Divorce Me Before Death Takes Me, CEO

Audrey’s POV

Blake’s question hung in the air. Nora stood paralyzed, mouth working silently,

Scarlett jumped in with a smile. “Blake, you misheard! Nora meant to say second floor. She was just flustered.”

She turned to Nora, her smile vanishing. “Since Laurel’s awake, go tell her to come down. Mr. Parker and Miss Sinclair have been waiting.”

Relief washed over Nora’s face. “Yes, of course. I’ll bring Miss Rose down right away.”

She backed away, then practically ran from the room.

Scarlett sighed. “I thought she’d sleep longer. Since she got sick, her sleep patterns have changed completely.”

Blake watched her with an unreadable expression. “Mrs. Rose, do you think I’m deaf? She said ‘basement. Should I go see what’s down there myself?”

When Scarlett didn’t respond, he prompted, “Mrs. Rose?”

I could see panic building behind her composed facade. Her hands were clasped tightly inside her sleeves.

“Laurel stays on the second floor,” she finally said. After a pause: “About the basement…”

She took a deep breath. “Laurel was extremely close to her sister.”

“After her sister passed away, Laurel carried tremendous guilt. She believes if she’d noticed the depression sooner, everything might have been different.”

Blake’s expression softened slightly. “Why bring this up now?”

“Laurel kept all her sister’s belongings,” Scarlett continued. “Whenever she misses her, she looks through them.”

She sighed. “But with her condition…”

“I worried these items would trigger emotional distress, so I moved everything to the basement. But Laurel keeps sneaking

down there to mourn.”

She dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. “When Nora mentioned the basement… I suspect Laurel went there again, became

emotional, and her condition flared up.”

Blake stood, guilt softening his features. “I should check on her, then.”

clearly not expecting this

at me. “Stop drinking. Didn’t

to witness Miss Rose’s sisterly grief firsthand. Maybe I’ll see what symptoms her condition presents this

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Chapter 184

a cold look. “Where’s the

make a move, Scarlett suddenly lunged

go!”

I stared at her, shocked by this undignified

looked, Scarlett awkwardly lowered her arms but remained between me and the door. “What I mean is, you’re guests. I can’t allow

her sister’s belongings. It’s cluttered and gloomy. Nora’s bringing Laurel

he said quietly. “We’re only going

gone for years, and I’ve never visited her grave. I’d

reached for my wrist, clearly intending

his arm. “Blake, I understand you wanting to pay respects.

hostility. “You have no connection to Laurel’s sister My daughter took her own life so young… someone from your

with a cold smile. “I don’t mind

during conversations with wealthy women. She’d died four years ago, while I’d

after death.

intriguing. Some said she was born from Scarlett’s affair, others claimed she was Mr. Rose’s child with another woman. Though officially the second daughter of the family, she’d never appeared in

her name. Now I could learn about this mysterious second daughter while witnessing Laurel’s

“Mom?”

from the staircase. “I heard

by Nora as

locked onto mine. “Audrey Sinclair! What are you

together, his hand still gripping

and forcefully pulled Blake’s hand away, glaring at me. “I go upstairs to rest for a few minutes, and

ridiculous I almost laughed.

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me convince William to approve their engagement. At the Parker mansion, he’d reminded me not

“When did you two get

caught my sarcasm and

true,” he said

Laurel pouted, linking her arm through his. “Blake darling, have you forgotten what

proudly. “Even if we don’t have a formal engagement, you’re still my

look, like a general who’d just won