Chapter 221
Blake’s POV
I watched as a tear slid down Audrey’s cheek, catching the moonlight that filtered through the clinic’s broken windows.
‘Did he ever look for you?” I asked.
“No,” she said, her voice quieter than I’d ever heard it.
She wiped at another tear. “But I looked for him. I saw him with another woman. They were perfect together from the same world, the same circles. Everyone called them the golden couple.”
I turned to look at her, and she glanced my way before quickly averting her eyes.
‘I tried approaching him,” she continued. “But he seemed to have completely forgotten what happened five years ago. He never wanted to talk about it..
I handed her a tissue from my pocket. I wanted to pull her close, to hold her, but I hesitated. In this moment, she looked small and breakable. All I could do was watch as she dabbed at her tears.
“So eventually,” she said with a steadier voice, “I gave up on him. He wasn’t worth my feelings.“–
“You mean you don’t have feelings for him anymore?” I asked.
“That’s right.”
I couldn’t help the cold laugh that escaped me. “If you’ve forgotten him, why do you come here when you’re upset? Why run to this place instead of going home?”
She pressed her lips together and looked down, saying nothing.
“You haven’t forgotten him,” I said. “You haven’t given up at all.”
Her silence was all the confirmation I needed. My hands balled into fists as something dark twisted in my gut. This man, whoever he was, still had such a hold on her that five years later, she sought comfort in the place where they’d met.
What was I to her, then? A placeholder? A distraction?
If she was so devoted to this mystery man, why marry me? Why pretend to care?
‘Why did you marry me, Audrey?” The question burst out. “What was I to you?”
“What do you think?” She tilted her head with a strange smile. “Ever heard that the best way to get over someone is to start something new? I skipped the new relationship and went straight to marriage.”
Hearing this, my hands clenched into fists. All this time, I’d believed she married me for my money, for the Parker name. I’d convinced myself her affection was fake because she wanted wealth and status.
This was worse. I’d been nothing but a bandage for her broken heart.
I, Blake Parker, who’d never been second–best at anything in my life, had been nothing but a backup plan.
“Who is he?” I demanded, my voice low. “Who is this man?”
“That’s confidential,” she replied coolly. “You asked for my story about this place, and I’ve told you. As for who he is… you don’t have the right to know.”
She stood up from the step and stretched. Want to see the rest? The room where I took care of him is at the end of the third–floor corridor.”
My nails dug into my palms as I stared at her. My phone suddenly rang, cutting through the tension. Laurel’s name lit up the screen.
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Chapter 221
“Blake darling!” Her voice came through immediately. Rachel is having some issues. Can you come help?
I noticed Audrey step closer, tilting her head toward my phone to listen.
“I’m alone taking care of Rachel tonight, Laurel continued, her voice shaking. Something doesn’t seem right with her… Em scareds
Audrey went completely still beside me. Even in the dim light, I saw her eyes widen with an intensity I’d never witnessed before.
“Blake darling, please come stay with me,” Laurel pleaded. “We can take care of Rachel together, just like that time when Rachel got drunk. Remember?”
My grip tightened on the phone as memories washed over me.
“Alright, I said, my voice softening.
Five years ago, when I still couldn’t see, Rachel had come to the clinic upset about something. She’d been drinking. That night, she fell asleep on my hospital bed.
I sat in a chair holding Laurel’s hand while she rested her head on my shoulder and eventually dozed off too. Though I couldn’t see anything, the sound of both women breathing peacefully in that small room gave me a sense of calm I hadn’t felt in years.
I never told either of them that I was in the ocean because kidnappers had thrown me there. My business rivals had arranged my abduction. After Laurel rescued me, her gentle, mute kindness and Rachel’s bubbly energy helped heal something in me.
Without those two women, there might not be a Blake Parker today. No matter what Laurel might have done, I could never truly turn my back on her. I owed her too much.
‘I’ll be right there,” I told her.
“Come quickly!” Laurel said. “I’ll text you the address. I’ll be waiting!”
As she hung up, Audrey grabbed my arm, her eyes wild.
‘I need to come with you,” she said urgently.
I glanced down at her hand clutching my sleeve, then back to her face.
“I want to see Rachel,” she said, eyes desperate now.
Audrey’s POV
The moment I heard Laurel mention Rachel on the phone, everything inside me stopped, then erupted into chaos. My heart hammered against my ribs as I processed what I was hearing.
Four years ago, Astrid and I had watched Rachel being wheeled into an airport by her uncle. All this time, we’d believed she was receiving treatment overseas. Even after discovering Rachel was Laurel’s sister, I’d still assumed she was abroad.
But Laurel’s words made it crystal clear – Rachel was here. In New York. My friend, the one I’d been missing for years, was in the same city as me, and Laurel was with her right now.
I’d thought I’d never see Rachel again before my time ran out. Now, suddenly, she was within reach.
When Blake ended the call, I couldn’t contain myself. I grabbed his arm, not caring how desperate I looked
‘I need to come with you,” I said, hearing the urgency in my voice.
His eyes narrowed as he looked at my hand, then at my face.
‘I want to see Rachel,” I added, letting my longing show. “Please.
When he didn’t respond, I tightened my grip on his arm.
Chapter 221
“Take me with you,” I pleaded. “I’ll do anything you want. Anything.”
Blake Parker loved making deals. If he would take me to Rachel tonight, I’d agree to whatever he wanted. With only months left to live, sexing Razhet égali worth any price.
“I won’t take you,” he said flatly, dropping my hand like it was something unclean.
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