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Divorce Me Before Death Takes Me, CEO
Chapter 13: What’s Your Relationship With Her?
Blake’s POV
Laurels voice was sweet as always, yet the words that harbored a subtle hint of complacency barely registered as I stared at James‘ hand, which rested on my wife’s arm with practiced familiarity.
Just watching the sight made something dark twisted in my chest. After that scene at The Underground, after nearly losing control in that VIP lounge, here she was again – deliberately provoking me.
The golden dress she wore seemed to shine, making her look brilliant. The daring cut revealed more skin than Id ever allowed her to show in public, and her dark hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders instead of the usual tight bun. She looked like a stranger. A beautiful, dangerous stranger who was currently letting another man touch her far too intimately.
“The man next to Mrs. Parker,” Laurel continued, her voice lowering and carrying that particular note of false concern she’d perfected. “I remember dancing with him in LA last time. But why does he grab her arm so easily?”
1 kept my face carefully neutral, but my mind raced back to that night at Mayo Clinic, to Audrey’s words that had been haunting me: “Maybe I should have chosen james.”
They were getting closer now. James Collins, with his perfectly tailored tuxedo and quietly confident demeanor, looking every inch the successful Cartier executive he’d become. And Audrey – my wife–ooking more radiant than she had any right to after putting me through hell these past weeks.
“Audrey,” Laurel’s voice carried across the space between us, “what’s going on? Why do you bring this gentleman to Mr. William Parker’s birthday celebration?”
I watched Audrey’s face carefully, saw the slight tightening around her eyes – the only sign that Laurel’s barb had hit its mark. But before she could respond, James stepped forward, smooth as polished steel.
“Mr. Parker, Miss Rose. His smile was professionally cordial. “You might remember us from the partner exchange dance in LA. I’m James Collins, representing Cartier today to wish Mr. William Parker a happy birthday.”
He turned slightly, and something in the way he looked at Audrey made my blood boil. This is my junior from Parsons, Audrey Sinclair–she’s an exceptional jewelry designer
“An exceptional jewelry designer… The words left my mouth before could stop them, dripping with sarcasm. My wife, who’d never shown the slightest interest in jewelry beyond wearing the pieces I bought her, was now supposedly some sort of design expert? “How long have you been in the industry, Miss Sinclair? Do you have any work to show? Or rather, do you actually understand jewelry and design?”
I saw her hands clench at her sides, saw the way her nails dug into her palms a habit she’d had since college, according to the background check. I’d done years ago. When she spoke, her voice was arctic. “I understand jewelry design perfectly well.”
“Seriously?” I snoored. Then may you tell me…
She lifted her chin, meeting my gaze directly. “I have no obligation to prove my expertise to strangers. Mr. Parker, if you’re curious about jewelry design, you should educate yourself rather than harassing an unfamiliar designer at your grandfather’s birthday
celebration”
Strangers. The word hit like a physical blow. After three years of marriage, after everything we’d been through, she standing here calling me a stranger.
1 stood there, couldn’t believe my ears.
Parker,” lames intervened, his tone conciliatory, “please excuse Audrey’s directness. If you have any questions about jewelry
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13-16 Tue, Apr 8
Chapter 13: What’s Your Relationship With Her?
design, I’d be happy to answer them.”
“What’s your relationship with her,
r,” I felt my voice drop several degrees,
Laurel pressed closer to my side, her designer perfume almost dating?”
Miss Sinclair and Mr. Collins seem quite close. Are
The silence that followed felt like the calm before a storm. I watched tamen face, saw something resolve in his expression, and suddenly knew I wasn’t going to like what came next.
were in the same collage, and she was my junior. So currently, taking care of her out of the camaraderie forged within the campus. His voice was steady, controlled. “But, once her divorce from her current husband is finalized, I intend to pursue ha
Pursue her? The crystal champagne flute in my hand creaked dangerously
the air around us turned glacial,
My eyes narrowed, fixing on Audrey who stood behind fames. “You know she’s still married,” my voice dropped to a dangerous whisper, “then why do you get involved with her?
s polite smile never wavered. “I believe you misunderstand, Mr. Parker.”
James’s p
“My relationship with Audrey has always been completely appropriate and transparent,” he continued with quiet dignity. “Moreover…
“I beat her marriage has been dead in all but name for some time. James continued, each word carefully chosen. “Her husband openly courts his ex who abandoned him years ago, completely neglecting her. He didn’t even visit when she was ill”
“Her current husband doesn’t treasure,” James’s eyes were filled with tenderness as he stared at Audrey, “but someone else will, once they re divorced.”
His words still lingered, shifting the atmosphere dramatically, Clinging to my arm, Laurel, who had maintained her picture–perfect smile throughout the evening, couldn’t keep up the façade any longer.
how she’s been describing our marriage to him. My jaw clenched as I swept my cold gaze across Audrey’s deathly pale face. So this is The thought burned like acid, the rage in my chest threatening to consume everything in its path.
“Mr. Parker.”
In the tense silence, Charles Wright, my grandfather’s butler of thirty years, approached with his characteristic quiet dignity. “Mr. William Parker requests your presence.”
I held my gaze on Audrey for one more moment before finally looking away. Shrugging off Laurel’s grip on my arm, I turned to leave.
I’ll come with you,” Laurel’s voice followed as she reached
for my
-Miss
Rose, Charles’s voice turned cold as he positioned himself between us. “Mr. Parker specifically instructed that no invitation be extended to you tonight. May I ask how you gained entry?”
I brought her,” I cut in. “It’s time to clear up Grandpa’s misunderstandings about Laurel.”
against
I took her hand, ready to leave, but Charles blocked our path again while giving a polite smile. “Sir, I strongly a upsetting Mr. Parker on his birthday. You know better than anyone whose presence he welcomes… and whose he usesn’t.”
Then,
to my surprise, he turned to Audrey, his tone warming considerably. “Mrs. Parker, please, say something
