Chapter 25

**Blake's POV**

Grandpa's words echoed through the grand livingroom,and my jaw clenched involuntarily. Howdare he suggest I let Audrey go? After everything that had happened at his birthday celebration, after her public declaration of divorce, after that scene with James Collins-now my own grandfather was taking her side?

Before I could respond, Laurel's quiet sob drew my attention. She stood by the white marble pillar, one hand pressed delicately against it forsupport,her face a perfect picture of distress.

"It's all my fault..." Her voice trembled with carefully controlled emotion."If I had known my return would cause such damage to Blake and Audrey's marriage, I would have rather died in Europe than come back..."

I watched her dab at her eyes with a monogrammed handkerchief,something twisting uncomfortably in my chest. She looked so fragile, so genuinely remorseful. This wasn't how tonight was supposed to go.

Laurel turned toward the door, but her steps were deliberately slow,almost theatrical. "Perhaps... perhaps I should just go back to Europe..."

"Don't you dare!" Thalia's voice cut through the tension as she rushed to block Laurel's path. My sister's face was flushed with emotion, her usual composure cracking. "Three years ago when Blake was in a coma, you went to Europe for three months to help search for new treatments. Before you could even return, he married that... that country girl."

Her words hung in the air like smoke, acrid and bitter. "If you hadn't gone to Europe then, someone like *her* would never have had the chance to

marry into the Parker family!"

I saw Audrey's lips curve into a cold smile ait that.

"I'm curious, Miss Rose," she spoke up. "When you wenit to Europe seeking treatments, did you take any of Blake's medical records with you?"

The question landed like a stone in still water, ripples of tension spreading through the room. I frowned, something about her tone setting off warning bells.

"Tell me, Miss Ross." She continued."His vital signs data? Or his diagnostic reports?"

Laurel's face turned a shade paler, her composure cracking just slightly.The silence that followed was deafening.

Audrey tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her voice carrying a deadly calm. "When Blake was in a coma three years ago, I was the one taking care of him. I worked with the nurses to monitor all his vital signs. I still have all that data saved on my laptop. But you, Miss Rose."

What Audrey said completely stunned everyone present -including me.Indeed, taking care of a vegetative patient had been no easy feat. My family members had only come to visit me in the hospital occasionally,but she had come almost every day to assist the nurses in taking care of me.I saw my mother, my sister, and even I myself unconsciously lowered my head a bit. Audrey wasn't done yet.

She took out her phone. "According to online sources. Three years ago.you joined an acting training camp the moment you arrived in Europe,spending six months on intensive drama training? I'd love to know how exactly you managed to search for treatments during that time?"

I watched Laurel's pale face, her manicured hands twisting the handkerchief. Something cold settled in my stomach as I remembered those months- the confusion of waking up from the coma, everyone telling me how Laurel had been searching for treatments while Audrey chose to take care of me in order to marry me.

Had I never questioned that story?

*Am I wrong?* No, impossible! It couldn't be that.

"Enough." My voice came out harder than intended, drawing every eye in the room. I turned to Audrey, who stood straight-backed despite everything, her chin lifted stubbornly.

She spoke up, "Fine, we should stop wasting time. Let's go to the courthouse now."

I stood motionless, watching her cold determination. Laurel approached and reached out tentatively, her hand brushing my arm. "Blake, darling...you should go with her. Make it quick." Despite her attempt to sound soft and vulnerable, I caught an undercurrent of excitement in her voice.

Audrey turned back, fixing me with an icy stare. "Well? Are you coming or not?"

Grandpa waved his hand in exasperation. "Just go. Get it over with. Let Audrey be free."

I felt my jaw clench. "I said I won't divorce her."

"Excuse me?" The surprise in her voice was genuine.

To be honest, what exactly was I thinking? Looking at the slender figure in front of me, *it shouldn't be like this.* I knew I probably didn't want to

divorce her. but that promise...

I shook my head and casually came up with an excuse. "If we divorce now,everyone wilI think Laurel destroyed our marriage." I met her gaze steadily, ignoring the way something twisted in my chest at her bitter laugh. "I won't let that happen."

"If you really cared about reputations," Grandfather's voice was filled with sarcasm. "you wouldn't have made such a show of picking;her up or taking her shopping!"

"Speaking of reputations..." Laurel's voice had regained its usual sweetness as she reached into her handbag. She pulled out a familiar-looking document that made my blood run cold.

"How did you get this?" I demanded, staring at the divorce papers in Laurel's hands. I'd meant to retrieve these documents after the gala last night,but somehow they'd ended up with her. Why had she taken them?And why hadn't she said anything until now?

Laurel bit her lip, lowering her head with practiced delicacy. "I found these divorce papers with Audrey's signature. I was worried someone might use them maliciously, so I kept them safe..."

"You mean you kept them to use yourself?" Grandfather's laugh was sharp enough to cut glass. He turned to Audrey, his expression softening in a way it never did for me anymore. "Not being able to keep you as my granddaughter-in-law... I deeply regret that."

I could see a hint of sorrow flashing on her face as she lowered her eyes."Life has its own plans, William," she said softly. "Some things just aren't meant to work out."

The words seemed to age him. He gestured to Charles, his movements carrying the weight of his years.

Once the door closed behind them, Audrey's expression hardened. She turned to me, her voice carrying an edge that could cut glass. "T'll revise the agreement, especially the clauses about Miss Rose's... involvement." Her lips curved into a cold smile. "Expect it on your desk later. Try not to misplace it this time."

The accusation in her tone made something twist in my chest. But before I could respond, she was already walking away.

"Hold it right there!" Thalia's voice cracked through the air like a whip just as Audrey reached the doorway.

"We still have some... unfinished business to discuss."

**Audrey's POV**

I stopped, raising an eyebrow as I turned. "What? Do enlighten me."

"Don't play innocent." Her voice rose with practiced outrage. "You put LaureI in the hospital last night. The least you could do is apologize."

I couldn't help but laugh when I heard Thalia's accusation.

"What do you mean? You find this funny?" Thalia's voice rose with indignation. "Laurel was injured at Grandfather's birthday celebration,and you're laughing?"

"I do, actually." I met her gaze steadily, remembering how her own hand had swung at me last night, only to catch Laurel when I dodged.

The irony of her demanding an apology for her own actions was almost

too much. "It's quite amusing that you're demanding I apologize for something I didn't do.

Rebecca stepped forward, her voice filled with arrogance. "Not you? Who else could it have been?"