I sighed. “I’ll call Blake.”
“Blake?” Astrid’s eyebrows shot up. “I just complimented you on standing up for yourself, and now you’re calling him?”
“Don’t worry,” I said. “I have my reasons.”
As I scrolled through my contacts, I noticed a missed call from Blake from about half an hour ago, showing a duration of
30 seconds.
I looked at Ethan. “Did you answer my phone earlier?”
Ethan nodded. “Yeah, Mr. Parker called. I asked what he wanted, but he didn’t say much. I was going to tell you after your
shower, but when Astrid suggested poker, I got distracted.”
“Is something wrong?” he asked, looking worried.
I rubbed my temples as everything clicked.
So Blake called and Ethan answered. He must have assumed we were alone in a hotel room. He probably thought we were going to… that’s why he had us reported.
Blake Parker, you really are something. It’s lucky I brought Astrid tonight. If there had actually been something between Ethan and me, I would’ve been completely humiliated.
I walked into the hallway with my phone.
Blake’s POV
I had just turned onto Manhattan’s main road when my phone rang. Seeing Audrey’s name, I pulled over and answered.
“Hello.”
“Mr. Parker, are you disappointed?” Her voice was sharp.
“Disappointed about what?” I kept my tone neutral.
“Disappointed that I wasn’t arrested as a prostitute?” She didn’t hide her anger. “Blake Parker, we were married. Even
divorced, we’re not enemies. Why report me?”
I paused, surprised she had figured it out. “How do you know it was me?”
“You called me and Ethan answered. Who else could it be?” Her voice rose. “Blake Parker, don’t you think you’re being
despicable?”
“I was just worried you might be making a mistake,” I said.
“A mistake?” she cut in. “If Ethan had told you Astrid was also here, you wouldn’t have reported us, right? Your way of ‘helping‘ was to report me for prostitution?”
I heard her taking a breath. “If Astrid hadn’t been here tonight, I’d be New York’s laughingstock tomorrow! Blake Parker, in
Chapter 194
our three years of marriage, I never betrayed you. Is this how you repay me?”
“I didn’t want to ruin your reputation,” I insisted, feeling increasingly defensive.
*I just… had no choice in that moment. Seeing Ethan answer her phone I couldn’t stand the thought of them together. That college kid with my Audrey? No. Just no. When I made that call, revenge wasn’t on my mind. I wasn’t trying to destroy her reputation. I was worried about her, damn it. *
And I couldn’t still can’t handle the idea of her with another man. Couldn’t let her become someone else’s.
But now, hearing her angry voice, I’m starting to realize how badly I screwed up. Reporting her for prostitution… what the hell was I thinking? One phone call and I could’ve ruined everything for her.
“You didn’t want to ruin my reputation, but you had Michael do it for you,‘ she countered.
Her voice cracked slightly. “Blake Parker, I always knew you used some dirty tactics in business. But I thought those were
just because you’re a businessman – that’s normal. I never imagined you would use those tactics on me!”
I was about to respond when I heard a strange sound from her end – choking followed by retching.
“Audrey?” I called, suddenly alert.
A woman’s scream pierced through the phone: “Someone help! She’s vomiting blood!”
My heart stopped. “Audrey? AUDREY!” I shouted, but there was no response just chaos in the background.
My hands shaking, I immediately dialed Michael.
“Where is Audrey?” I demanded when he answered, my voice breaking with panic. “Tell me which police station she’s at!”
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