Divorce Me Before Death Takes Me, CEO

Chapter 57

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.”

before I could

open, and two faces I’d been desperately hoping to avoid stood waiting in the lobby. Laurel

The moment she spotted me, she immediately let out a

your place this morning looking for you, she called out, her voice

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

to give her the satisfaction of a reaction.

Clinic only takes serious cases.” Her

I allowed myself a small, cold smile. ‘So what’s your

this just

quickly. She stumbled back a step, one trembling hand reaching for Blake’s arm with unerring accuracy despite her apparent

as he

treatment. You have no right to

almost hurt – how many times had he protected me like that? A hint of bitterness surged in my heart, and

smile, ‘Well, you’re