Blake nodded. ‘Of course.”
He moved toward the door but paused beside my chair. His voice dropped low. “Stay here, and don’t make things difficult for Laurel.
I met his eyes, letting my smile match his coldness. “You should be saying that to your Miss Rose.”
His eyes narrowed dangerously. “Laurel’s the patient here. How could she possibly make things difficult for you?”
“Oh, Blake, Laurel’s voice was pure sugar and light as she smiled up at Blake. “Don’t fuss so. Miss Sinclair and I will be fine together.”
1/3
Chapter 83
She waved him away with elegant fingers. “New hurry my face fente absolutely črendnik-
Blake hesitated, hit gare moving between us before finally settling on me, Something Birtered behind his eyes. Bei Karel rand fell,
one, the floor clicking shut behind him.
The change in Laurel wax instant find chilling. The soft, vulnerable patient vanished, replaced by something sharp and caféulating far caile stre predatory as she faced me.
Satisfied? Tie believes everything now.” Her voice had lost all trace of its earlier fragility.
All this trouble just to get me alone?‘ I shifted in my chair, studying her with mild curiosity. The effort she’d put into this little performance was almost impressive. Almost.
Her lips tightened. The recording. When are you deleting it?”
Of course. Everything clicked into place. The tears, the that masterful manipulation of Blake all for this. I nearly laughed at the predictability of
it all.
“Eventually.” I met her gaze steadily. “But not today.”
Something dangerous flashed in her eyes, but I pressed on before she could speak. “Though if you’re that worried about your precious Blake darling finding out… you could always use those persuasive talents of yours. Get him to finalize our divorce.”
Let them have their fairy tale ending. I was done trying to protect Blake from his own willful blindness. If he wanted to believe her performance, that was his choice.
Laurel’s POV
Watching Audrey’s casual dismissal of everything I held dear made my blood run cold. One month. I’d been back for an entire month, and here I was, clutching hospital sheets like some kind of invalid while she sat there wearing that infuriating mask of indifference.
Those divorce papers. They’d become my own personal nightmare. Blake brushed off every hint I dropped with that same patronizing smile. “She’ll come around,” he’d say, like he was talking about a sulking child rather than his wife. “This isn’t what she really wants.” Each time he said those words, another piece of my carefully constructed world crumbled.
And now here she was, taunting me about ‘persuading” Blake. As if I hadn’t tried everything. As if I hadn’t spent weeks enduring his gentle deflections, hearing him introduce me as his sister at every turn. No matter what I did, he maintained that careful, maddening distance.
I hadn’t even kissed him, let alone other intimate interactions!
The fury building in my chest threatened to choke me. She was doing this deliberately – she had to be. Throwing my failures in my face, mocking my inability to secure what should have been mine years ago.
“Listen carefully,” I managed to keep my voice steady despite the rage coursing through me. “Blake was planning our future long before I came back. He can’t wait to make things official.”
watched for any crack in her composure, any sign that my words had found their mark. But that serene smile never wavered. “That’s great then. I’m ready to end this too.”
She delivered the words with the same casual indifference she might use to decline a dinner invitation. The calm in her voice made me want to scream.
“The sooner the better.” Her calm response felt like acid on my skin. “I’m quite eager myself.”
“Quite the performance.” I couldn’t keep the bitterness from my voice. “You must be heartbroken inside.”
The slight curve of her lips sent fresh waves of fury through me. “Why would I be?”
