Divorce Me Before Death Takes Me, CEO

Scarlett’s POV

I sat in the basement’s dim light, holding my daughter’s hands. “Rachel, mommy doesn’t have a choice,‘ I whispered, squeezing her fingers gently. “Your sister’s worried Blake might find out everything.”

“Just for a little while, okay? When your sister leaves in a week, I’ll move you back upstairs to the third floor.”

Tears welled up as I studied what remained of my vibrant daughter. Her once lively eyes now vacant, her spirit trapped in an unresponsive body.

“Rachel, why couldn’t you just…” My voice cracked. “Why did you have to fight with your sister?”

“If it weren’t for your sister and her father, that man would have killed us both long ago. Your sister just wants a perfect relationship. Why couldn’t you let her have that?”

I leaned closer. “That friend of yours. She already suffered all those years in that little town. What’s a little more suffering if it means your sister gets Blake? What’s so wrong with that?”

Tears fell onto the white sheets. “Rachel, if you see your mistake, please wake up. Wake up and forget everything. We could

be a happy family again.”

My shoulders shook. “Why did you have to clash with your sister?”

As I wiped tears away, I felt the slightest movement against my palm. Rachel’s eyes shifted slightly toward me. Then, with what seemed like tremendous effort, she slowly pulled her hand from mine.

–

I gasped, hope and fear colliding in my chest. Any reaction from Rachel was rare but this felt like rejection.

The basement door opened. Light spilled down the stairs as the housekeeper called out, “Ma’am, Mr. Parker is here with

Miss Sinclair.”

I froze. “He brought her here? Why?”

I quickly stood, smoothing my dress and wiping away tears. I needed to get upstairs immediately.

Audrey’s POV

I stepped out of Blake’s car and looked up at Twilight Mansion. Something about the building tugged at my memory. An odd familiarity I couldn’t place made me frown as I studied the detailed facade and ornate windows.

before. Why does it feel like

on the

my gaze. “You don’t see many

cuffs. “Scarlett Rose has

why this building stirred such strong feelings. The tall spires, the

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hit me. Rachel Hayes loved Victorian architecture. We’d spent hours looking through architectural magazines, with

pulled back to a

parking lot where Rachel and I had stopped. She sat on the roof of her car, an open beer in her hand, her silhouette sharp against the orange

me that villa in the suburbs,” Rachel said, taking a drink. “The one where I could live

leaned against the hood, looking

continued, her voice hardening. “That I didn’t understand her problems, that all I ever do is ask for

said my sister and dad were getting fed

turned to me, eyes reflecting the sunset, “what else can I do to make her remember I exist? Asking for money is the only time she notices me. All she cares about is her husband and their daughter. In

outsider.”

to sit beside her, shoulders touching in silent

mom,” Rachel continued, “he promised he’d treat me like his own daughter. That the whole family would

my face. I was just making conversation. I never actually

wide, shouting: “I’ll earn it myself! Me and my good friend Audrey Sinclair will start a jewelry company together, and

too! I’ll start a jewelry company with my good friend Rachel Hayes and

women with big dreams, silhouetted against the

feels like yesterday, but so much has happened

Victorian mansion with new understanding. This must

her dream. But then I’d become entangled in my marriage

ll our

short years, that exhausting marriage

strengthened my resolve. I needed to find Laurel,

my determination

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emerged, flanked by housekeepers. Her smile was aimed entirely at

you back?” she asked warmly. “Laurel is resting