Chapter 113
Audrey’s POV
Felix’s car cut through midtown traffic. I scrolled through the latest headlines about me on my phone, each nastier than the last.
“Audrey, are you… really sure about this?” Felix asked, gripping the wheel tight. “Once you do this with all these reporters watching…. there’s no going back.”
“Why do I need going back?” I looked up. “Without Blake Parker, am I suddenly helpless?”
Felix backpedaled. “That’s not what I-”
“Save it.” I cut him off, locking my phone screen and staring at the road ahead. “I know what people in your circle say. That how I’ve been desperately clinging to Blake. Using divorce threats as leverage.”
Through the window, Manhattan blurred by. Headlines flashed in my mind: Parker Wife’s Latest Tantrum. CEO’s Desperate Spouse Seeks Spotlight.
“But that’s over now,” I said. “His thing with Laurel is out in the open. No more pretending.”
I spoke with a calm that surprised even me. Like I was discussing some celebrity gossip instead of my own marriage falling
apart.
Felix watched me for a moment, then gave a half–smile. “Should I be saying congrats on your fresh start?”
I glanced down at my phone. “Not a fresh start. Just clarity.”
At a red light, I took screenshots of the worst articles. One called me unstable. Another claimed I faked pregnancies to
blackmail Blake.
“What’s with that?” Felix nodded at my screen.
“Evidence,” I said without looking up. “Just like the hospital video. No matter how much these reporters were paid to smear me… there should be consequences for defamation, don’t you think?”
Felix’s eyes lingered on my profile. I could feel his gaze, studying me with an intensity that should have been
uncomfortable but somehow wasn’t.
“Blake will regret this,” he said.
The certainty in his tone made me pause. Like he was stating a simple fact, not offering empty comfort. I slightly shook my head without answering.
The light changed. We drove on.
Cameras flashed as we pulled up to the courthouse. Reporters packed the steps like vultures waiting for a meal.
“Ready?” Felix asked.
“As I’ll ever be.”
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The moment I stepped out, chaos hit. Voices shouted my name. Michael Chen, Blake’s assistant, carved a path with security guards.
“Mrs. Parket, this way.” His voice was flat, all business.
Mrs. Parker. Soon just Rebecca’s title. The thought felt good.
Standing at the bottom of the courthouse steps, I took in the spectacle before me. How strange that my marriage to Blake had begun and continued in silence, with many people not even aware that Blake Parker had been secretly married for three years. Yet its ending was so spectacularly public.
It seemed as if our divorce was an event everyone had been eagerly anticipating, as if the entire city had been holding its breath, waiting for this moment. When we married, only William and Charles Wright were present. Now at our divorce, the spectacle was overwhelming.
A quiet beginning, a silent middle, and a deafening end. Perfect symmetry.
My phone buzzed. William’s name appeared with a simple message:
“Audrey, you’ll always be my granddaughter.”
Seven words. My walls cracked. I blinked back tears, caught off guard by my own reaction.
William hurt more about this divorce than Blake or I did. Yet he offered his blessing because he understood my pain better
than anyone.
William had been more family to me than my biological parents who found me at eighteen after a hospital mix–up left me raised in a small town. Even as I left his grandson, he still claimed me.
“You okay?” Felix’s voice pulled me back.
I nodded, throat tight. The moment passed. Walls back up.
Blake’s sedan arrived. He stepped out first, tall and commanding. Laurel followed in a white dress, holding his arm like she might float away without it.
Blake spotted me immediately, He noticed something on my face and walked straight over, ignoring Laurel completely.
“Second thoughts?” His voice was low.
I kept my eyes fixed past his shoulder. “Second thoughts? I’ve never had any regrets. Let’s go.”
Blake studied me, about to move.
“Blake darling!” Laurel rushed up, voice calibrated to sound private while carrying to nearby mics. “Should I come with you? I’m worried someone might take advantage…”
Blake removed her hand from his arm. “Wait outside. This is between Audrey and me.”
Laurel’s lips trembled on cue, tears appearing right on schedule. “But Blake darling…”
I turned around, fed up with her act. “Since Miss Rose is so invested in watching, she might as well join us. With three
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Chapter 113
The moment I stepped out, chaos hit. Volces shouted my name, Michael Chen, Blake’s assistant, carved a path will security guards.
“Mrs. Parker, this way.” His voice was flat, all business.
Mrs. Parker. Soon just Rebecca’s title. The thought felt good.
Standing at the bottom of the courthouse steps, I took in the spectacle before me. How strange that my marriage to Blake had begun and continued in silence, with many people not even aware that Blake Parker had been secretly married for three years. Yet its ending was so spectacularly public.
It seemed as if our divorce was an event everyone had been eagerly anticipating, as if the entire city had been holding its breath, waiting for this moment. When we married, only William and Charles Wright were present. Now at our divorce, the spectacle was overwhelming.
A quiet beginning, a silent middle, and a deafening end. Perfect symmetry.
My phone buzzed. William’s name appeared with a simple message:
“Audrey, you’ll always be my granddaughter.”
Seven words. My walls cracked. I blinked back tears, caught off guard by my own reaction.
William hurt more about this divorce than Blake or I did. Yet he offered his blessing because he understood my pain better than anyone.
William had been more family to me than my biological parents who found me at eighteen after a hospital mix–up left me raised in a small town. Even as I left his grandson, he still claimed me.
“You okay?” Felix’s voice pulled me back.
I nodded, throat tight. The moment passed. Walls back up.
Blake’s sedan arrived. He stepped out first, tall and commanding. Laurel followed in a white dress, holding his arm like she might float away without it.
Blake spotted me immediately, He noticed something on my face and walked straight over, ignoring Laurel completely.
“Second thoughts?” His voice was low.
I kept my eyes fixed past his shoulder. “Second thoughts? I’ve never had any regrets. Let’s go.”
Blake studied me, about to move.
“Blake darling!” Laurel rushed up, voice calibrated to sound private while carrying to nearby mics. “Should I come with you? I’m worried someone might take advantage…”
Blake removed her hand from his arm. “Wait outside. This is between Audrey and me.”
Laurel’s lips trembled on cue, tears appearing right on schedule. “But Blake darling…”
I turned around, fed up with her act. “Since Miss Rose is so invested in watching, she might as well join us. With three
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Chapter 113
people going in for a divorce, we can skip the explanation part.”
Whispers rippled through the crowd. Laurel’s eyes narrowed before she rearranged her face into hurt Innocence
While Blake talked to Michael, Laurel moved in close. Her perfume hit me first – expensive and too much of it.
“The unwanted person is the real homewrecker,” she whispered.
I laughed. “So I’m the shameful intruder while you two are the real couple?”
She snorted, smug.
“Then maybe we shouldn’t get divorced,” I said. “Since you’re so comfortable in your position.”
I turned away. Laurel grabbed my arm, fingers digging in.
“Don’t you dare!” Real panic replaced her smugness.
Her mask dropped completely, revealing cold determination. “We’ve come this far. Blake’s already reserved the venue and
ordered the cake for our proposal. Don’t ruin this.”
“Who’s really causing problems here?” I kept my voice low. “I know you’re behind everything online.”
Her eyes widened slightly.
“Blake and I could have divorced quietly, and you two could have started clean. Instead, you took it public.”
I leaned closer. “Blake feels sorry for you and won’t let me expose you, but
tions have consequences.”
Something dark flashed across her face. I yanked my arm away hard enough to make her stumble backward in her heels.
But instead of Blake’s arms, she found herself caught by Felix Thompson.
The moment Laurel realized who had caught her, she jumped away as if she’d been shocked, putting deliberate distance between them. Felix’s expression didn’t change–he’d expected this reaction. He stood casually between Laurel and Blake, arms crossed over his chest.
“Laurel,” he said casually, “this is someone else’s divorce. We should stay out of it.”
His eyes held a knowing look. “Not every show is worth watching.”
The tension between them felt loaded. There was history there. Felix winked at me – I got this.
I walked past them to Blake’s side.
“Let’s go, Mr. Parker. Let’s finish this quickly.”
At the courthouse doors, Blake grabbed my wrist. His touch felt warm.
“Audrey, you…” His voice trailed off.
Irritation flashed through me. After all this time, now he wants to talk?
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“Something else?” I asked.
Blake’s eyes searched mine, looking for something.
“No,” he said finally.
“Then let’s go now.” I pulled away and walked through the doors, not checking if he followed.
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