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.

“You better,‘ I warned.

he said, eyes lingering on

When the elevator opened

our new neighbor’s moved in. Careless enough to leave

knocking but decided against it. It was late, and I didn’t know who they

fallen asleep on the couch. I removed the wine glass from her hand and

up, I took the trash out. The keys were

Maybe they’re

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

Eventually, I continued to the trash chute. When I returned, the keys

the door but changed their mind when

reached for my own

neighbor’s avoiding me. I’m just

door firmly and had barely taken two steps when I heard a door opening, followed by quick footsteps and the

Blake’s POV

“Blake darling, finally!”

at the mansion when Laurel rushed over, eyes red and swollen. She yanke straight into my

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

and threw

looked at my face, tears still wet on her cheeks.

bit her lip and pressed against my chest. “I was so

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Chapter 230

Why not move in here tonight? We could

her clinging to

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

she

my eyes. “Laurel, I need

ten at night. If I don’t answer, maybe I’m

went pale. “But I

“Why did you need to find me so urgently at this

just stared, no

less and less like the girl

throw a fit this late just

stared at me, face

you know it. I won’t be

Chapter 231

Laurel’s POV

car light. His words stung. My face went

was accepting me, that I’d become the most important person in his

stopped seeing Audrey when she still occupied his thoughts?

alcohol was strong. Our engagement had just been announced publicly – what could

you having regrets?

reeking of alcohol. “If you don’t get out now, I really will

and turned to the door. The moment I closed it, his car roared to life and sped away. I

the mansion, I broke 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 she

phone, planning to message Andrew Jensen when a social 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

“Drinking until we

into place. Blake came to me tonight smelling of alcohol. Had he been with them? Had he broken his

Liar!

down my phone, mind racing. Clearly, keeping Blake from seeing Audrey wasn’t

mine.

Audrey

Audrey’s POV

“Audrey!”

I groaned and pulled

“What?” I mumbled.

weird about our

as she yanked open

you mean?”

dangled a set of keys in front of me. “Knocked for a

yawned. “Maybe they forgot last

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

with keys hanging

a line,” I said. “If they don’t want to interact with

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Chapter 231

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