Chapter 142
Audrey’s POV
I watched ceiling tiles slide past as nurses wheeled me down the corridor. Andrew Jensen walked alongside.
“Is her boyfriend a doctor?” I asked, keeping my voice low.
Jensen shook his head. “He’s not a doctor, but he’s found many specialists to treat her condition. He’s incredibly determined.”
“And these medical records?” I asked. “What are they for?”
“They’re for international specialists,” Jensen explained, checking his watch nervously. “He’s leaving no stone unturned.”
One of the nurses glanced at me with a smile. “Her boyfriend must care for her deeply.”
“Of course,” Jensen replied with a hint of pride. “I’ve heard that my client saved her boyfriend’s life when they were younger. He promised he’d do anything to help cure her illness…”
The nurse began taking my vitals – blood pressure, temperature, blood samples. While complying, my mind raced with questions.
“By the way, if he cares so much,” I asked as the blood pressure cuff tightened, “why is she lying to
him?”
If someone cared that much about my health, I wouldn’t want to lie to them.
Jensen waved dismissively. “I don’t try to understand. Call it a lovers‘ game.”
He leaned closer. “Besides, this arrangement gives you excellent medical care.”
“It doesn’t harm you,” he added. “Just play along.”
His logic was twisted, but it made some sense. I decided to stop asking questions. The nurse finished
her work, collected the data, and handed everything to Jensen, who left after reviewing it with
satisfaction.
I didn’t know if Jensen’s client would need anything else, so I remained in the hospital bed, reaching for my phone to pass the time
On social media, negative posts about Laurel were vanishing. Comment sections filled with outrage hours ago were now cleaned up, with accounts posting apologies and retractions.
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Blake must be behind this cleanup..
A bitter smile crossed my lips. If Blake had moved this quickly when I was being called a gold–digger online, I might have avoided recent humiliation.
My phone buzzed with a message from Ethan.
I gave you my birthday gift, did you see it?”
I closed my eyes before responding: “Yes, I saw it.”
He sent a voice message, clearly unaware Blake had traced everything: “Are you happy now? I saw Blake was proposing to Laurel today. I thought it was your birthday, so I figured he was trying to hurt you. That’s why I released all that evidence right when Laurel was supposed to get proposed to. Turns out Blake was throwing you a birthday party! And he got the date wrong, just like I did!”
His excitement sent chills down my spine.
I typed: “Blake has traced everything back to you.”
After a long pause: “How? I masked my IP! How’d he find me so fast?”
“Blake has pros on his team.”
I rubbed my temples. Ethan was just a college kid trying to help. He had no idea what enemies he’d
made.
“Well, I’m not afraid. Everything I posted was true. Even if Blake confronts me, I have nothing to hide!”
His bravery would be admirable if it weren’t so naive.
I sent a voice message: “I understand your intentions. But don’t do anything else. I’ll handle Blake
myself.”
I couldn’t let Ethan face Blake’s wrath alone. He had no idea what Blake Parker could do when provoked, especially when protecting Laurel.
I got up, determined to find Blake. Recalling Jennifer Carson’s voice from the stairwell, I figured Laurel’s room must be nearby.
I headed for the stairs, climbing from the eighth floor to the ninth, then to the tenth. As I reached for the door handle, a familiar voice stopped me cold.
“Grandfather, you’re wrong about Laurel!”
William is here?
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I peered through the window. Blake stood in the hallway, bent slightly as he spoke to Willang sat in a wheelchair looking at documents.
“Laurel left for Europe five years ago because she was sick, Blake explained, his voice pleading She didn’t know about my condition when her plane took off.”
William frowned at the papers, saying nothing.
“I’ve wanted her to explain everything to you, but you never gave me the chance,” Blake continued, his posture more submissive than I’d ever seen. “She had her reasons…”
The sight of Blake begging like this stunned me. In three years of marriage, I’d never seen him speak to anyone with such humility.
Only for Laurel would he be willing to explain so patiently, so earnestly, over and over again. explain so patiently, so earnestly, over and over again.
In our three years together, this is the first time I’ve seen Blake look so… vulnerable.
Before, whenever he couldn’t convince William of something, I would quietly approach his grandfather
afterward, explain things, and plead on Blake behalf because I couldn’t bear to see him frustrated.
I was much more humble than Blake is being now. I not only had to repeatedly explain business terms I barely understood myself, but I’d stay at the Parker mansion for days to please William – cooking his favorite meals, caring for him, doing everything possible to win his approval.
And Blake never knew any of this. He thought his grandfather suddenly changed his mind on his own. He thought I stayed at the mansion because I enjoyed it, that I was trying to secure my position as Mrs. Parker by ingratiating myself with William.
I never told him about my efforts. I didn’t want to seem like I was using what I’d done to gain his approval or gratitude.
I remained motionless, watching this scene unfold, feeling a strange mixture of sadness and resignation.
William finally looked up, eyes sharp on Blake.
“So Laurel left because of health issues?” His deep voice carried doubt. “Has she recovered?”
“Not yet,” Blake replied, hesitating. “I’ve found the best specialists – ”
“Then stay away from her,” William cut him off, tossing the documents at Blake.
“You saw what Audrey was like,” he continued. “Gentle, capable, and most importantly, healthy. She took care of you when you were in coma and me, a half–dead old man.”
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My breath caught.
But Laurel Rose,” William’s voice hardened, “with her health problems.
He leaned forward, eyes blazing. “She doesn’t deserve to be my granddaughter–in–law!–
Blake’s face paled as he clutched the documents, clearly shocked by William’s vehemence.
“But grandfather,” Blake said, his voice unsteady, “you saw the news tonight…” voice unsteady, “you saw the news tonight…”
“Laurel thought I was proposing to her. She’s already been humiliated in front of everyone.
“She’s emotionally unstable right now, partly because of this incident.”
“So-
now, part
“I forbid it!” William slapped his wheelchair armrest. “Besides Audrey, I will accept no other granddaughter–in–law!”
“Since you insisted on divorcing her,” William declared, his voice unwavering, “then you’ll be single
forever!”
“I won’t approve of anyone but her, and I especially won’t approve of Laurel Rose!”
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