Divorce Me Before Death Takes Me, CEO

Chapter 80

Audrey’s POV

*Used to it.”

Simple words, devastating in their casual cruelty.

I stared out at the passing city lights, letting out a bitter laugh. Five years of loving him, three years of marriage, and this was what I was worth – someon who should have grown accustomed to being the family punching bag. Rebecca and Thalia’s orchestrated takedowns, the whispered mockery at charity galas, the endless speculation about my background – apparently, I should have developed immunity to it all by now.

Each perfect smile, each graceful deflection of veiled insults had cost me pieces of myself I’d never get back. And for what? To hear him dismiss it all with three casual words.

“No.” My voice came out steady, unfamiliar even to my own ears. “I never got used to it.” I met his eyes in the rearview mirror. ‘No one gets used to being

target.”

Blake’s gaze flickered to the mirror, searching my face–perhaps for the acquiescence he’d grown accustomed to. Instead, he found only resolution. For once, it seemed Blake Parker had nothing to say.

“So this time…” I let each word land with deliberate weight, “I would rather die than apologize to your Miss Rose.”

The screech of tires against asphalt filled the car as Blake slammed on the brakes, pulling over with enough force to throw me against the seat in front of

me.

Blake’s POV

I yanked the gear shift into park, anger coursing through my veins like electricity. As my eyes met hers, before I could say anything, my mind went blank.

The woman staring back at me was a stranger. Gone was the warm glow that used to light her eyes whenever she looked at me, replaced by something cold and distant.

When had that happened? When had Audrey Sinclair become someone I couldn’t read?

A hint of fear washed through me. I pushed it down, drawing out a cigarette instead. The flame from my lighter caught the sharp angles of her face, and for a moment, I was struck by how beautiful she still was, even twisted with fury. The thought came unbidden and unwelcome.

“What if I insist you apologize to Laurel today?” The words came out calmer than I felt.

A cold smile touched her lips. “And if I refuse? What will you do, Mr. Parker? Force my mouth open?”

The formal address stung. When had we become such strangers?

“That won’t be necessary.” I took a long drag, letting the smoke curl between us. “Parker Group recently investigated a modeling agency for acquisition.”

Audrey’s POV

The mention of a “modeling agency‘ made my nerves instantly go taut – Astrid worked as a model.

the owner’s computer.” Blake continued, his voice as cold and detached as

in my body tense as

cigarette, the smoke curling between us like a living thing. With his free

Take a look.“

Chapter 80

throat. I bit my lip hard,

screen was Astrid Wilson

who had stood by me through everything–my diagnosis, the love of the baby, the crumbling of my marriage now being used as a pawn in Blake’s

words tore from my throat, hot with

at the corner of his mouth. I didn’t want to resort to this kind

car doors unlocking punctuated his next

now, or I’ll have

nightmares, whose hand I’d held through blindness and coma. Where had

in the afternoon sun. The drive from Parker Mansion should have taken thirty minutes Blake had done it in less than fifteen. Another testament to how far he’d go for Laurel Rose. Speed limits, blackmail, whatever

had left. I could

The word tasted

across his

after this,” I continued, my voice low, “those

apologize, I delete them.

his promises wasn’t

The private room bustled with activity, but something felt off. The

my practiced eye – too familiar now with genuine critical care – the artifice

a trembling hand, her voice paper–thin. “You

were in critical condition without my apology.

door opened behind us. On cue, she clutched her chest, coughing delicately.

side instantly, his tone filled with concern. “Laurel! Should

“No need, Blake, please… I

instincts warring with her

a brave smile. “Miss Sinclair and I… need to clear

he passed me, he lowered his voice, speaking only loud enough for me to hear: *Remember

into my palms. “Don’t worry. I

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Before Death Takes Me

Chapter 81

Chapter 80

my lip hard, eyes drawn to the screen despite averything in me screaming to

Astrid Wilson in

contracted violently. My whole body trembled, teeth chattering. The friend who had stood by me through everything–my diagnosis, the love of the baby, the crumbling of my marriage now being used as a pawn in