Chapter 257
He turned to me. “Hungry? Thirsty? I can make my grandfather get you something.”
“You insolent kid!” Dr. Clarke sputtered. I’m your elder! You can’t order me around,”
“I need to talk to Audrey alone,” Felix replied, nudging his grandfather toward the door. Young people stuff. No doctors allowed.”
“Go get her some water.”
Dr. Clarke frowned but left, muttering under his breath about disrespectful grandchildren.
When the door closed, Felix sat beside my bed.
“Sorry about my grandfather,” he said quietly. “Don’t take his comments about you and Blake to heart.”
I smiled faintly. “It’s okay. What he described was real once. I can handle memories.”
Felix nodded. “The Parkers are in chaos right now. Rebecca called everyone to the hospital thinking William was dying. Now he’s recovering, and they’re all stuck there.”
He laughed. “Elizabeth and Rebecca are at each other’s throats. Elizabeth called Rebecca heartless for waiting for William
to die, and Rebecca fired back that Elizabeth was already checking the will.”
“New York’s first family falling apart over inheritance before the old man’s even gone.”
I closed my eyes, smiling coldly. “They’ve always been like this. Most people never see behind the façade.”
I hesitated before asking, “What about Blake?”
“Still care about him?” Felix asked, his expression darkening.
“Just curious,” I said quickly. “Did you contact Astrid?”
“Yeah, borrowed a phone at the hospital. She knows you’re safe.
He paused. “About Blake… after checking on William, he went back to the river. He’s still searching for you.”
“William wanted to arrange your funeral, but Blake refused. Said unless they find your body, he won’t believe you’re dead.”
Felix showed me his phone. “Someone posted this earlier.”
On screen was Blake in a rescue boat, wearing a life vest, searching the water. His face was drawn with worry, his appearance disheveled.
I laughed bitterly. “Seems he’s learned to act from Laurel.”
I turned away from the photo. When did Blake ever care about me? Now I’m ‘dead,’ and suddenly he’s heartbroken? Who’s he putting on this show for?
Felix sighed in relief. “Good. I was afraid you’d see this and want to go back to him.”
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Chapter 257
“Never, I said firmly. Not happening.
Dr. Clarke walked in with a glass of water and handed it to mes I drank, he stood nearby, stroking his beard with a troubled look.
I caught his hesitation right away.
“Dr. Clarke,” I said, setting down my glass. “Whatever it is, just tell me.”
He sighed. “I checked on your friend.”
I straightened up despite the pain shooting through my body. Rachel… how is she?”
“Can she wake up?”
“Yes.” Dr. Clarke nodded. “She’s in better shape than Blake was two years ago.”
His eyes narrowed as he studied me. “Who’s been taking care of her all this time?”
‘Her mother,” I replied.
“Her mother?” His eyebrows shot up. “What did Rachel do to deserve that kind of treatment?”
I blinked, confused. “What do you mean?”
Dr. Clarke pulled a small box from his pocket and set it on the bed. “This drug causes brain lethargy. Makes perfectly healthy people look vegetative – can’t move, can’t speak.”
He crossed his arms. “My team’s assessment shows your friend didn’t suffer brain damage from her fall. She broke some
bones, but her brain was fine.”
“She’s only in this state because someone’s been injecting her with this stuff for four years, keeping her paralyzed but
conscious.”
The room spun around me. My mouth went dry.
“So Rachel wasn’t brain–damaged?” My voice came out barely above a whisper. “She’s not actually a vegetative patient?”
“Someone’s been drugging her to keep her like this?”
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did not see this coming although I’ve never heard someone in a vegetative state while conscious
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