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

drinking. Didn’t

I’d love to witness Miss Rose’s sisterly grief firsthand. Maybe I’ll see what symptoms her

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cold look.

move, Scarlett suddenly lunged forward, blocking my path

go!”

and I stared at her, shocked

Scarlett awkwardly lowered her arms but remained between me and the door. “What I mean is, you’re

the staircase. “Besides… it’s filled with her sister’s belongings. It’s cluttered and gloomy. Nora’s bringing Laurel up, just wait a

fine,” he said quietly. “We’re only

sister is my sister too. She’s been gone for years, and I’ve never visited her grave. I’d like to pay

intending to search

arm. “Blake, I understand you wanting to pay respects. But does Miss Sinclair

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

cold smile. “I don’t mind at all. I’m actually quite

heard mentions of the Rose family’s second daughter during conversations with wealthy women. She’d died four years ago, while I’d married Blake

after death.

were intriguing. Some said she was born from Scarlett’s affair, others claimed she was Mr. Rose’s child with another woman. Though

could learn about this mysterious

“Mom?”

clear voice called from the

supported by Nora as

onto mine. “Audrey Sinclair! What

Blake and me standing together, his hand

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

were so ridiculous I almost laughed. “Blake Parker

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Chapter 184

to make me convince William to approve their engagement. At the Parker mansion, he’d reminded me not to forget our deal.” Their engagement wasn’t even close to being

“When did you two get engaged?

my sarcasm and

true,”

linking her arm through his. “Blake darling, have

lifted her chin proudly. “Even if we don’t have a

me a triumphant look, like a general who’d just won a decisive