Divorce Me Before Death Takes Me, CEO

Divorce Me Before Death Takes Me, CEO

Chapter 225

Audrey’s POV

I set down the phone and looked up at Astrid.

“Astrid, the clock’s ticking,” I said quietly. “You know that now. Two months is just what Dr. Evans put on paper.

‘Let’s be real about late–stage gastric cancer. In a few weeks, I’ll probably be stuck in some ICU bed with tubes coming out of me. I opened my eyes and met her gaze. “Then what? Think the Roses will let me visit Rachel when I can’t even walk?”

My fists clenched at my sides. All I could think about was Rachel lying alone at Twilight Mansion while I was shut out.

The color drained from Astrid’s face as reality sank in.

“Jesus, Audrey,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “You can’t waste what little time you have fighting those people. If they catch you sneaking around their property…”

She couldn’t finish the sentence. We both knew I couldn’t afford to get tied up in legal battles now.

Astrid wiped her eyes and sat beside me, taking my cold hand in her warm one.

‘Look, I get it. Rachel was with you through hell before I even came along. You two are/practically sisters.” She squeezed my hand. “But there’s gotta be another way.”

She glanced down at my hand, now little more than skin and bone. “Promise me you won’t do anything stupid? Anything that would give them ammo against you?”

I stared at our hands for a long moment before pulling mine away.

Astrid’s face fell. “Audrey – ”

Before she could finish, I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her close.

“I promise,” I mumbled against her shoulder. “Four years without Rachel, and you never left my side. You both matter to me equally. I’d never rank one friend over another.”

Astrid broke down, tears streaming down her face. “Seeing you this worked up over Rachel, I did feel jealous for a second there,” she admitted. “Thanks for not making me feel like crap about it.”

good for this shit. Twenty–five and dying of cancer? What kind

worse. At least I had

I’d never crossed paths with Blake Parker, I thought to myself. Everything might have been

Laurel’s POV

night air watching Blake’s car. He was still inside, wreathed in cigarette smoke, finishing a call. His jaw was set, face

hadn’t noticed

call. At first, I thought she was lying about Blake and Audrey being together at a Michelin restaurant. I’d

she spilled everything – how Blake used her

surveillance footage showed Audrey leading Blake to Pinehaven Village – the place

1/3

Chapter 225

years trying to erase.

I claimed to be the woman who saved Blake, I knew someone might expose me. So I had my uncle By Pinehaven and demblik especially the clinic. Then I built a similar village on the other side of town, complete with a renovated hospital. I paid people to back my story took wate there regularly

family had gotten used to Blake’s protection and money. When I came back from Europe, my parents made it clear I needed to marry Blake Gre I became Mrs. Parker, we’d be New

back to Pinehaven. If he figured out what I’d done, everything would fall apart. That’s why I’d called with that

his cigarette and got out, walking toward me with

are you out here?‘

out the second your car pulled up,

the phone? Are you pissed that

I’d known. If you

but Blake caught my wrist.

free. “If seeing me is such a chore that you need a cigarette break first, just

I

cut him off, pulling out my phone to show

a bitter smile. “If I hadn’t called, would you

this is. Audrey and I, we can’t get back

overthink it,” he

not?” I said, tears threatening to spill. “I know you don’t love me. I just want closure before I die. Can’t you at least pretend to care? Why promise to marry

threw myself against him. “Let’s get

put his arms

no. This is your

agree,‘ he cut in.