Divorce Me Before Death Takes Me, CEO

Chapter 46

Audrey’s POV

I crouched in the restaurant’s bathroom stall, listening as Thalia Parker and Olivia Cavendish’s voices faded away. My stomach churned with a familiar pain, but this time, it wasn’t just the illness it was the bitter taste of betrayal.

Every time I’d brought up divorce recently, Blake had fought against it with such conviction that I’d almost believed he truly wanted to save our marriage.

But now I finally knew the truth: he’d reserved the venue and cake a month ago, planning his proposal to Laurel while pretending to fight for us.

So it was all an act, I thought, pressing my hand against my queasy stomach. Every word, every gesture, every moment of apparent sincerity – just another performance in Blake Parker’s grand production.

The pain was getting worse. I fumbled through my purse with trembling fingers, found the small bottle of pills I’d been keeping close lately. I swallowed two tablets dry, waiting for the edge to dull before checking my reflection. A few deep breaths, a careful reapplication of lipstick, and the mask was back in place. Astrid wouldn’t notice anything wrong.

When I finally returned to our table, Astrid was demolishing a bowl of spicy ramen, sweat beading on her forehead. Her eyes narrowed with concern as soon as she saw me.

“Hey, you were gone forever. Is your stomach giving you trouble again?” She put down her chopsticks. “Maybe we should get you checked at Mayo Clinic? Or we could go somewhere else?”

I shook my head, managing a smile. “It’s nothing. I’ll just have something light later.”

“Oh God, Audrey, I’m so sorry!” Astrid’s eyes widened with sudden realization. “I completely forgot about your stomach condition…”

“Just eat, I cut her off. “Since when did you become such a drama queen?”

She rolled her eyes. “Oh, excuse me for giving a damn,” She jutted out her lower lip before diving back into her ramen. “Fine, whatever. But we’re hitting the pharmacy after this, no arguments!”

I wrapped my hands around a warm cup of tea, smiling as I watched her eat.

Looking at my friend’s vibrant energy, the weight of my three–month prognosis felt heavier than ever. I wanted to tell her – God, how I wanted to share this burden. But seeing her there, so full of life, the words refused to leave my throat.

“Astrid.” My voice came out raspier than intended.

dangling from her chopsticks. “What’s

radiating from her, I couldn’t do it. Couldn’t shatter this moment with my death sentence. Instead,

she declared, pushing the napkin aside. “Saving

but my amusement was cut short by an

a

the sound of

Laurel, dressed in pristine white, her arm delicately wrapped around Blake’s. Her

couldn’t help but arch

looked down upon – she

1/3

Chapter 46

But…

contrast to her supposedly injured

together made my stomach twist even more violently than

tea cup. “Spicy food with

please,”

disdain and something else – something I used to mistake for concern. “Eating this

your new love while showing concern for your soon–to–be

with Laurel! I just

wanted to laugh. He reserved the proposal venue a month ago, and he has the audacity to stand

a feather really do flock together, Mr. Parker, I said with a cold smile. ‘I see you’ve picked

see the flames in Blake’s eyes, his

probably still upset about what happened at the racetrack this afternoon… Maybe my

nearly got you killed, and she’s the one who’s uncomfortable?” Blake held her, glaring at

eyes theatrically. “Audrey, I know you misunderstand me, hate me. I should go. Even though we’re divorcing tomorrow, we shouldn’t be like enemies after being married for so long. She turned, making a show of walking toward the stairs, though her steps were deliberately slow – she had no intention of actually

was filled

up, gathering my things. “Since Laurel can’t leave, we will. I have nothing more to say to Mr. Parker