Chapter 263
Audrey’s POV
I sat on the rusty hospital bed in the abandoned clinic, watching the ocean through broken windows. The sea breeze carried salt and memories, making this forgotten place feel strangely like home.
My phone felt heavy in my hand as I dialed Felix.
“Audrey?” His voice came through immediately. “Where the hell are you?”
“Somewhere quiet.”
“Dr. Evans said you vanished.” Worry sharpened his tone. “You can’t just disappear like this. Not in your condition.”
I traced a finger along the peeling paint beside me. “My illness isn’t going anywhere, Felix. Whether I stay put or not… does it matter? Just take care of Rachel for me.”
“Are you serious right now?” His voice rose. “My grandfather might have options for you. Experimental treatments. Something. By running away, you’re throwing everything away!
“Come back, please” he demanded.
I sighed. “Dr. Clarke came to New York because of Mayo Clinic. Dr. Evans is his friend. If I return, I’ll have to face her. I’m
not ready for that yet.”
The line went quiet before Felix spoke again, softer now. “I could find you somewhere they won’t look. Just come back,
okay?”
“Let me think first.” I ended the call and turned off my phone.
The silence felt good. I leaned back, letting my thoughts settle. Dr. Evans had been my doctor, my protector – she’d even canceled vacation to care for me. But she’d also used me, letting Laurel Rose pretend to have my illness while knowing
how that woman treated me.
I moved to the window, looking out at the familiar shore. Five years ago, I’d cared for Blake here when he couldn’t see or recognize me. In this very room, he gave me his mother’s pendant – my most treasured possession until I learned how
little it meant to him. Five years, and he never once searched for the woman who saved him.
A soft sound broke into my thoughts.
“Meow!”
I turned around, startled.
“Meow!”
My heart jumped. Snow, my fluffy white ragdoll cat, bounded toward me from the hallway.
“Snow!” I dropped to my knees as he ran to me. “How did you get here?”
I scooped him up, burying my face in his fur as he purred against me. “I’ve missed you!”
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Then confusion set in. How could Snow be here? Had Astrid brought him? That made no sense she didn’t know about this place. We’d met four years ago, long after I’d left Blake, and I’d never mentioned Pinehaven Village to her.
“I brought it.”
The deep voice from the doorway froze me in place.
Blake stood there, thinner than days ago, his face unshaven. Heyes locked onto me with an intensity that made my chest tighten.
I tried to speak but nothing came out.
Blake walked toward me, each step heavy with purpose. Despite the open windows, the air grew suffocating.
“Snow, he ” I managed, my voice dry.
–
“Where have you been?” Blake cut me off. “Your phone’s been off. No messages. Nothing.”
His voice hardened. “William almost died worrying about you. He’s an old man, Audrey. Is this how you treat people you claim to care about?”
I instinctively stepped back, clutching Snow tighter. “You’re blaming me for William’s condition?”
My own anger surfaced. “The accident wasn’t my fault. And you blocked the plane William arranged for me. You knew he supported my leaving! Getting caught in an accident makes me heartless?”
Blake grabbed my wrist. “If you cared at all, you’d have visited William after he collapsed.”
“What makes you think I didn’t?” I shot back. “How do you think he woke up that night?”
Blake’s POV
Hearing her words, I remembered that night at the hospital – the nurse with Dr. Evans, someone whose silhouette seemed familiar. Before I could question her, William had called me in.
It suddenly made sense why William had been urging me to declare Audrey dead, to arrange her funeral. The old man was protecting her.
I let go of her wrist and reached for Snow, pulling him from her arms. She seemed startled, grabbing at one of Snow’s back legs as the cat willingly jumped to me.
Snow nuzzled against my chest with a soft meow.
Audrey’s face fell as she released Snow’s leg.
“Can I have my cat back?” she asked quietly.
“Seems like Snow has an opinion too,” I couldn’t help saying. “I knows you abandoned it.”
Her face paled. “I didn’t abandon Snow. I just
“Just didn’t think it was as important as smuggling Rachel Hayes away?” I interrupted. “What exactly is your relationship
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with Rachel?”
The question had been bothering me. Whenever Audrey mentioned being friends with Rachel, Laurel would shut down the conversation, insisting Audrey was lying to get close to me.
But that made no sense with what I’d seen. Why would Audreysk everything to help a vegetative Rachel? I’d watched Audrey and Astrid clean Rachel up, dress her properly for the engagement while the Rose family, who claimed Rachel as family, hadn’t even provided clothes for her.
“We’re friends,” Audrey said simply.
Her lips curled into a sad smile. “Blake, I believe Astrid returned that pendant to you the night I left. Five years ago, in this room, you gave me that pendant.”
“You said it was from your mother, precious to you. That’s why you wanted me to have it. I couldn’t speak then, but I promised myself I’d keep it safe.” She looked directly at me. “Do you still not remember what happened five years ago?”
“Rachel and I are best friends, as close as sisters. She even called me her sister.” Her voice hardened. But I suppose Mr. Parker, being the important man you are, can’t be bothered to remember any of this?”
I stood frozen, my thoughts scattered in a thousand directions at once.
This couldn’t be right.
Five years ago, the woman who rescued me, who Rachel called sister – that was Laurel. And we weren’t in this run–down clinic. We were across town in another village entirely.
The pendant. I gave it to Laurel.
None of this made sense.
Audrey caught my expression and let out a short laugh. “Something finally clicking for you?”
She stepped forward with her arms out for Snow. “Don’t strain yourself. I stopped expecting you to remember a long time ago. Thanks for bringing my cat, at least.”
Her dismissive tone snapped me back to reality.
I tightened my grip on Snow and took a step back. “Looks like Laurel was telling the truth about you after all.”
“You took Rachel’s phone to study her notes. That’s how you’re pretending to be the woman from five years ago.”
The pieces were falling into place. I’d never understood why Laurel was so concerned about Audrey having Rachel’s phone. Now it was clear.
She was using Rachel’s memories to insert herself into my past.
“How long have you been planning this?” I asked, studying her face for any trace of guilt. “Befriending Rachel, staging that escape, even faking your own death.”
I shook my head, disgusted. “All so you could replace Laurel and convince me you were my savior.
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Divorce Me Before Death Takes Me, CEO
Chapter 264
