Chapter 111
Audrey’s POV
Microphones jutted toward my face like accusing fingers, cameras trained on me with predatory focus. Every question carried undisguised hostility.
Felix Thompson stood beside me, his eyes narrowing with each question hurled my way. I could feel the anger radiating from him as the questions grew more invasive. The Thompson family, like the Parkers, lived by a code of public dignity that made direct confrontation unseemly. But I saw something in Felix snap.
“Do you people understand what professional journalism is supposed to look like?” His voice was tight with controlled
anger.
The reporters‘ attention swiveled toward him.
“Sir, what exactly is your relationship with Miss Sinclair?” A male reporter adjusted his glasses, camera crew quickly repositioning.
“You’re awfully quick to defend her,” another called out. “Could you perhaps be the man she cheated with? Was the baby she terminated yours?”
“If you could just clarify – ” The reporter pressed forward.
“This gentleman is Felix Thompson, heir to Thompson Group, who returned to New York just last week,” I interrupted. “Are you absolutely certain you want to point your cameras at him and make these accusations?”
The effect was immediate. Recognition dawned across their faces, followed by panic.
“Oh! Mr. Thompson!” The reporter laughed awkwardly. “We had no idea you were back!”
“The baby Miss Sinclair terminated was conceived over four months ago – obviously nothing to do with Mr. Thompson!”
“A misunderstanding, completely!”
“Miss Sinclair, please respond to our earlier questions!” The reporters redirected their attention
to me.
Before I could respond, my gaze drifted past them to where Blake and Laurel stood near the hospital entrance. Laurel clung to Blake as if she couldn’t stand without him, one hand clutching his arm while the other rested against her chest. Blake held her close, murmuring something in her ear.
Something in Blake’s posture changed when he felt my gaze. He straightened, creating just enough space between himself and Laurel to be noticeable. His eyes lifted, seeking mine across the distance.
I looked away. Looking back now would serve no purpose.
“Miss Sinclair, our viewers deserve to know the truth about your terminated pregnancy!”
The reporters clearly expected me to break down or lash out. Instead, I pulled out my phone and opened the camera app.
“What exactly do you think you’re doing?” one asked.
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“My memory isn’t what it used to be. With so many faces and questions, I thought it best to keep a record. Ind. Just in. case anyone misrepresents today’s Interview.”
I handed my phone to Felix. “Would you mind helping me with this?”
Felix positioned himself to record, satisfaction evident as the reporters
shifted uncomfortably.
“Now, regarding your questions… I’m ready to respond.”
“You’ve claimed I cheated during my marriage and terminated another man’s child,” I said directly. “What evidence supports these claims?”
The reporters exchanged uneasy glances, their aggression deflating.
After conferring among themselves, they regrouped and pressed forward.
“If you didn’t cheat, then why terminate your pregnancy without telling Mr. Parker?” One reporter persisted.
“Yes, if it wasn’t another man’s child, why end the pregnancy?”
“After three years of marriage, with your first child on the way – why terminate it?”
“Why did I terminate this pregnancy?” I repeated.
I took a breath, gathering my thoughts. “Because when I discovered I was pregnant, I had already decided to divorce Mr.
Parker.”
The reporters fell silent.
“Blake and I had experienced a breakdown in our relationship over a month ago and were finalizing our agreement,” I continued.
divorce
“After signing preliminary papers, I discovered I was three months pregnant. Knowing this child would be born into a fractured home, without the blessing of an intact family, I made the difficult decision to terminate.”
I paused briefly. “At that point, Mr. Parker had firmly decided on divorce. He hadn’t returned to our home in weeks, had shown no interest in my wellbeing. He had no knowledge of my pregnancy.”
“I acknowledge that deciding to terminate without informing him showed a certain disrespect to Mr. Parker,” I conceded. “However, this outcome was ultimately best for everyone involved – for me, for Mr. Parker, and for Mr. Parker’s current
partner.”
“Are there any other questions about the pregnancy?”
The reporters seemed at loss. My explanation had undermined their scandalous narrative.
Blake’s POV
From a distance, I watched Audrey handle the reporters with unexpected composure. She wasn’t falling apart under pressure as I’d anticipated. Instead, she articulated our situation with unsettling clarity, referencing the backdata ed divorce agreement we’d discussed with a conviction that sounded genuine.
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She looked so damn confident. Not a hint of deception in her voice or expression. Just someone stating plain facts.
A chill ran through me. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. The divorce papers were just a stopgap something to handle the PR nightmare until things cooled down and we could quietly reconcile. But Audrey was talking about our split like she’d already moved on.
The worst part? Almost everything she said was true. The fake divorce agreement was the only lie. I really hadn’t been home. Hadn’t called. Hadn’t checked on her once. Hadn’t known she was pregnant.
Hell, if I hadn’t gone with Laurel to that doctor’s appointment, I wouldn’t even have known about the miscarriage.
The realization constricted my chest. I had my reasons – Laurel had returned from Europe with what she claimed was a terminal diagnosis. She needed my support, my protection.
But watching Audrey stand alone against this barrage, I found those justifications suddenly ringing hollow. What kind of husband had I become?
“Blake darling…” Laurel’s voice cut through my thoughts. “Did you really decide to divorce Miss Sinclair over a month ago?”
All eyes shifted to us. Trapped under public scrutiny with cameras recording my every reaction, I could only offer a stiff nod. “Yes.”
Laurel’s expression transformed, her eyes brightening. “I remember – it was precisely a month ago that I contacted you about returning to New York!”
I felt something cold settle in my stomach.
“So, Blake darling…” Her voice lilted upward. “After learning I was coming back, you immediately decided to end things with Miss Sinclair? You stopped going home, stopped seeing her completely?”
Before I could respond, Laurel threw herself into my arms.
“I knew you still cared for me all this time!” she cried/loud enough for everyone to hear.
The reporters‘ reaction was immediate.
“Mr. Parker and Miss Rose make such a perfect couple – truly meant for each other!”
“Finding out Miss Rose was returning from Europe, Mr. Parker ended his arranged marriage a month early to prepare for her now that’s a love story for the ages!”
“Seeing Mr. Parker and Miss Rose together restores my faith in true love!”
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