Chapter 193
Audrey’s POV
The female officer looked uncomfortable with my question. She glanced at her partner before answering.
“Well…” she hesitated. “It depends on the situation.”
She adjusted her posture. “If someone knowingly filed a false report despite being aware you weren’t in that kind of relationship, they would face consequences.”
“But if they were simply suspicious after seeing three people enter the same room… that could be considered a good–faith report. We can’t punish someone for that.”
Astrid leaned forward. “Don’t let me find out who reported us!” Her eyes flashed. “If I discover who did this, I’ll make them
regret it!”
I put my hand on Astrid’s back, patting gently. “Calm down. Getting angry won’t help now.”
As the police car started moving, I glanced out the window during a turn. A familiar black sedan was parked across from the hotel entrance. Michael stepped out, phone in hand, heading toward the hotel.
My eyes narrowed.
What a coincidence. Just as we’re reported and taken away, Michael shows up outside the hotel? This can’t be random.
At the police station, we sat while officers completed our statements. The female officer approached us again.
“Although your statements confirm you weren’t engaged in those activities,” she said, “we still need you to contact family members to come get you.”
She glanced at our bathrobes. “In the future, try to avoid small hotels like Paris Night. People might get the wrong idea.”
Astrid wasn’t having it. “Someone was trying to set us up,” she snapped. “Even if we were sitting in the middle of the street, they’d report us for blocking traffic!”
Her hands clenched into fists. “Don’t let me find out who’s behind this. They’ll pay for it!”
I pulled my bathrobe tighter, thinking about what had happened.
Michael being there means Blake must be involved. But why would he care? Shouldn’t he be with Laurel and her mother? How did they even know we were at this hotel?
My phone rang with an unfamiliar number. I answered cautiously.
“Hello?”
“Audrey, it’s me, Victoria! Where are you? Her voice was irritatingly sweet with an undercurrent of annoyance. “Dad said he told you I was coming back and that you’d pick me up at the airport…”
1/2
Chapter 193
I remembered my conversation with Richard. He had mentioned Victoria coming to New York, but I’d clearly told him I wouldn’t meet her.
“Audrey, you’re being really unfair,” Victoria whined. “Not showing up at the airport is one thing, but you haven’t even contacted me this whole time.”
She paused before her tone changed. “Are you afraid I’ll steal Blake Parker from you? Is that why you’re avoiding me?”
Lalmost laughed at her words.
“Victoria,” I replied coldly, “Richard and I already made things clear. We have no real relationship, we’re not sisters, and you didn’t come to New York for me. Since you’re here for Blake, you should be contacting him, not me.”
I hung up without waiting for her response.
Astrid looked impressed. “Audrey, who are you and what have you done with my friend? You never stood up to Victoria
before.”
I laughed. “I must have been out of my mind before.”
I used to think Victoria was still my sister despite having no blood relation. She was raised by Richard and Elaine, so I thought I should be patient.
I believed if I tried hard enough, we could become a happy family. But time has shown they’ll never accept me.
And now, with less than three months left to live, I think: to hell with being one big happy family.
“So, who are we going to call to get us out of here?” Astrid asked, looking at Ethan who was staring at his phone.
Chapter Comments
LIKE
POST COMMENT NOW
<SHARE
