Audrey’s POV
The black car raced along the highway. I leaned back, holding Rachel’s hand while examining the rings in my palm. The jewelry cap the passing streetlights, glinting before fading back to shadow,
These rings – I’d designed them for Blake and Laurel’s engagement. Despite accepting their relationship, something shifted when the worktag brought them for my final check. I hesitated, then made the switch.
I couldn’t help smiling at the thought of their faces when they opened that velvet box to find plastic toy rings instead of my designs. Blake Parker and Laurel Rose didn’t deserve my work or my blessing.
I turned to Rachel beside me, her wheelchair secured in the modified backseat.
“Rachel,” I said, “if you knew everything that’s happened these past three years, you’d probably be like Astrid – wondering why i didn’t stand up for myself sooner.”
I squeezed her hand. “Tonight I’m finally letting go. Whether Blake ever remembers or not, I won’t look back.”
I slipped the rings into my pocket and watched the city lights blur past. The jewelry line would launch without me. James would handle everything now. Blake’s influence no longer scared me.
Felix’s voice cut through my thoughts. “Someone’s following us.”
I straightened up, looking in the rearview mirror. Behind us loomed a delivery truck, its headlights harsh against the darkness.
“It’s been behind us since we left the hotel,” Felix explained, “Thought it was hotel transport at first. But we’re almost at the airport now, and it’s still there. Why would a hotel truck head to the airport this late?”
My heart dropped as I stared at the truck’s reflection. It matched our pace perfectly, maintaining the same distance no matter how Felix adjusted our speed.
‘Felix,” I asked, ‘how many cars like this do you have?”
He glanced at me. “Two. Why?”
I leaned forward, my voice low. “I think we’re in trouble.”
I outlined my plan quickly, watching his eyes widen.
“You sure about this?‘ he whispered.
“Just do exactly what I said,” I replied. “If I’m wrong, we lose nothing. If I’m right… this might be our only chance.”
Felix nodded and hit the gas as I made a quick call. After hanging up, I turned to Rachel and squeezed her hand,
‘It’ll be okay, I promised. “Trust me.”
Third Person POV
The night deepened. A black luxury car sped through New York streets with a massive truck in relentless pursuit. T the danger, making sharp turns and diving into narrow alleys.
The vehicle changed course – no longer heading toward the airport.
seemed to recognize
1/3
Chapter 250
The truck driver’s patience wore thin. Without warning, it accelerated, aiming directly for the smaller car. The luxury vehicle responded by increasing its own speed.
.
Both raced along the deserted Hudson River parkway the truck gaining ground inch by inch, the car desperately maintaining distance between them.
Blake’s POV
I walked back to Laurel, my face hard. After examining the pendant carefully, I confirmed it was the one I’d given her five years ago.
“You really don’t remember this?” I asked coldly.
She looked down, biting her lip. ‘I don’t… you know my memory’s gotten worse since I got sick…”
Something about her eyes didn’t match her words. The woman who claimed she’d saved me, who said she’d stayed by my side during my blindness, couldn’t recognize something I’d specifically told her was precious to me.
Before I could push further, a conimotion erupted across the ballroom. Scarlett Rose was pushing through the crowd, her face twisted with panic.
“Where’s Rachel?” she shouted. “The staff was supposed to bring her up! Why can’t I find her? Where’s my daughter?”
Jonathan approached his wife, his expression annoyed. “That vegetable won’t just vanish. This is Laurel’s engagement. Why are you making a scene?”
Scarlett turned on him, tears streaming. “I’ve looked everywhere! Rachel is my daughter, not yours! You’ve ignored her for years, and now she’s missing and you still don’t care!”
She spotted us and rushed over, grabbing Laurel’s arm.
“Your sister is missing!” Her voice dropped to a desperate whisper. “She still has your secrets – we can’t let her disappear!”
At the mention of ‘secrets, Laurel’s expression hardened instantly.
“Stop it,” she said through clenched teeth. “Rachel can’t even walk. Where could she possibly go?”
I watched with growing suspicion. What secrets could a vegetative patient be keeping? And why was Laurel suddenly so tense?
Before I could ask, Michael burst through the crowd, his face white.
“Sir! Something’s happened!”
My body tensed. “What is it?”
“There’s been an accident!” Michael’s voice shook. “Miss Sinclair and Mr. Thompson – their car was hit by a truck and pushed into the river. There’s blood everywhere!”
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I stared at him, unable to process what he was saying. “That’s impossible…”
“It’s true. The car is completely crushed… When our men got there, the water was already turning red… Police are there, but they don’t know if they’ll recover any bodies…”
Everything around me faded away. The baйroom, the people, the plastic rings none of it mattered. I pushed past everyone, racing for the exit. Behind me, I heard Laurel and Thalia calling my name. Someone yelled that my grandfather had collapsed.
I couldn’t stop. My mind filled with images of Audrey – her smile when we first met, her patience during my recovery, her tears when I pushed her away. How could she be gone? I’d arranged to have her flight grounded, planning to confront her after the ceremony. How could she be…
2/3
Chapter 250
I ran through the lobby, my heart hammering. The thought of Audrey broken and blondied in that riser was unwarshle
I stumbled outside, gasping for air, and spotted a red sports car by the curb. Without thinking, I yanked open the passenger done and go in.
“Drive to the river! Now!” I pulled out cash and tossed it toward the driver.
The money hit my face as the driver threw it back. “Get out!” Astrid’s voice was pure venom. “You think you deserve to see Audrey?
I looked up, stunned to find her behind the wheel, her eyes red with fury and grief.
“Please, I begged, “I need to find her.”
“You?” She laughed bitterly. “Everyone else in Audrey’s life has earned the right to search for her. Everyone except you, Blake Parker.
She turned to the back seat. “Ethan, throw him out!”
That’s when it clicked – Astrid had parked at the hotel entrance to pick up Ethan so they could look for Audrey together.
I grabbed the door handle. “I’m coming with you. I’m still her husband!”
“Ex–husband,” Astrid snapped, trying to push the door open. “Now get out!”
I fought to keep the door closed when someone caught it from outside.
Ethan appeared, looking between us with a frown. “Just take him, Astrid. I’ll catch another ride.”
“You’re wasting time fighting,” he said, “If Audrey’s really hurt…”
He didn’t finish the thought, just closed the door firmly. “You both care about her. That’s what matters right now.”
The door slammed with a thud.
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