Audrey’s POV
Dr. Evans sighed and looked at me directly.
“Audrey, if Blake came here to help his Miss Rose find her missing phone, as you claim, wouldn’t he have immediately demanded it from you when he entered the room?”
I froze. She had a point.
“Yet,” Dr. Evans continued, “you saw what happened. When Blake arrived, he didn’t rush straight to your room. He stood outside talking to me first.”
I lifted my head slowly, replaying the scene. Blake hadn’t barged in demanding the phone.
“What did he say to you?” My voice came out smaller than I intended.
“He asked about your health. Specifically, he wanted to know if there was something wrong with your stomach, since I’m a
specialist in gastric cancer treatment at Mayo Clinic.”
My breath caught.
“When I told him Ethan brought you here because he’s Alexander’s roommate, Blake pressed further. He asked about your vomiting blood, whether we’d run any tests, and if we’d confirmed that you were healthy.”
She gave me a meaningful look. “Only after I assured him you weren’t seriously ill. ne come in to see you.”
Blake had been asking about my health first? Not about the phone?
“If he was here to confront you or retrieve that phone,” Dr. Evans said, “why would he spend so much time inquiring about your medical condition?”
I sat motionless, my face draining of color. Had I misfead everything?
If Blake truly had been worried about me… and I attacked him the moment he walked in.
My phone rang, making me jump. Ethan checked the screen,
“Michael Chen? Who’s that?”
“Blake Parker’s assistant,” I replied.
Ethan was about to reject the call when I stopped him. “No, wait. I’ll answer.”
“Hello?”
“Miss Sinclair.” Michael sounded uncomfortable. “I’m not sure I should be calling, but I felt I needed to clear something
up.”
“Mr. Parker said there’s no point explaining, but I don’t agree. About that night at the hotel…
Chapter 201
I waited.
“It was me who filed the report. Not Mr. Parker.”
“I already know that.”
“Yes, but what you don’t know is why.” Michael paused. “Mr. Parker made a mistake that night. When he called and Ethan answered, he thought you were alone with him.”
“He worried you were being impulsive. Getting involved with someone so much younger who might hurt you.”
“He couldn’t come himself since he was with Miss Rose, and sending me directly seemed inappropriate, so he suggested the report to interrupt whatever he thought was happening.”
“As for me being outside the hotel, I parked there in case Mr. Parker came looking for you. It had nothing to do with taking photos or embarrassing you.”
“Mr. Parker never wanted to humiliate you,” Michael continued. “He was trying to protect you.”
“There’s no need to explain,” I cut him off. “Who I spend time with, whether I get hurt – I know better than anyone. I don’t need your boss’s concern.”
Before hanging up, I asked, “Michael, these days Blake’s been looking for me… was it because he was worried, or was it for
Laurel?”
“For Laurel?” Michael sounded confused. “Miss Sinclair, I think you’ve misunderstood Mr. Parker. He –
A voice interrupted from Michael’s end. “Mr. Chen, Mr. Parker says he’s on his w He wants you to handle things at the company…”
o Twilight Mansion to see Miss Rose.
I couldn’t help but laugh coldly as I heard the male voice cutting in from Michael’s end. I hung up without another word.
What misunderstanding could I possibly have about Blake Parker?
In his heart, Laurel Rose would always come first.
After ending Michael’s call, I immediately called Astrid, giving her Dr. Evans address.
Astrid arrived in record time. The moment she stepped into Dr. Evans‘ home, she nearly burst into tears, wrapping me in a
fierce hug.
“You’re only contacting me NOW?” she cried, holding me so tightly I could barely breathe. “You have no idea how worried I’ve been these past two days!”
“I’ve been looking everywhere for you!” she continued, still clinging to me. “I was worried sick that Blake Parker might find you first and drag you straight to Laurel Rose!”
Her grip was so tight I could barely breathe, but I felt a wave of emotion wash over me.
“I’m sorry for making you worry,” I said quietly.
Astrid held on as if she was afraid I’d disappear again if she let go.
Chapter 201
When she finally pulled back, I saw tears in her eyes. “Don’t ever do that again. When you’re in trouble, you call me. Got it?”
She turned to Ethan, her eyes narrowing. “And you! How could you keep this from me? Even if she told you not to tell anyone, I’m not just anyone!”
Ethan raised his hands. “You’re right. My mistake. I owe you a meal. It won’t happen again.”
His sincerity made Astrid shake her head with a reluctant smile. “Forget the meal. Just don’t pull this stunt again.”
I glanced at Dr. Evans. “Dr. Evans, thank you for everything. We should go now. We’ve imposed enough, and Blake knows
I’m here.”
Dr. Evans nodded. “Remember your medication. And try to avoid stress.”
With Astrid and Ethan’s help, I gathered my things. As we left, I felt grateful to Dr. Evans for protecting me when I needed
it most.
The smell of home greeted me as Astrid unlocked my apartment door. Snow came running immediately, meowing loudly and circling my legs. I knelt down and scooped her into my arms, burying my face in her fur.
“Even though you disappeared, I took excellent care of this little guy,” Astrid said, sitting on my couch like she owned it. She gestured for Ethan to sit too.
“Now,” she fixed me with her gaze, “what’s really going on with your health?”
I kept stroking Snow, avoiding her eyes. “I told you. The blood was from my gums.”
“Do I look five years old?” Astrid’s eyes flashed. “Bleeding gums don’t make you vomit blood repeatedly!”
She leaned forward. “I’m your best friend. Don’t I deserve to know what’s happening?”
When I didn’t answer, she sprawled across the couch. “Fine. I’m not leaving until you tell me what’s wrong.”
I managed a small smile. “That’s okay. I was planning to cook something for both of you anyway.”
I turned to Ethan. “What would you like to eat?”
“Audrey Sinclair!” Astrid looked ready to explode.
I smiled, and just as I was about to keep trading jibes with her, my phone rang, showing James’s name.
I hesitated, then answered, “James.”
“Audrey!” Relief mixed with urgency in his voice. “Where have you been? I’ve been trying to reach you for days!
“The company that wants to collaborate with us has been trying to meet with you. George has been calling me constantly!”
“They just called again,” James continued, his voice urgent. “Their executives say if you don’t show up today, they’re canceling the collaboration completely!”
3/4
Divorce Me Before Death Takes Me, CEO
