Chapter 230

Blake’s POV

Astrid’s voice carried clearly through the thin walls of this old building.

‘Do you regret marrying him?”

Hearing this question, I frowned, unconsciously tightening my grip on the keys in my hand.

In truth, I also wanted to know – during those three years of marriage, had Audrey ever regretted being with me?

But long after Astrid’s question, no response came from Audrey. The air in the hallway felt as stifling as it must have been inside the apartment.

After a lengthy silence, I slid my key into the lock and stepped inside my newly rented apartment.

The place was barren. I sat on the leather sofa and listened to the conversation next door.

“Astrid, drop it,” Ethan said. “If Audrey doesn’t want to talk about it, don’t push her.”

“I think she must have liked Parker at some point,” he added. “It’s just that he disappointed her.”

A cold laugh cut through the wall – Audrey’s laugh, but without any warmth.

“He didn’t disappoint me,” she said. “I never expected anything from him.”

‘Blake Parker and I were always from different worlds,” she continued. “When I married him, he was still a vegetative patient.”

“If he’d never woken up, we would have lived peacefully. But he did wake up.” I heard ice clinking against glass. “From the day he woke up, I knew we’d eventually divorce.”

She paused. “So I have no regrets. If I had another chance, I’d probably make the same choice.”

My hands clenched into fists. So that was our marriage to her a mistake she’d willingly repeat.

The conversation shifted. Soon laughter filled the air as they planned her jewelry launch to rehash old stories I’d never been part of. I sat alone in the dark, struck by how different Audrey sounded with them – relaxed, playful, nothing like the cold woman she was around me.

Not once did they mention my name or anyone from the Parker family. It was as if I and the entire Parker family didn’t matter to her at all.

My mind drifted back to Pinehaven Village, to how her eyes lit up when she spoke about the man she’d once liked. I’d never seen that look directed at me.

I grabbed a bottle of wine from the counter, not bothering with a glass. My phone buzzed with Laurel’s message:

“Blake darling, I’ve tried these three dresses and can’t decide which is best for the engagement. Could I wear all of them?”

I looked at the images without interest, locked the screen, and set it aside.

Audrey’s POV

“It’s getting late,” I said, checking my watch. “Ethan, don’t you have classes tomorrow?”

Ethan finished his beer and nodded. “Yeah, I should head back.”

I called him a taxi and went downstairs to see him off. The night air felt good against my face as we waited.

“Text me when you get to your dorm,” I reminded him.

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Chapter 230

Ethan smiled, cheeks flushed from the alcohol. “Audrey, you’re really something.”

I wish I’d met you three years earlier,” he added, words slightly slurred.

“You’re thinking too much. It wouldn’t have made any difference.”

“Why not?”

I sighed. “I’ve been in love with Blake Parker for five years. Even if we’d met three years ago, I wouldn’t have changed my mind.”

The taxi pulled up.

“Ethan, we work best as friends. Or you can think of me as your sister.”

He gave me a sad smile. “I know.”

climbed in, he rolled down the window. “I’ll

“You better,‘ I warned.

said, eyes lingering

until the taxi disappeared, then headed inside. When the elevator opened on my floor, I noticed keys hanging

in. Careless enough to

knocking but decided against it. It was late, and I

apartment, Astrid had fallen asleep on the couch. I removed the wine glass from her

out. The keys were still in my neighbor’s

there? Maybe

I approached the elevator, I heard a key turning. Looking back, I saw the keys in

Eventually, I continued to the

Seemed like they were about to open the door but

my own doorknob, feeling

new neighbor’s avoiding me. I’m just a

when I heard a door opening, followed by quick

Blake’s POV

“Blake darling, finally!”

mansion when Laurel rushed over, eyes red

your house,” she said. “They said you weren’t home or at the

open and threw

my face, tears still wet on her cheeks. “Then you didn’t

pressed against my chest. “I

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Chapter 230

not move in here tonight? We could take

at her clinging to

people to my grandfather’s house, I wouldn’t be

was worried,” she insisted. “You didn’t

eyes. “Laurel, I need my own

answer, maybe I’m sleeping? Why jump

pale. “But I couldn’t

my temple. “Why did you need to find

no

said quietly, “you’re becoming less and less like the

throw a fit this late just because I

at me, face

pried her away from my chest. “Our engagement isn’t real, and you know it. I won’t be moving in with you – not before,

Chapter 231

Laurel’s POV

His words stung. My face went pale as I bit my lip,

engagement. I thought everything was finally going right – that he was accepting me, that I’d become the most important person in his life. Now

Audrey when she still occupied his thoughts? In his eyes, I’d never measure up to

alcohol was strong. Our engagement had just been

“are you having regrets?

“If you don’t get out now, I really will

car roared to life and sped away. I stood watching

everything I saw. After my mother’s comfort, I went to bed. But sleep was impossible. I kept hearing Blake comparing me to Audrey from five years ago. Like I could never measure up to what

media post caught my eye. Astrid had uploaded a photo of three hands holding drinks: her own with a distinctive manicure holding beer, Audrey’s with juice, and a man’s

“Drinking until we drop! Three’s

into place. Blake came to me tonight smelling of alcohol. Had he been with

Liar!

Clearly, keeping Blake from seeing Audrey wasn’t enough. As long as she existed in his world,

mine.

Audrey Sinclair

Audrey’s POV

“Audrey!”

groaned and pulled the pillow over my

“What?” I mumbled.

weird about our

sat up slowly, squinting as she yanked open the curtains.

you mean?”

in the door.” She dangled a set of keys

forgot last night

why I took them, she said. “There are all kinds of people coming through this building. What

with keys hanging

crossing a line,” I said. “If they don’t

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Chapter 231

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