Chapter 71
Audrer à POV
Outside, New York ♥ air carried a hint of fresh scent. I’d barely lifted my hand to hail a cab when my phone buzzed. The name on the setren kent an unexpected wave of warmth through my chest – Charles Wright the Parker family’s long serving butler who’d always treated me well.
Mr. Wright The surprise in my voice was genuine.
Mrs. Parker. His familiar voice carried that particular blend of formality and warmth I’d grown accustomed to over the years. Mr. William Parker received some premium Arctic shrimp and insists I call to invite you over for lunch!
I hesitated, my free hand unconsciously tightening around my purse strap. “But Blake and I…”
Charles’s tone softened slightly. “Besides, even if you do divorce, Mr. Parker has been like “You and Mr. Parker haven’t finalized the divorce, have family to you for years. How could you refuse his lunch invitation?”
The weight of three years of family dinners, holiday celebrations, and quiet moments shared over tea pressed against my chest. Even with everything that had happened, William Parker had been more of a grandfather to me than anyone in my life.
“Alright, I managed finally. “I’ll come now.”
The taxi was hot despite the AC as we drove through traffic. I was stari
Audrey. His voice carried an unusual hesitation. “Did you… find your cat?”
absently at the passing buildings when my phone lit up again – James Collins.
Something in his tone made my hand tighten involuntarily around the phone. “James, tell me the truth.” I tried hard to keep my voice flat. “Those two times you went to my apartment that night, did you really not see Snow?”
The silence that followed spoke volumes.
“Yeah, sure, Audrey.” He cleared his throat. “What’s going on?”
I turned to watch the city blur past my window, feeling ice in my chest. “I found Snow. She’s with Blake.”
His sharp intake of breath on the other end of the line told me everything I needed to know. James’s voice wavered slightly. ‘Did he say something to you?”
Snow is all I have left.” My voice came out quiet but razor–sharp. “What made you the
anymore?”
you had the
to give her away? To tell Blake I didn’t want her
“Audrey,” he said, his voice heavy with what sounded like regret, “I can explain.”
“That night was urgent,” he began, words tumbling out in a rush. “I had to get your medication logs to the hospital, and Blake was refusing to leave your doorstep… Snow ran out to Blake, and he took her. He kept using the cat as leverage, saying he needed to see you…”
“So you just handed my beloved pet over to him?” I cut him off.
“James,” I continued, forcing my voice steady. “I appreciate your help that night at the hospital. But do you realize what could have happened if Blake hadn’t been decent enough to take Snow home? She could have been captured, hit by a car, become a starving stray.”
“Audrey, you have to understand,” James let out a sigh. “Your condition that night was critical. I had to make a split–second decision…”
“Then what about yesterday, James? The words tasted like ash in my mouth. “You didn’t say anything about Snow the whole day. Do you have any idea what we went through? Astrid combing the streets all day, me searching until my legs gave out.”
The silence from James’s end stretched so long I almost checked if the call had dropped.
I pressed my forehead against the cool glass of the taxi window, suddenly bone–tired. “James, I’ll transfer double the amount you covered at Mayo Clinic in a few days. Thank you for taking care of me during this time.”
1/2
Divorce Me Before Death Takes Me. CLO.
