Chapter 14: Making Up Stories?
Audrey’s POV
I felt Blake’s burning gaze finally shift away, allowing me to breathe little easier. The awkwardness of the situation hit me full force at our last meeting at the LA gala, Ti tokl jantes about my supposedly perfect marriage, about how much my husband loved me. What a joke that seemed now.
But seriously, how had James learned the truth? The question nagged at me, but there was no time to dwell on it. Charles Wright had just blown my cover entirely.
++
“Mrs. Paker, Mr. William Parker requests both you and your husband presence, Charles announced, his voice carrying the quiet authority.
Now that the butler had revealed my identity, there was nothing left to hide. I could only sigh and move to Charles’s side.
“Audrey…” James’s eyes widened almost comically, shock written across his features. “You…”
I turned back to him with what I hoped was a calm smile. “I’ll explain later, James.” The words tasted bitter- how many lies would i need to explain away?
“Let’s go,” I said to Charles, proud that my voice didn’t shake.
Charles gave me a gentle smile, then turned to Blake, gesturing forward with a practiced motion that spoke of his decades of service. “Please, Mr. Parker.”
I watched as Blake gently released Laurel’s hand, his touch so careful it made something in my chest ache. “I need to see my grandfather first. We’ll discuss your situation later.”
“But Blake…” Laurel’s voice carried that practiced vulnerability that formed to work so well on him.
“Find Thalia or your mother,” he said, his voice gentle in a way it never was with me. “I’ll come find you afterward.”
The moment Laurel’s footsteps faded away, Blake turned sharply and followed Charles. I fell into step behind them without another glance in his direction.
As we walked, Blake’s voice came low and cold, meant only for my ears, “So this is how you describe our marriage to your senior? Publicly having affairs, entangling with my ex who abandoned me…you’re quite good at making up stories.”
A sneer escaped my mouth. “Making up stories? Which part isn’t true? I met his gaze squarely. “You’re openly courting Laurel while were still married. You didn’t even visit when I lost our child.” My voice remained steady, but my nails dug into my palms. “Everything James said is true.”
1 felt it extremely ironic. Every time James and I met, it had been in public. We’d never done anything more intimate than a formal dance at social gatherings. Yet here was Blake, accusing me of making up stories while Lauralclung to him like she had no bones. her body pressed against his at every opportunity.
me, his lips curling with disdain. “Such strong reaction. Still claiming these aren’t your fabrications?”
Blake’s cold gaze swept on
over
I narrowed my eyes, studying him. In the past, his suspicion would have terrified me. I would have scrambled to e to clear any misunderstanding. But now… what was the point?
in, desperate
in the
“Fine,” I said, my voice carrying a chill to match his own “Believe whatever you want. If it bothers you that much, just sign papers and let me go.
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Chapter 14: Making Up Stories?
Taking a deep breath, I quicked my pace to catch up with Charles deliberately leaving Blake behind. To stealy my nerves, I started chatting with Charles about William’s health condition,
The private reception room hadn’t changed since the last time I’d be here. Still the same dark wood and leather, still the same photographs chronicling Parker Group’s rise to prominence lining the walls. William sat in his usual chair, looking frailer than 1 remembered but with that same sharp intelligence in his eyes.
Olivia Cavendish lounged in one corner with her mother Elizabeth, both of them watching me with barely concealed disdain. Some things never changed.
“Audrey!”
William’s face lit up with genuine joy as he rose from his chair, striding toward me with an energy that belied his age. “You’re finally here!”
“William.” I smiled warmly, placing the gift in his hands. “Sorry for being late.”
“Late? Nonsense! The celebration hasn’t even begun!” His eyes crinkled with affection as be took my hand, leading me toward his seat. “I’m just glad you’re here, just glad you’re here!”
Throughout this entire exchange, he hadn’t spared a single glance for Blake, his own grandson. Blake, apparently used to this treatment, followed us to the main seating area with practiced indifference, his face a careful mask of neutrality.
“Look how Grandpa dotes on Audrey like she’s his own grandchild.” ivia’s sweet voice couldn’t hide her obvious spite. “But we all know Blake doesn’t care for her at all.”
I didn’t bother looking at her as she continued, “Now that Laurel’s back, she’ll be thrown out soon enough.”
“Olivia!” Elizabeth’s false concern made my skin crawl. “Watch your words! Blake and Audrey are very happy!”
She turned to me with a smile that never reached her eyes. “Audrey dear, please don’t mind Olivia’s thoughtless words. She’s still
young.
Sarcastic retorts bubbled up in my throat, but I swallowed them back down. William was right there, and the last thing I wanted was to upset him with any drama. His health had to come first, especially now,
“It’s fine, Elizabeth. I continued preparing the tea with steady hands I won’t take it personally.”
Suddenly, the sound of shattering china made us all jump. William had thrown his teacup against the wall, his face dark with anger. “Is this what those expensive foreign schools taught you, Olivia?” His voice cut through the sudden silence. “How to gossip and snipe at family members like some common fishwile?”
Elizabeth’s face paled. “Dad, she was
“She was just showing her true colors, William cut in. “Just like her mother”
Olivia shrank back in her seat, but couldn’t seem to help adding, “She forced her way into the family while Blake was in a coma!”
“Enough!” Blake’s voice cracked like a whip. “My marriage with Audrey is none of your business.”
The room fell silent, everyone stared at Blake, surprised by his intervention, including me. He never acknowledge public, let alone defended it.
“Well,” William said slowly, “I thought you’d forgotten Audrey was your wife.”
“Of course I haven’t forgotten. Blake’s response came too quickly, to practiced.
marriage in
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Chapter 14: Making Up Stories?
“Havent you, though? William’s voice carried the weight of years of disappointment. Then explain to me why my grandson is parading another woman at his grandfather’s birthday while his wife stands alone?”
“Tell me!”
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