Chapter 73
Audrey’s POV
The sickeninety familiar voler flered through the road, making me minutity from 1 bed the shit out an netfumuner ton many times before.
Blake dailing! The words carried that parflestar hote of breathires desperation 14 grown to fare
Taurel burst through the doorway like she owned it, a vision in piletine white the male stright for Blake with the kind of drypende urgener that bet in daytime trap operes. In one full matish, she’d wrapped herself around him, hey are finding their pracneed position at his water.
I’ve been looking everywhere for you! She pressed her face against his cheat
The room fell completely silent as het dramatic entrance shocked everyone.
Felix’s eyebrow rose sharply as he glanced my way, silently questioning. I could only offer a helpless shrug in response. What else could I do? This was hardly the first time Laurel had orchestrated such a performance, and I doubted it would be the last
William Parker’s reaction was immediate and thunderous. His walking stick struck the marble floor with enough force to make the crystal decanters rattle. “Charles!” His voice carried the kind of authority that made Wall Street titans tremble. “What is the meaning of this?”
The veins in his neck stood out as he continued, ‘Is our mansion’s security just for show? Since when did we start letting anyone waltz in uninvited?
Laurel immediately withdrew from Blake’s embrace, her face draining of color as she bit her lip. “Mr. Parker… I didn’t mean to… I was desperate to find Blake…
“Laurel… Blake’s voice dripped honey and silk as he turned to her, handkerchief already in hand. “Coming here without permission wasn’t… appropriate. The words might have been a reprimand, but his tone carried a hint of reassurance.
A familiar ache bloomed in my chest as I watched him shift – smooth, practiced, protective – positioning himself like a shield between her and his grandfather’s wrath. Five years ago, when he’d been truly blind, I’d been his eyes, his anchor, his everything. Now with perfect vision restored, he saw only what he chose to see. It was painfully ironic.
Felix’s brow furrowed as he shot me another questioning look. I could only shake my head slightly in response, silently conveying my own bewilderment at
was painful – Laurel’s performance, Blake’s protection, the rest of us relegated to unwilling the scene unfolding before us. This script was as familiar as audience members.
William Parker’s patience, already wearing thin from Laurel’s tears, snapped completely at Blake’s obvious display of protection. His walking stick struck the floor with thunderous force.
“Charles!” The old man’s voice trembled with barely contained fury. “Get me those security guards! NOW! I want to know exactly who let this woman into my
house!”
Charles Wright burst into the room, his usually impeccable composure notably ruffled as he wiped sweat from his brow. “Sir, the security team did try to stop Miss Rose, but she…” He paused, stealing a nervous glance at Laurel before continuing, “She threatened them using her future status as Mrs. Parker… asked if they wanted to keep their jobs.”
The butler drew in a shaky breath. “The guards had seen Mr. Parker escorting her out recently, so they believed her claims…”
“Sir, the guard in question is a new hire, barely a month into the job. He wasn’t fully briefed on… the situation. Perhaps if
you could…
“So Miss Rose used her ‘future Mrs. Parker‘ status to get in. Felix pushed away from the mahogany bookshelf he’d been leaning against, his casual stance belying the sharpness in his voice. His gaze flickered to me before settling on William. “But didn’t you just introduce Audrey as Blake’s wife, Mr. Parker? The
actual Mrs. Parker?”
When no one immediately responded, he pressed on. “You two haven’t finalized the divorce yet, have you? No papers signed?‘
“No, not yet.”
“And Miss Rose is already claiming the title of Mrs. Parker?” Felix gave a cold smile. “Looks like she’s quite eager to break up a marriage, huh?”
1/2
Chapter 73
Laurel calm and collected appearance poltered shit I never wild Chart Mite prabben make a sieve bar at le
told recurity I wrently nerded to see Blakes, they must have assumed.
Tears welled in her eyes as she gazed up at Blake, lake darling, you know I wouldnt say that
“You’re all making too much of a security guard’s casual words!” Blake spoke up. Ifis eyes narrowed as they swept over fella and me ballon crimine in Janel’s tear–stained face.
Watching this familiar dance unfold, I couldn’t help but marvel at the irony. Since deciding to end this marriage, I’d tried so hart te wild dien confrontation with Blake and Laurel. I wanted no part in their relationship drama. Yet here we were, with Lauret’s perfect tears and Blake’s protective stance, playing out another scene in their endless performance.
Bring the guard here, Charles. Let him confront with Miss Rose. Ilis lips curved into a smile without warmth. I find myself wondering whose version of truth we’ll hear my security staff, trained and vetted at considerable expense, or… our dear Miss Rose
The calculated insult hit its mark. Through the tears still clinging to her lashes, I caught a flash of pure verom in Laurel’s eyes as she stared at the old man. The look was gone in an instant, replaced by her usual vulnerability, but I’d seen it.
Actually, I could understand why she did this. With our divorce proceedings still hanging in the air and Blake’s obvious devotion to her, why wouldn’t she stake her claim as the future Mrs. Parket? Her only miscalculation was William Parker himself, who never approved of her, and now he seemed determined to expose every constructed lie.
The heavy doors swung open as Charles returned, the young security guard trailing behind him, his head bowed like a scolded child as he stood before William Parker. “Sir, I was wrong to believe Miss Rose and let her in. I apologize.”
“Tell us exactly what happened.” William’s voice could have frozen Hell itself. “Did she claim to be the future Mrs. Parker and threaten you?”
“Yes, Miss Rose explicitly stated she would be the future Mrs. Parker…”
“That’s a lie! Laurel’s outburst was timed, her hand clutching her chest as she struggled for breath. “Blake isn’t even divorced yet, how could I say such things? I only said I needed to see Blake urgently…*
From where I sat, I had a perfect view of her crystal tears and Blake’s concerned expression. Her acting skills were remarkable – tears on command, perfect emotional delivery. She could win Oscars if she put this much effort into her actual career.
“I don’t know who put you up to this…” Laurel continued, “With no cameras or video, it’s your word against mine…”
A ghost of a smile touched William Parker’s lips. “Who said there were no cameras or video?”
He turned to his butler with calm authority. “Charles, get the security footage.”
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