Divorce Me Before Death Takes Me, CEO

Audrey’s POV

“Thanks for earlier, I said to Ethan as we walked away from Mayo Clinic. I handed back his phone. If you hadn’t stepped in, these people would ve bapt staring, and I wouldn’t have seen the stories online.”

We found a small café between a pharmacy and a bookstore, the kind of place with mismatched chairs and regulars who never needed to order. The aim tea came in chipped mugs that somehow made it taste better.

Ethan pocketed his phone. “No wonder you didn’t answer my messages. Your phone was broken”

You sent messages?”

“Yeah. He fiddled with his napkin. ‘When Blake dragged you to the hospital, I saw how rough he was being. I got worried, so i texted you.”

His eyes went puppy–dog sad. “When you didn’t answer, I thought maybe I was too much of a nobody for you to bother with.”

I smiled despite myself. “And then?”

“Then I saw the drama on the second floor.” He shrugged.

I stirred my tea, watching leaves swirl at the bottom. The bruises from this morning’s fall down the stairs throbbed dully beneath my clothes.

Ethan took a careful sip. “Your husband…” He hesitated. “Miss Rose ditched him when he was in a coma, right? Now she’s back just when he’s on top again.” He frowned. “Why isn’t he pissed at her? Why divorce you instead?”

“Favoritism,” I said, tasting my tea. “He likes her, so she gets away with anything.”

For years, I’d tried to understand Blake Parker. I’d made excuses for his coldness, his distance, his inability to see me. I used to think he just didn’t understand emotions. Until Laurel returned from Europe… only then did I realize he wasn’t emotionally stunted. He simply didn’t love me.

Besides, I didn’t have much time left anyway.

“Doesn’t it break your heart?” Ethan asked, looking genuinely curious.

got over it a while ago.” The words came easily after so much practice. “Life’s too short to dwell on failed

tea. “Too

days, I still had a maturity he couldn’t find in college girls. I could practically see his heart

“I’ve got class. Should

Thanks for

“Will you be okay?”

get my phone

bill – which I won – we parted ways. He headed toward NYU while I turned downtown, hunting for someone who could salvage Rachel’s last

for phone repair shops. My legs protested with

extensive couldn’t be fixed. The circuit board was fried, the memory card corrupted.

Chapter 93

fell over the city, I finally accepted reality. Rachel’s phone couldn’t be repaired. Just like how

as the handed me the phone box four years ago. You need

car accident, and the vibrant waman who had been my closest friend

heard from

found an old shop tucked on a side street. The elderly owner could

phone.

take about a week,” he said, squinting at his computer.

order, bought a basic temporary phone, and caught a taxi home. Exhaustion settled deep in my bones. My stomach ached with that

the taxi pulled up to my building, night had fallen. I paid the driver and stepped out, taking a breath of cool

Strong hands grabbed my jaw, fingers digging

the shock, I registered Blake’s face inches from mine, twisted with

you!?” I

You’ve lost it!” His eyes darkened with rage. “We agreed at the hospital that I would handle the news. What the hell have

twisted with pain, and my head started

been downtown looking for repair shops to fix my

Blake’s POV