Chapter 174
Audrey’s POV
Blake pulled Laurel protectively against him, glaring down at Jennifer who sat on the floor with blood trickling from her
split lip.
“You did all this,” he said coldly, “and now you’re trying to drag Laurel down with you.”
His grip on Laurel tightened. “Don’t think you can implicate her in your crimes.”
Jennifer stared up at him, mouth open in disbelief.
“There’s no point in listening to her anymore,” Blake told the officers. “Take her away.”
“Yes, Mr. Parker,” the male officer nodded and stepped forward.
The handcuffs clicked around Jennifer’s wrists. She stared at them, stunned into silence. The blood from her lip had
formed a small red line down her chin.
I watched her world collapse. Just hours ago, she’d stood confidently ordering men to beat me. Now she looked small and broken, head bowed, not even looking at Laurel.
Then something in Jennifer snapped.
“Four years!” she screamed, thrashing against the officers. “Laurel Rose, four years I’ve been with you!”
She lunged toward Laurel, who pressed closer to Blake.
“I did everything for you, and this is how you repay me?”
“You won’t get away with this!” Jennifer’s voice rose higher. “You deserve to die! Don’t forget, I know everything about your
sister!”
“You’re using me as a scapegoat today, and I’ll tell everyone what you did to her!”
At the mention of her sister, Laurel’s face instantly went white.
“Shut up!” she shrieked, lunging forward from Blake’s arms. Gone was the fragile victim, replaced by raw fury.
‘Jennifer Carson!” Her voice shook with rage. “You dare slander me? Keep talking and I’ll tell everyone what you did in that small town. Every. Disgusting. Detail.”
Jennifer’s mouth opened, then closed. Whatever words she’d planned died on her lips.
Seeing her threat had worked, Laurel switched tactics. Her shoulders slumped as she collapsed against Blake’s chest, tears streaming.
“I know,” she sobbed. “My sister’s death… I should’ve seen the signs.
“Her depression…” Laurel’s voice cracked perfectly. She loved me so much, but I falled her when she needed me.
Chapter 174
She pressed herself against Blake, deliberately soaking his white shirt. “I couldn’t stop her from jumping. It’s my fault.”
With each word, her sobs grew louder, her breathing more labored.
“Jennifer’s right,” she whispered. “I’m responsible.”
Worried, Blake wrapped his arm around her and looked at the officers. “Take Jennifer away now. Laurel’s health isn’t good.
Emotional stress could trigger her condition!”
I watched the whole scene unfold like a theater performance. Her switches between rage and vulnerability were too
smooth. This wasn’t grief – it was acting.
Jennifer’s accusation suggested something far darker than a suicide. And Laurel’s extreme reaction told me it wasn’t just empty threats.
The female officer turned to me. “Miss Sinclair, we’ll take her to the station. When you have time, please come make a
statement.”
She glanced at Laurel, who was still crying in Blake’s arms. “We’ll recover your stolen phone during questioning.”
“Thank you,” I said.
The officers led Jennifer out. As the door closed behind them, Blake guided Laurel to the sofa and poured her tea.
“Drink this,” he said. “Take a moment.”
Laurel accepted with trembling hands, eyes downcast.
“Thank you, Blake darling,” she murmured before sipping.
Her voice was sweet again, fury completely erased. “Jennifer was with me so long… I never thought she’d do such awful things behind my back.”
She dabbed her eyes. “She knows exactly how to hurt me… bringing up my sister like that…
I watched her transform from aggressor to victim without missing a beat.
“When I think about what she did to you, Miss Sinclair…” Laurel turned to me, dabbing at her eyes. “I’m truly sorry.
Haughed couldn’t help it. “Save it.”
“I just hope after Jennifer tells the truth, Miss Rose will face the consequences.”
Laurel nestled closer to Blake. “You still don’t believe I’m innocent…”
She turned her tear–stained face to him. “I’ve explained everything, but she still suspects me…
Blake pulled her closer. “Don’t cry anymore.”
He glared at me. The facts are clear. Why are you trying to upset her?
I stared at him in disbelief. The evidence against Laurel was overwhelming, yet he saw only what he wanted to see
Chapter 174
“Facts?” I laughed bitterly. “You really think an agent would do all this on her own with no reason?”
I stepped closer. “Blake Parker, no matter what Laurel does, if she claims innocence, you’ll believe her?‘
He couldn’t argue about that.
“Miss Rose,” I said, turning to her, “based on Mr. Parker’s feelings for you, even if you confessed to everything, he wouldn’t
punish you.”
I pointed at him. “For Mr. Parker, his ex–wife nearly dying matters less than one sweet word from you.”
Blake’s face darkened. “Audrey Sinclair, what nonsense are you saying?”
I lifted my bruised face to meet his eyes. “I’ve shown you all the evidence, but you refuse to see it.”
“Miss Rose claims innocence, and you believe her without question. Am I wrong?”
“Blake darling believes me because I am innocent,” Laurel quickly cut in.
She blinked. “I didn’t do those things, so I deny it. What’s wrong with that?”
“Are you truly innocent?” I challenged, stepping closer. “You say you never took Jennifer’s call. Then show me your phone. Let me see if Jennifer called you while I was being beaten!”
I held out my hand. “Show me!”
Laurel backed away. “My phone is my private property. I…”
Blake stepped between us. “Stop being so aggressive.”
His eyes turned cold. “Laurel doesn’t have to show you her phone. You have no right to demand it.”
He took a deep breath. “That’s the end of this matter!“!
The finality in his voice hit me like a physical blow. In that moment, I saw the truth in his eyes
I presented, Blake had made his choice.
I closed my eyes, a bitter smile forming.
Yes, it’s me being aggressive,” I said quietly.
– no matter what evidence
“I forced Miss Rose to have trolls attack me online. I made her send men to kidnap Ethan. This morning, I forced her to have men beat me until I could barely stand.”
Blake’s expression softened as he looked at my bruised face. Something flickered in his eyes.
“That’s not what I meant,” he said, his voice uncertain. “I – *
“Blake darling!” Laurel moved between us, blocking his view of my face.
“Miss Sinclair has a point,” she said. “Jennifer is connected to all these incidents,”
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Chapter 174
She turned to me. “Everything was Jennifer using my name. Why can’t you believe that?”
The audacity almost impressed me. She’d perfectly cut off Blake’s moment of doubt.
“You want to see my phone?” Laurel suddenly demanded. “Fine! Here!”
She pulled it from her pocket and thrust it toward me. “Take it! Look all you want!”
