Chapter 20

**Audrey's POV**

Hearing the familiar voice, I felt my heart skip a beat as I instinctively looked toward the doorway.

Blake stood there at some point, elegantly rolling up his sleeves as he walked in with a cold smile. His presence seemed to instantly fill my ward,making the space feel smaller somnehow.

"My. my..." His eyes fixed on where James's hand still held mine. "What a touching scene."

I watched as he moved deeper into the room, each step seemingly pounding on my heart, making me unconsciously feel a bit nervous."Promising to stay with a married woman..." His voice was filled with sarcasm. "Mr. Collins, are you planning to be a homewrecker?"

James's hand tensed over mine before he quickly withdrew it. "Mr. Parker.watch your mouth."

"Are my words inappropriate, or are your actions unseemly?" Blake moved closer, with a fake smile on his face. "How touching, your closeness.

"This isn't what you're thinking," James started to explain, but Blake cut him off with a sharp gesture.

"So this is why you're so desperate for divorce?" His eyes bore into mine,cold and accusing. "For him?"

Hearing this question, I felt something inside me grow still. Here he was,after spending every waking moment with Laurel since her return, having the nerve to question my integrity and my friendship with James? The bitter irony of it all nearly made me laugh.

"It has nothing to do with James," my voice came out steadlier than I expected.

"Blake Parker," James's voice took on an edge I'd never heard before, "you're the one being unfaithful with Laurel Rose. Don't project your sins onto Audrey!"

The hospital room's atmosphere grew heavier with each passing second.Blake's presence was suffocating. The famniliar ache in my stomach began to intensify, but I forced myself to remain still.

"Ever since Laurel returned," he continued,each word precise and cutting,"you've been acting out - terminating our child, announcing divorce at Grandfather's birthday."

The mention of William's birthday made my chest tighten. The memory of last night was still too fresh - the public humiliation, Thalia's slaps, Blake rushing to catch Laurel while I collapsed...

Blake's cold gaze fixed on me as a cruel smile played at his lips. "You know, I actually felt guilty before, thinking I'd neglected you by paying too much attention to Laurel."

"But now I see - all of this was just an act. You've been conspiring with your dear senior Collins all along, haven't you?"

I bit my lip hard, clutching the hospital blanket tighly as I looked at the sneer on Blake's face. The pain in my stomach was nothing compared to

the despair crushing my heart.

"Blake!" James interjected, cutting through the tension, his voice tight with barely contained anger. "Audrey's health is fragile, watch your words!"

Blake's laugh was cod enough to lower the room temperature. "I've checked. Just some minor stomach issues. Why the dramatics?"

"Trying to copy Laurel's bleeding to get my attention, aren't you?" His eyes narrowed."Your acting skills have improved considerably."

Looking at his cold expression, listening to his sarcastic words, I had never felt him more like a stranger than in this moment. A bitter smile played at my lips.

Yes, I had asked Dr. Evans to list my cancer as a simple stomach ailment to hide the truth. But James had seen through it almost immediately. If Blake had shown even a fraction of the concern he lavished on Laurel,he would have discovered the real diagnosis long ago.

"This isn't an act!" James stood up so quickly his chair scraped against the floor. "Blake Parker, have you no conscience? Audrey is actually...”

"James, stop!" I cut him off before he could reveal my condition. The last thing I needed was Blake's pity - or worse, his disbelief.

The silence that followed was deafening. Blake's gaze flickered between us,something dark and possessive flashing in his eyes.

"You used to claim you loved me," he finally said, his voice unnaturally calm. "Refusing divorce no matter what I said."

I watched him pace the room like a caged predator. "But right after finding a replacement, you're desperate to leave."

His next words came out like a whip crack: "Now let me tell you, Audrey.Until I agree, you'll remain Mrs. Parker until death."

The irony of his words wasn't lost on me. "Until death"- if only he knew how soon that would be.

"Moreover, my relationship with Laurel isn't filthy like yours with James!Everything between Laurel and me is open and above board. Nothing improper."

"But you two..." His eyes narrowed dangerously. "You claim to have only met twice recently in public, but who knows what's been going on behind closed doors? Only you and your dear senior know the truth of that, don't you?"

That was the final straw for James. Before I could blink, he had Blake by the collar.

"She gave you everything!" James's voice shook with fury. "Nearly died for you! You can insult me all you want, but how dare you slander her reputation!?"

"You dare strike me?" Blake's voice was deadly quiet.

"The way you treat her," James's grip tightened, "I should have done this long ago!"

Within seconds, the pristine hospital room devolved into chaos as both men threw away all pretense of civility. The sound of expensive suits tearing and bodies slamming against hospital furniture filled the air.

Blake had become quite obsessive about physical training after his coma,often spending hours in the gym to rebuild his strength, so after just a few exchanges, I could see James beginning to falter, bruises already darkening

across his face.

"Blake, stop!"I tried to get out of bed, my legs shaking beneath me. The familiar vertigo that accompanied my condition threatened to overwhelm me, but I forced myself forward. "Please!"

Neither man seemed to hear me. The burning pain in my stomach was becoming unbearable, but I had to stop them. I couldn't let them destroy their reputations like this.

"Let's talk about this," I pushed myself between them, my voice trembling with the effort of standing. "Don't-"

The impact came before I could finish. Blake's elbow caught me in the stomach as he swung at James. The pain exploded like a supernova,and I could no longer hold back. A spray of blood erupted from my mouth,splattering across Blake's suit.

The last thing I saw before darkness claimed me was Blake's face,his expression shifting from rage to horror as I collapsed.

The world faded to black. *So, is this the end of my marriage... and my life?* I thought as consciousness slipped away.