Divorce Me Before Death Takes Me, CEO

Blake Pov

The light through the car windows fell across Audrey’s face as she meticulously applied her makeup. I watched her from my position in the leather sext noting how her hands trembled slightly as she held the compact mirror. She’d lost so much weight that her cheekbones cast sharp shadows beneath her eye no matter how skillfully she tried to conceal them.

You should eat more, I found myself saying. Being too thin isn’t good for you.”

Her hand froze mid–motion, the makeup brush hovering inches from her face. A bitter smile curved her lips as she met my eyes in the mirror. ‘Why the sudden concern? Since when did you care about how I look?”

1 frowned and turned toward the window, watching the New York streets blur past. Her words brought back memories of earlier at the jewelry store. While she was changing clothes, I’d wandered in to check on potential partnerships for Parker Group’s expansion into the jewelry industry. She’d found me there, examining engagement rings, and immediately jumped to conclusions. The hurt in her eyes had been unmistakable, even as she’d insisted on purchasing those rings herself.

My mind drifted further back, to three years ago when I first saw her. Parker Group had been in its expansion phase, and I was too busy to visit my grandpa in person. But every day on our calls, he would mention ‘little Audrey” how attentive she was, how she brightened up the whole medical center.

I still remember that first glimpse of her. The sun had been streaming through the hospital windows, casting a golden glow around her as she pushed open the door to my grandpa’s room, arms full of carnations. “William, it’s me! Her voice had been so full of life, her face glowing with youth and vitality.

Looking at her now, I could barely reconcile that vibrant young woman with the pale, worn figure beside me. When had she gotten so thin? When had those shadows taken up permanent residence under her eyes?

The car pulled up to the Parker mansion’s entrance. Audrey was out the door before the vehicle had fully stopped, already striding toward the house. I caught up in a few quick steps, reaching for her hand.

“What’s the rush?”

She tried to pull away, her voice tight. “Is this really necessary?”

I tightened my grip, feeling how fragile her fingers felt in mine. “You’re my wife. Can’t I hold

my wife’s hand?”

feel the tension thrumming through her entire body. The contrast between her current coldness and her previous devotion sent an

mansion’s front door opened before we reached it. Charles, our butler, gave us his usual dignified features

nod,

I caught the slight frown

entered. Granpa sat in his usual place, while Elizabeth and Olivia occupied the left sofa. On the right sat my mother Rebecca and sister

eyes with a tissue as we walked in. “Mr. Parker, I know

me,

at your birthday celebration last

protect Laurel. “She’s a Hollywood star, her face is her career. With these injuries, she can’t film for

My mother’s voice cut through the room like

kept my voice steady, though I could/feel Audrey trying to pull her hand

watched as Laurel’s eyes/fixed on our joined hands, something

thinking it

at us. “Look at you two, getting along so well! After hearing about last

1/2

Chapter 24

divorced!

tense beside me, She frowned, trying again to free

happy together, 1–cut her oft firmly. “Everything Audrey said at the gala last night was just a tantrum. I met my grandpa’s eyes steadily.

the weight of everyone’s stares – Laurel’s barely concealed fury, my mother’s shock, Thalia’s confusion But most of all,

struck again by how thin her fingers had become. When had this happeited?

mean? Audrey