Chapter 175
Blake’s POV
I’ll take a look.”
William snatched Laurel’s phone from her hand and started checking the call history. “Charles, pull up that footage again. Find the exact time Jennifer called her!”
Charles nodded and hurried to comply.
Laurel turned into my arms, her voice soft against my chest. “I hope your grandfather sees the truth when he checks.”
From the corner of my eye, I caught Audrey watching us, her bruised face a stark reminder of what she’d endured. The hardness in her eyes seemed completely foreign – nothing like the woman I’d been married to.
I frowned, stroking Laurel’s back. “When did you become like this?”
Audrey met my gaze with a cold laugh. “Like what exactly?”
“Before, when people wronged you, you never fought back. Never argued. You just… let things go.”
“So you knew I was being wronged?” Her voice cut through the air, sharp as glass. “You knew all along?”
The question hit something raw inside me. Memories surfaced – unwelcome and uncomfortable.
“Why do you think I stayed quiet?” she continued, her eyes locked on mine. “You were my husband. You saw me being bullied and humiliated, and you never once helped me or spoke up.”
She took a step closer. “What choice did I have but to stay silent? Should I have fought until everything fell apart?”
“You always sided with the people who hurt me.” She glanced coldly at Laurel. “Just like now.”
“Even after our divorce, when I try to stand up for myself, you call me aggressive and tell me to stop.”
I stood there, momentarily speechless as scenes replayed in my mind. Audrey kneeling before my mother while I watched. Thalia mocking her at dinner. All those times she’d been humiliated while I simply looked away.
Had I really known and done nothing?
“As your wife, I swallowed too many insults, she said, her voice steady. “Now that we’re divorced, I won’t swallow any more.”
“Protect your Miss Rose all you want, but I won’t let this go. Not ever.”
Something shifted inside me as I looked at her. This wasn’t the Audrey I thought I knew. I’d always assumed she was naturally passive, that she didn’t care about the slights or insults.
But now I saw the truth – she’d endured it all because of me. Because of her position as my wife.
“Found it!” Charles called out, yanking me from my thoughts. “Jennifer called Miss Rose at 10:07 a.m.”
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Chapter 175
William’s brow furrowed as he scrolled through Laurel’s call history.
I found it! His voice rang with triumph. “There is a call at 10:07 this morning…”
He stopped mid–sentence, his face suddenly falling.
“Mr. Parker?” Laurel tilted her head, eyes wide with feigned innocence. “Why’d you stop? You found something, right?
William’s fingers tightened around the phone. The challenge in Laurel’s voice was unmistakable, but he just stared at the screen, silent.
Charles crossed the room and gently took the phone. “At 10:07…”
He hesitated, then exhaled slowly. “There was a call on Miss Rose’s phone, but she wasn’t receiving one. She was calling Mr. Parker.”
Audrey froze for a second before rushing over to verify for herself.
“I did call Blake darling this morning,” Laurel said, her eyes bright with triumph as she watched Audrey’s reaction. “This is perfect!”
She turned to me. “You remember, don’t you?”
I nodded slowly. “Yes.”
She’d called during my executive meeting, saying she wanted to stay with her mother who was recuperating. I’d nearly had to adjourn the meeting because she insisted on talking right then.
How strange that her call exactly coincided with Jennifer supposedly talking to her about Audrey.
“See?” Laurel grabbed her phone back from Audrey, chin lifted high. “Jennifer was just pretending to call me while
standing under that camera.”
“She’s been trying to frame me all along!”
She slipped her arm through mine, turning to Audrey. “Now that the truth is clear, shouldn’t you apologize for accusing me wrongly?”
Audrey’s POV
My hands clenched into fists as I processed what had happened.
The call log confirmed it. At 10:07, Laurel had called Blake. The conversation lasted five minutes – matching exactly when Jennifer was filmed supposedly talking to Laurel.
I’d checked the number twice. It was Blake’s.
My nails dug into my palms.
‘I won’t apologize,” I said, meeting Laurel’s smug expression. “Even if that call wasn’t from Jennifer, it doesn’t prove she wasn’t working under your orders.”
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“I’ll wait for the police investigation.”
Jennifer has no reason to protect Laurel anymore. She’ll talk.
And if she doesn’t, I have other ways to uncover the truth.
‘Fine, Laurel replied with a smile that said she’d already won. “I look forward to seeing what you find.”
She glanced at her watch. “Blake darling, we should go. You need to drive me to see my mother.”
Blake nodded, then turned to me with a cold expression. “I understand you feel wronged.”
“But Laurel isn’t responsible. If you want justice, hire a good lawyer and sue Jennifer.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “I already have a lawyer.”
“I won’t let Jennifer or your Miss Rose escape consequences.”
Blake’s jaw tightened. “Suit yourself.”
“With me here, you won’t find it easy to accuse Laurel falsely.”
His lips curled. “And Audrey, don’t forget our deal from last night.”
With that final warning, he took Laurel’s hand and left the mansion.
I watched him go, biting my lip until I tasted blood.
“Audrey.”
After the sound of the car engine faded, William leaned over. “What deal do you have with Blake?”
“Can I help?”
I pressed my lips together, thinking about last night at Mayo Clinic.
We’d made two deals. First, I would convince William to approve his engagement to Laurel in exchange for Blake not pursuing action against Ethan. Second, Blake would help rescue Ethan, and I would spend the night with him…
I closed my eyes and exhaled.
Given the current hostility between us, the deal Blake was reminding me of couldn’t be about our physical arrangement. He must be referring to convincing William to approve his engagement.
“William,” I said hesitantly. “About Blake and Laurel’s engagement…”
“They still want to get engaged?!” William’s face flushed as he slammed his palm against the armrest. “Absolutely not!”
He looked at me intently. “Audrey, in my heart, you’re my only granddaughter–in–law. I won’t accept anyone else!”
“If Blake insists on bringing that woman into our family, it’ll happen only after I’m dead!”
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His fierce loyalty touched me deeply, but I had to try. “William, what if… I asked you to approve their engagement? Would you do it for me?”
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