Chapter 237
Blake’s POV
Laurel bit her lip, her voice dropping to a soft explanation. “After getting sick, my memory really isn’t what it used to be, you know that
I frowned slightly, watching her. Sometimes I found myself wondering if the woman before me was truly the same Laurel Rose from five years ago. She constantly blamed her illness for forgetting things. Yet whenever her parents mentioned her childhood, she recalled every detail perfectly. Strangely, the only memories Laurel seemed to have lost were the specifics of our time together five years ago.
I didn’t dare to delve into it, so I shifted, “Has Michael brought the rings yet?”
Laurel’s face brightened instantly. “Yes! The workshop just finished them.” She grabbed an elegant jewelry box from the side table and opened it. “They’re perfect, aren’t they?”
She slipped the larger ring onto my right hand, excitement dancing in her eyes. “I didn’t think Sinclair would take this seriously, but she actually did a decent job.”
I looked down at the ring on my finger, noticing the intricate details. My expression softened and the smile touched my lips.
“Audrey keeps business and personal matters separate.”
Laurel’s smile tightened. “Let’s put these away until the ceremony,” she said, carefully removing the ring from my finger.
“Fine.”
A commotion outside caught my attention. I moved to the window, peering down at the hotel entrance where Jonathan Rose, Laurel’s father, and Scarlett Rose were stepping out of a black sedan, surrounded by New York’s elite.
“This is all our Laurel’s doing!” Jonathan announced loudly. “Even with our connections, we couldn’t force Parker to be with her, right? They fell for each other naturally!”
As he continued boasting about their “five–year love story,” Laurel rushed to my side and linked her arm with mine, face flushed with
embarrassment.
I kept watching as the Roses entered the hotel surrounded by admirers. Behind their sedan, a white van started its engine and drove away from
the entrance.
“Wasn’t Rachel supposed to be here tonight?” I asked.
Laurel’s smile vanished. “She is, but we couldn’t bring her through the main entrance. The van’s going to the underground garage. Staff will bring her up through the service elevator.”
I turned to her, my eyes cold. So your family makes a grand entrance while Rachel uses the service elevator meant for cargo?”
Laurel laughed nervously, avoiding my gaze. “She’s a vegetative patient… we thought it might be awkward bringing her through the main lobby.”
My expression darkened. “When I was a vegetative patient, my grandfather still brought me to events. All it takes is proper preparation. What’s so awkward about that?”
“Besides,” I continued, “isn’t tonight when you’re officially revealing Rachel is alive? Why sneak her in through the back?”
Even if this engagement was just my obligation to a dying woman, to everyone else, this was supposed to be Laurel’s happiest moment. If Rachel truly mattered to her, why was she being smuggled in like contraband?
“Blake darling, don’t be upset,” Laurel pleaded, tears welling in her eyes. “My father arranged everything. He probably thought it would be more
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dramatic if Rachel suddenly appeared at the party…
I raised an eyebrow. “We announced she’d be attending when we first publicized the engagement. Everyone already kuras the’s coming. Whate the point of this ‘surprise‘?”
Laurel opened her mouth to respond but was interrupted by Thalia and Olivia’s arrival. They swept into the room in designer gowns, looking like they’d stepped off a runway.
“Blake! Laurel!” Thalia called out. “Laurel, you look amazing tonight! This is exactly how I always pictured my sister–in–law. Don’t you think the looks beautiful, brother?”
“Yes,” I said flatly.
Laurel jumped at the chance to change the subject. “You both look stunning too!”
“All thanks to your excellent taste,” Thalia replied with a smile.
Olivia twirled in her dress. “This is the one you picked out, Laurel. It’s perfect!”
“It’s not the dress,” Laurel said. “You’d look beautiful in anything.”
Noticing my mood darkening, Laurel quickly wrapped her arm around mine. “What about Blake? I picked his suit too!*
Thalia laughed. “Everyone knows how handsome my brother is!”
“By the way,” she added casually, “I saw Audrey downstairs. Still under your spell, brother, showing up at your engagement!”
Laurel’s smile stiffened. I couldn’t help raising an eyebrow, suddenly more attentive.
Olivia jumped in. “She was in those boring clothes she always wears. I guess after leaving Blake, she can’t afford proper formal wear. How could someone like that compare to Laurel?”
“Exactly,” Thalia nodded. “I also saw her and Astrid heading toward the service elevator area. So tacky, always hanging around with the staff
She shook her head. “Thank God you divorced her, brother. That woman has no class.”
Without a word, I pulled my arm free from Laurel’s grip and started toward the door.
“Blake darling, where are you going?” Laurel asked, suddenly alarmed.
“You stay and chat. I’m checking the service elevator,” I replied without turning.
“Blake darling!” she called, lifting her dress to follow me.
I had nearly reached the stairwell when Laurel caught up, blocking my path.
“Are you going to find Audrey?” she demanded, eyes searching mine.
“I’m going to check on your sister,” I said coldly. “A patient who can’t speak or move, being transported via a car family member. Doesn’t that concern you?”
Laurel went pale. “I do care about her, I just – *
ator without a single
“You’d rather stay up here trading compliments than check on your vegetative sister.” I couldn’t hide my disappointment. “Laurel, you’ve really changed.”
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She wasn’t the woman who once treasured Rachel above all else. In the four years Rachel had been bedridden, Laurel and her family seemed to have lost all patience for her. Even Audrey, who merely found Rachel’s phone, showed more concern than Rachel’s own sister.
Without another word, I pushed past Laurel and headed downstairs, not looking back.
Laurel’s POV
“Laurel!”
Thalia caught up to me. “What were you two talking about?”
“Who’s Rachel Hayes?” she pressed.
I kept my eyes fixed on Blake’s back as he disappeared down the stairs, a cold feeling spreading through me. “Rachel Hayes… just someone who should’ve died years ago.”
Worthless bitch. She should’ve been dead four years ago.
If that trash had died back then like she was supposed to, none of this would be happening now.
My fingernails dug into my palms, the pain barely registering.
It doesn’t matter.
Tonight, I’ll make sure Rachel and Audrey – those precious “sisters” – take their final journey together.
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