Audrey’s POV
I didn’t want to waste another minute with these two. I looked directly at Victoria, completely ignoring Blake beside me.
“Let me make this crystal clear,” I said. “We’re not sisters. We never were. Moreover, I’m living with Astrid now. You know her temper. Show up at my door causing trouble, and you’ll regret it.”
“Not only will Astrid handle you, I’ll call the police.”
Victoria’s eyes widened slightly.
“And I won’t stop there. I’ll tell every media outlet exactly how you and Richard treated me. How my biological parents favored their adopted daughter while mistreating their own flesh and blood.”
I grabbed a napkin and scribbled down my address, then tossed it at her. “There. Now you don’t need Blake as an excuse.”
I stood up and walked away without looking back. Blake wasn’t my husband anymore. Whatever game.he was playing with
Victoria didn’t concern me.
As I pushed through the restaurant doors, the cool night air hit my face. Standing at the curb, I raised my hand to hail a taxi. A yellow cab quickly pulled over, and I slid into the back seat.
“Where to, miss?” the driver asked.
I hesitated. Going home meant facing Astrid, who’d take one look at me and know something was wrong. She’d want details, want to fight my battles. I wasn’t up for explaining my impromptu dinner with Blake and Victoria.
“Take me to Pinehaven Village, by the beach,” I finally said.
The driver glanced back. “Pinehaven Village? At this hour?”
“Yes,” I said firmly. “Is there a problem?”
“That place is abandoned,” he explained. “Hayes Group bought it for development four years ago. Everyone moved out.
Nothing there but ruins now.”
His eyes showed genuine concern. “A young woman like yourself, alone there at night… are you sure everything’s okay?”
I gave him a tired smile. “I lived there five years ago.”
“Even if you’re nostalgic, couldn’t you visit during daylight?” the driver persisted. “It’s not safe after dark.
“I’ll be fine,” I assured him. “I go there often. I’m not depressed or anything. It’s just… quiet. Full of memories.”
Five years ago, I’d stumbled across Blake unconscious on the beach during one of my evening walks. I was working at the tiny clinic in Pinehaven then, barely making ends meet as an aide. I’d managed to get him to the clinic and ended up using a whole month’s salary to coyer his medical bills.
For weeks after that, I juggled my shifts while taking care of him. Rachel would drop by to help whenever she could, bringing food and keeping us both company.
1/2
Chapter 218
Funny how you never appreciate moments until they’re gone. Back then, it just felt like life exhausting shifts, a blind patient who didn’t know my name, Rachel teasing me about developing feelings for him.
Now I’d give anything to go back. Those simple days in this forgotten village were actually the happiest I’d ever been.
I had Rachel. I had Blake, even if he couldn’t see me. I had his promise that when his eyes healed, I would be the first person he saw.
“Take my card,” the driver said, passing it back to me. “Call when you want to come back. Don’t get stranded out there.”
I accepted with a nod.
“Miss,” he said suddenly, “have you upset someone recently?”
“Why?”
“That black luxury sedan behind us… it’s been following us for a while now.”
I turned to look. Even in the darkness, I recognized Blake’s car immediately.
Why is he following me? Why isn’t he with Victoria?
During our marriage, I could go weeks without seeing Blake. Now that we were divorced, he was everywhere.
“Your boyfriend?”
“No,” I said, turning back. “He’s my ex–husband.”
“Ex–husband?” The driver sounded surprised. “Is he stalking you? Is that why you’re heading to this ghost town? To escape
him?”
