Audrey’s POV
Blake’s question hung in the air. Nora stood paralyzed, mouth working silently,
Scarlett jumped in with a smile. “Blake, you misheard! Nora meant to say second floor. She was just flustered.”
She turned to Nora, her smile vanishing. “Since Laurel’s awake, go tell her to come down. Mr. Parker and Miss Sinclair have been waiting.”
Relief washed over Nora’s face. “Yes, of course. I’ll bring Miss Rose down right away.”
She backed away, then practically ran from the room.
Scarlett sighed. “I thought she’d sleep longer. Since she got sick, her sleep patterns have changed completely.”
Blake watched her with an unreadable expression. “Mrs. Rose, do you think I’m deaf? She said ‘basement. Should I go see what’s down there myself?”
When Scarlett didn’t respond, he prompted, “Mrs. Rose?”
I could see panic building behind her composed facade. Her hands were clasped tightly inside her sleeves.
“Laurel stays on the second floor,” she finally said. After a pause: “About the basement…”
She took a deep breath. “Laurel was extremely close to her sister.”
“After her sister passed away, Laurel carried tremendous guilt. She believes if she’d noticed the depression sooner, everything might have been different.”
Blake’s expression softened slightly. “Why bring this up now?”
“Laurel kept all her sister’s belongings,” Scarlett continued. “Whenever she misses her, she looks through them.”
She sighed. “But with her condition…”
“I worried these items would trigger emotional distress, so I moved everything to the basement. But Laurel keeps sneaking
down there to mourn.”
She dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. “When Nora mentioned the basement… I suspect Laurel went there again, became
emotional, and her condition flared up.”
Blake stood, guilt softening his features. “I should check on her, then.”
Scarlett froze, clearly not expecting this response.
Blake glanced at me. “Stop drinking. Didn’t you have business with Laurel?”
I set my cup down and stood. “Sure. I’d love to witness Miss Rose’s sisterly grief firsthand. Maybe I’ll see what symptoms her condition presents this time.”
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Chapter 184
Blake gave me a cold look. “Where’s the entrance to the basement?”
But before we could make a move, Scarlett suddenly lunged forward, blocking my path with outstretched arms. “You can’t
go!”
Both Blake and I stared at her, shocked by this undignified display.
Realizing how she looked, Scarlett awkwardly lowered her arms but remained between me and the door. “What I mean is, you’re guests. I can’t allow you into a dark, damp basement.”
She glanced nervously toward the staircase. “Besides… it’s filled with her sister’s belongings. It’s cluttered and gloomy. Nora’s bringing Laurel up, just wait a moment.”
Blake narrowed his eyes. “Mrs. Rose, it’s fine,” he said quietly. “We’re only going to find Laurel.”
“Besides,” he continued, “in my heart, Laurel’s sister is my sister too. She’s been gone for years, and I’ve never visited her grave. I’d like to pay my respects.”
Blake reached for my wrist, clearly intending to search for the basement entrance.
Scarlett grabbed his arm. “Blake, I understand you wanting to pay respects. But does Miss Sinclair need to come?”
She turned to me with thinly veiled hostility. “You have no connection to Laurel’s sister My daughter took her own life so young… someone from your background might find it disturbing.”
I interrupted with a cold smile. “I don’t mind at all. I’m actually quite curious about Laurel’s sister.”
During my time as Mrs. Parker, I’d heard mentions of the Rose family’s second daughter during conversations with wealthy women. She’d died four years ago, while I’d married Blake three years ago. Even scandalous figures fade from conversation
after death.
The rumors were intriguing. Some said she was born from Scarlett’s affair, others claimed she was Mr. Rose’s child with another woman. Though officially the second daughter of the family, she’d never appeared in public.
I knew nothing of her appearance or even her name. Now I could learn about this mysterious second daughter while witnessing Laurel’s fake illness performance. I couldn’t pass that up.
“Mom?”
A clear voice called from the staircase. “I heard we have visitors?”
Laurel appeared, supported by Nora as she approached.
Her eyes immediately locked onto mine. “Audrey Sinclair! What are you doing here?”
She noticed Blake and me standing together, his hand still gripping my wrist.
Laurel bit her lip, rushed over and forcefully pulled Blake’s hand away, glaring at me. “I go upstairs to rest for a few minutes, and you’re already trying to seduce my fiancé!”
Her words were so ridiculous I almost laughed. “Blake Parker is your fiancé?”
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Chapter 184
Just yesterday, Blake had threatened Ethan’s safety to make me convince William to approve their engagement. At the Parker mansion, he’d reminded me not to forget our deal.” Their engagement wasn’t even close to being finalized.
I raised an eyebrow and turned to Blake. “When did you two get engaged? I must have missed the announcement.”
Blake caught my sarcasm and frowned.
“Laurel, that’s not true,” he said firmly.
“What’s not true?” Laurel pouted, linking her arm through his. “Blake darling, have you forgotten what you promised me last night?”
She lifted her chin proudly. “Even if we don’t have a formal engagement, you’re still my fiancé, and we will get married.
She gave me a triumphant look, like a general who’d just won a decisive battle.
I couldn’t help but smile. “So if you two can call each other fiancé without being engaged, and you’re definitely getting married anyway…”
I shifted my gaze to Blake, my expression deliberately mischievous. “Does that mean I don’t need to convince William to approve your engagement after all?”
My words wiped the triumph from Laurel’s face.
She spun toward Blake, eyes wide. “Blake darling, you asked her to talk to your grandfather about us?”
Blake frowned slightly and nodded. “Grandfather listens to her.”
He shot me a cold look. “You can back out if you want.”
“But then I won’t keep my end of our deal either.”
I rolled my eyes. “Miss Rose just said you’re basically engaged anyway and will definitely get married.”
“So why force me to do something so pointless?”
Blake’s eyes narrowed. “Laurel isn’t you.”
“I promised her a proper engagement ceremony. I’ll make it happen.”
Despite telling myself I was over him, his words still cut deep. I bit my lip, hands clenching into fists.
Our marriage had been nothing but paperwork. All I got was a promise of a birthday party.
–
I waited over two years for that celebration, only to finally see it after our divorce with the wrong date on th turning what should have been special into a cruel joke.
Yet for Laurel, he was moving heaven and earth to create the perfect engagement.
e,
“Blake darling,” Laurel purred, snuggling against his arm. “You’re so good to me!”
Blake didn’t respond, just studying her face. His eyebrow lifted as he noticed something.
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Chapter 184
He touched the skin beneath her eye. “I thought you were looking at your sister’s things. You haven’t been crying?”
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