Divorce Me Before Death Takes Me, CEO

Chapter 123

Audrey’s POV

Rachel Hayes… she was your friend, right? I remember you and Astrid mentioning her in college.

James’s question broke the comfortable silence between us. He frowned slightly as he watched me put away the jewelry box he’d given me as a ‘divorce gift.”

I slipped the box into my purse and pushed my hands into my coat pockets, adopting a casual stance that belied the immediate tension 1 felt at hearing Rachel’s name, “She was one of my closest

friends.”

“During college, I actually met Astrid through her, I added, allowing a hint of a smile.

James raised an eyebrow. “Was she a student at our university? I don’t think I ever saw her around.”

The question wasn’t surprising. During college, James and I had been close closer than I now felt comfortable acknowledging. We’d nearly dated before life pulled us in different directions. He’d heard me mention Rachel countless times, yet never actually met her.

“She didn’t attend college due to family reasons,” I said with a sigh. “She rarely visited campus.”

James watched me, clearly sensing there was more to the story. The memories were already pulling me back, whether I wanted to go there or not.

I still remembered Rachel’s face when she first explained why she couldn’t attend college. We sat at a café near my dorm, rain tapping against the windows.

“I was born from my mother’s affair, Rachel said, tracing patterns on the table. “For me, my mom divorced her husband and married my father.”

Her voice remained steady, but her eyes revealed her pain.

“After my father died, mom’s ex–husband took her back to give my sister a complete family. I ended up with my grandparents.”

1–listened, shocked and unsure what to say.

“Mom always felt she owed my sister everything,” Rachel continued. “When my sister failed her college entrance exams, she threw a fit… so Mom switched our scores.

My coffee sat untouched as I listened.

“My sister went to her dream university while I got stuck with her scores at some no–name school. Mom said this was what we owed my sister.”

1/4

#Chapter123

resignation in her voice cut

to another evening at The Underground, Rachel grabbed a bottle

“That

slightly, eyes too bright. I was so depressed that year. Drank daily, missed the next entrance

envy you, Audrey. You grew up with nothing, but you still

having chances

know you love jewelry design, Rachel

together…”

years later, those memories made

“Audrey.”

voice yanked me back to reality. I

and Rachel Hayes… were very close?” He studied me

raised an eyebrow

“Your designs are excellent and will be popular. If you’re using her name,

his hands.

before offering a tight

after an accident,

her.

truth, I hoped Rachel’s family would see my designs under her name.

doing well? Has she

Blake’s POV

2/4

spici 120

“Audrey…”

eyelids. I groaned, shielding my eyes from the assault. My head throbbed

it…” I patted around for

cameras. Audrey walking away without

called again, fully aware of the emptiness that would

messages, no missed calls. Somehow the

making my head pound worse. This mansion felt

phone and called

soup to Lunar Mansion,” I ordered

Michael responded, “Sir, you

that a

been looking for you everywhere.

“Looking for me about