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

me. “Stop drinking.

set my cup down and stood. “Sure. I’d love to witness Miss Rose’s sisterly grief firsthand. Maybe I’ll see what symptoms

1/4

Chapter 184

cold look. “Where’s

make a move, Scarlett suddenly lunged forward, blocking my path with

go!”

and I stared at

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

sister’s belongings.

narrowed his eyes. “Mrs. Rose, it’s fine,” he said quietly. “We’re

my sister too. She’s been gone for years, and I’ve

my wrist, clearly intending to search for the basement

wanting to pay respects.

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

“I don’t mind at all. I’m actually quite curious about Laurel’s

mentions of the Rose family’s second daughter during conversations with wealthy women. She’d died four years

after death.

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

name. Now I could learn about this mysterious second daughter

“Mom?”

voice called from the

supported by Nora as

“Audrey Sinclair! What are you

standing together, his hand still

lip, rushed over and forcefully pulled Blake’s hand away, glaring at me. “I go upstairs to rest for

so ridiculous I almost laughed.

2/4

Chapter 184

Ethan’s safety to make me convince William to approve their engagement. At the Parker mansion, he’d reminded me not to forget our deal.” Their engagement

to Blake. “When did you two get engaged?

my sarcasm

not true,” he

arm through his. “Blake

if we don’t have a formal engagement, you’re

triumphant look, like a general who’d just won