Chapter 46

**Audrey's POV**

The simple act of changing clothes felt like an ordeal, each movement sending waves of discomfort through my body. I'd managed to slip off the hospital gown, replacing it with the comfortable clothes James had brought,but even that small effort left me breathless. As I was pulling the hoodie over my head, the door suddenly opened.

"Audrey, it's all done. Dr. Evans said that..." Ethan's voice trailed off abruptly. Through the fabric of the half-pulled hoodie, I heard his sharp intake of breath, followed by complete silence.

Finally freeing my head from the garment, I found him standing frozen in the doorway, his face flushed a deep crimson. He immediately averted his gaze, the phone in his hands suddenly becoming the most fascinating object in the room.

I couldn't help but smile at his reaction. For someone who worked at a nightclub, he could be surprisingly proper. "Sorry about that," I said softly,quickly adjusting the hoodie. The reflection on the window made me acutely aware of how the once well-fitted fabric now hung loose around my frame. Three years of maintaining the perfect figure as Mrs. Parker,and illness had accomplished what no diet ever could.

Ethan cleared his throat, still studying the phone with intense focus. "Dr.Evans said that if handwritten logs are difficult to maintain, you can keep them on your phone," he managed, his voice slightly strained. "Just... don't let what happened last night repeat itself. Having to send someone back for the logs when you were already in critical condition..."

My hands stilled on the zipper. "The medication logs., someone had to go back for them?"

"Yeah," He straightened slightly, watching my reaction."Dr. Evans mentioned your friend James seemed lost in your apartment. Took him ages to find them. Almost delayed the emergency treatment."

A chill that had nothing to do with the hospital's air conditioning ran down my spine. Why hadn't James mentioned this second visit to my apartment? The unease that had been building since our earlier conversation about Snow crystallized into something sharper.

I reached out for my phone, dialing James again.

"James," I called out, my voice was cold. "You went to my apartment twice last night, didn't you?"

The pause before his answer was barely noticeable. "Yes, I did."

"Then tell me again about Snow. You're absolutely certain you didn't see her? Either time?"

Another pause, longer this time. When he spoke again, his tone had shifted from concern to something else entirely. "Why do you care so much about that cat, Audrey?"

His voice dropped lower, attempting sympathy but landing somewhere near condescension. "Is it because Blake gave her to you?"

The question hit like ice water, "No, it has nothing to do with Blake."

Snow had been my emotional anchor these past two years. Even if she hadn't been a gift from Blake - if she'd just been a stray I'd taken in-I wouldn't abandon her after two years together. But James wasn't interested

in my explanation.

"Seriously, Audrey. I watched you stand up in front of everyone, declaring your independence. It was... impressive. Bold. But now? Clinging to some pet Blake gave you?"

I closed my eyes in resignation. "James. Simple question. Did you see my cat or not?"

I hadn't called for his analysis of my emotional state. I needed information,not another person telling me how to feel.

"No."He answered.

"I see." Another thought surfaced, demanding attention. "One more thing.Astrid says my apartment looks ransacked. Did you do that last night?"

"No, I didn't touch anything."

"Got it, thanks." I narrowed my eyes and suddenly smiled. "I'll have Astrid arrange something appropriate. To show my...appreciation for last night's assistance."

The line went dead before he could respond.

"Alright, let's go now," I said, managing a slight smile at Ethan.

The harsh fluorescent lights of the hospital corridor seemed to reflect my heavy mood when my phone lit up with James's name. Was he calling to apologize for his tone earlier? The thought only made me more irritated.

Before I could silence it, Ethan's hand appeared from nowhere, deftly plucking the phone from my grasp. His eyes sparkled with mischief."Allow me."

James's voice came through immediately, polished and apologetic: "Audrey,sorry for being too harsh earlier. The lack of sleep,the workload today-"

"Hello, sir!" Ethan's cheerful interruption echoed slightly as we squeezed into the crowded elevator. He maneuvered us toward the back,using his height to create a small pocket of space around me -a gesture so natural it seemed unconscious.

His voice took on an almost musical quality. "I'm Audrey's brother. She's looking for her cat, unavailable now. Are there any messages you want to leave?"

The stunned silence on the other end was almost audible. "Brother? What brother?"

"Listen up, sir." Ethan gave a smile. "Quick question - what exactly makes you think you can dictate what my sister does with her own pet? Last time I checked, Audrey's pretty capable of making her own decisions."

He ended the call with a flourish, handing my phone back. "Word of advice? That guy's got 'future control freak' written all over him. Next thing you know,he'll be installing a whiteboard in your living room for daily relationship lectures."

A laugh bubbled up before I could stop it. The moment felt lighter, freer.

Then the elevator doors slid open, and two faces I'd been desperately hoping to avoid stood waiting in the lobby. Laurel Rose and Blake Parker.

"Miss Sinclair." The moment she spotted me, she immediately let out a cold smile.

"Blake was at your place this morning looking for you," she called out, her voice carrying just enough to draw attention without seeming to try."

Hiding at Mayo Clinic?"

A delicate pause. Her manicured nail tapped thoughtfully against her chin."It's almost brilliant. Who'd think to look for you in New York's most prestigious medical facility?" Another pause, this one heavy with implication. "And even if they did - well, what better excuse for missing a divorce appointment than a medical emergency?"

I met her gaze steadily, refusing to give her the satisfaction of a reaction."

Careful. Miss Rose. Your implication is showing."

"Everyone knows Mayo Clinic only takes serious cases." Her smile turned razor-sharp.

"Indeed." I allowed myself a small, cold smile. "So what's your role here,

Miss Rose? Terminal patient? Rare disease sufferer?"

"Or is this just another audition?"

The color vanished from her face so quickly. She stumbled back a step,one trembling hand reaching for Blake's arm with unerring accuracy despite her apparent distress.

"Enough." Blake finally spoke up as he moved to shield her.

"Laurel needs treatment. You have no right to question her presence here."

The gesture was so familiar it almost hurt- how many times had he protected me like that? A hint of bitterness surged in my heart,and I slightly shook my head to get rid of it.

I said with a resigned smile, "Well, you're right. May I leave now?"

"No," Blake answered, his eyes narrowing. " I almost thought you were

actually serious about the divorce this time." Sarcasm was evident in his voice. "If you didn't want the divorce, why create such an unsightly scene?"

He continued. "It's not just the Parker family now -even outsiders know about our divorce proceedings. Even Grandfather has agreed to it. So how do you plan to wrap this up?"

"As I said, with divorce," I answered my own question, my voice steady despite the tremor in my hands.