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.

words came easily after so much practice. “Life’s too short to

sipped my tea. “Too

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

at his watch. “I’ve got class. Should

course. Thanks

“Will you be okay?”

to get

won – we parted ways. He headed toward NYU while

with life as I searched for phone repair shops. My legs protested with each step, but

same answer: water damage this extensive couldn’t be fixed. The circuit board was

Chapter 93

couldn’t be repaired. Just like how Rachel world nesen

unexpectedly Rachel’s laughter as the handed me the phone box four years ago. You

car accident, and the vibrant waman who had been my closest friend became an unresponsive bod

heard from her

1 elmost lost my hope, I found an old shop tucked on a

phone.

he said, squinting at his computer. “The parts for this old model are

taxi home. Exhaustion settled deep in my bones. My stomach ached

building, night had fallen. I paid the driver and stepped

hands grabbed my jaw,

shock, I registered Blake’s face inches

what’s wrong with you!?” I said, fighting against

with rage. “We agreed at the hospital that I would

against the wall, unable to move. My stomach twisted with pain,

struggled to break free from his grip. “Tell me what I supposedly did! The entire afternoon, I’d been downtown looking for repair shops to fix my phone!‘ I hadn’t even been online since leaving the hospital. Whatever he

Blake’s POV

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