Blake Pov
The light through the car windows fell across Audrey’s face as she meticulously applied her makeup. I watched her from my position in the leather sext noting how her hands trembled slightly as she held the compact mirror. She’d lost so much weight that her cheekbones cast sharp shadows beneath her eye no matter how skillfully she tried to conceal them.
You should eat more, I found myself saying. Being too thin isn’t good for you.”
Her hand froze mid–motion, the makeup brush hovering inches from her face. A bitter smile curved her lips as she met my eyes in the mirror. ‘Why the sudden concern? Since when did you care about how I look?”
1 frowned and turned toward the window, watching the New York streets blur past. Her words brought back memories of earlier at the jewelry store. While she was changing clothes, I’d wandered in to check on potential partnerships for Parker Group’s expansion into the jewelry industry. She’d found me there, examining engagement rings, and immediately jumped to conclusions. The hurt in her eyes had been unmistakable, even as she’d insisted on purchasing those rings herself.
My mind drifted further back, to three years ago when I first saw her. Parker Group had been in its expansion phase, and I was too busy to visit my grandpa in person. But every day on our calls, he would mention ‘little Audrey” how attentive she was, how she brightened up the whole medical center.
I still remember that first glimpse of her. The sun had been streaming through the hospital windows, casting a golden glow around her as she pushed open the door to my grandpa’s room, arms full of carnations. “William, it’s me! Her voice had been so full of life, her face glowing with youth and vitality.
Looking at her now, I could barely reconcile that vibrant young woman with the pale, worn figure beside me. When had she gotten so thin? When had those shadows taken up permanent residence under her eyes?
The car pulled up to the Parker mansion’s entrance. Audrey was out the door before the vehicle had fully stopped, already striding toward the house. I caught up in a few quick steps, reaching for her hand.
“What’s the rush?”
She tried to pull away, her voice tight. “Is this really necessary?”
I tightened my grip, feeling how fragile her fingers felt in mine. “You’re my wife. Can’t I hold
my wife’s hand?”
She rolled her eyes but stopped resisting, though I could feel the tension thrumming through her entire body. The contrast between her current coldness and her previous devotion sent an inexplicable pain through my chest,
The mansion’s front door opened before we reached it. Charles, our butler, gave us his usual dignified features as he took in Audrey’s appearance.
nod,
though I caught the slight frown that crossed his
The living room fell silent as we entered. Granpa sat in his usual place, while Elizabeth and Olivia occupied the left sofa. On the right sat my mother Rebecca and sister Thalia, with Laurel between them, her face partially covered in bandages.
Laurel was dabbing at her eyes with a tissue as we walked in. “Mr. Parker, I know you don’t like voice quavered. “Look what happened to me at your party… You can’t ignore this…”
me,
but was at your birthday celebration last night.” Her
“Yes, grandpa.” Thalia immediately moved to protect Laurel. “She’s a Hollywood star, her face is her career. With these injuries, she can’t film for a while. This seriously impacts her career!”
“This is all Audrey’s fault!” My mother’s voice cut through the room like a knife.
‘Grandpa. I kept my voice steady, though I could/feel Audrey trying to pull her hand from mine.
The room fell silent. I watched as Laurel’s eyes/fixed on our joined hands, something dark flashing across her face before she quickly resumed her vulnerable expression.
I frowned, thinking it was just my imagination.
Grandpa’s face brightened as he looked at us. “Look at you two, getting along so well! After hearing about last night, I thought you were really getting
1/2
Chapter 24
divorced!
I felt Audrey tense beside me, She frowned, trying again to free her hand, “William, you misunderstand, we…
“We’re very happy together, 1–cut her oft firmly. “Everything Audrey said at the gala last night was just a tantrum. I met my grandpa’s eyes steadily. Iment — divorce her.
The silence that followed was deafening. I could feel the weight of everyone’s stares – Laurel’s barely concealed fury, my mother’s shock, Thalia’s confusion But most of all, I felt Audrey’s hand trembling slightly in mine.
Looking down at our joined hands, I was struck again by how thin her fingers had become. When had this happeited? How had I not noticed? The thought made something twist uncomfortably in my chest.
‘Blake, Thalia’s voice dripped with confusion and barely concealed anger. “What do you mean? Audrey publicly announced she wants a divorce. She even hit Mother and me!”
“That’s right! My mother’s voice rose sharply. “She humiliated all of us at your grandpa’s birthday party! How can you still…”
“Enough! Grandpa’s voice cut through the rising tension. “The boy’s made his decision. That’s all that matters.”
Audrey’s hand was cold in mine, but I refused to let go. Whatever game she was playing with those divorce papers, whatever reason she had for her dramatic announcement at the party – I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of winning.
“But Blake…” Laurel’s voice carried that particular note of calculated innocence I’d grown too familiar with lately. “Last night, everyone heard Mrs. Parker announce her divorce from you.”
I watched as she bit her lip in that deliberately delicate way of hers. “Though I haven’t had many chances to interact with her, I always thought she was such a sensible, gentle person.”
My grip on Audrey’s hand tightened unconsciously as Laurel continued, her eyes wide with practiced concern. “But last night… She completely disregarded both her own and the Parker family’s reputation. Publicly demanding divorce, even striking Mrs. Parker and Thalia…”
Through our joined hands, I felt Audrey’s slight tension as Laurel fixed those big, innocent eyes on her. “Mrs. Parker, was it really just a tantrum with Blake?”
Before Audrey could respond, my mother’s cold snort cut through the room. “A tantrum?” The word dripped with disdain.
“In all of New York’s elite circles,” she continued, each word sharp as glass, “I’ve never seen any proper lady throw a tantrum by announcing divorce and attacking her mother–in–law and sister–in–law in front of our entire social circle.”
I felt Audrey’s pulse quicken as my mother’s voice rose with mounting fury. “For three years, everyone praised her grace and elegance. The perfect society wife! But last night? Complete disregard for consequences!”
Mother’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “After such a public spectacle, how am I supposed to show my face in society if she remains a Parker? And what about the blows Thalia and I took?”
She turned to me, her expression hardening. “Since she’s taken things this far, I don’t care what her real intentions were. This marriage ends today.”
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