Divorce Me Before Death Takes Me, CEO

Chapter 402

Chapter 402

Audrey’s POV

‘Everyone says I’m only getting close to William Parker for his money,” Rachel began, her voice cracking perfectly. “But that’s not true.”

She dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief, sniffling. “I only care for him because he’s a sweet old man I respect.”

The crowd around us went quiet. I watched her performance without reacting.

‘He thinks I’m Audrey,” she continued, voice dropping. “It breaks my heart to be someone’s stand-in, but I do it to make him happy.”

Tears streamed down her face. “Every day, I pretend to want his inheritance. It’s our little game when I ask for it, he’ll donate everything to charity instead… exactly what he wants.”

The crowd started whispering.

“Wait, so the livestream was all an act?”

“Damn, this Rachel girl’s something else…”

I caught her lips curving slightly before she fixed her sad expression.

‘But I don’t get it, Rachel turned back to me, voice shaking. “Since you showed up in New York, William’s health has tanked.”

She took a deep breath. “The nurses told me his condition crashed after your visits. What did you say to make an old man so sick?”

The crowd’s whispers grew louder, more accusatory. I felt their eyes on me.

Rachel suddenly dropped to her knees and grabbed my coat.

“Mrs. Knox,” she begged, tears flowing freely. “Blake and I are getting married tomorrow, but after seeing you this morning, William ended up in the ER.”

Her voice broke. “The doctors barely saved him. His dying wish is to see Blake marry his friend’s daughter – Audrey.”

She paused, catching herself. “I mean, since Audrey’s gone, he accepts me as her replacement because of his condition. Blake and I are only getting married to fulfill an old man’s last wish.”

She looked up at me, eyes wide. “Could you please stay away from our wedding? And don’t see William again until after?”

Her grip tightened on my coat. “I just want him to die without regrets…”

More tears fell. “Please…”

The crowd had grown, their whispers turning sympathetic toward Rachel.

“So she’s been pretending all along to help the old man?”

“That’s some next-level kindness, playing along as someone’s replacement…”

“Meanwhile this Knox lady shows up and suddenly gramps is in the hospital? Sketchy as hell…”

I stood there, unmoved by her calculated performance. Without warning, I pulled out my phone and dialed. Rachel’s eyes widened slightly, her act faltering.

‘Miss Hayes,” I said coolly, stepping back from her. “Cute story.”

Rachel blinked, confusion crossing her face.

1/3

“What story?” she asked, voice still trembling.

“All of it,” I replied. “Yes, I visited William after coming back to the States, but you know why. Need me to remind you what happened at the hotel this morning when William came to see me?”

Rachel stayed silent, eyes darting between my face and phone.

“As for me supposedly seducing Blake…” I let my words hang as I hit the call button.

The crowd went silent as the phone rang on speaker. When Blake answered, Rachel’s face went white.

up?” Blake’s deep voice came

the camera toward Rachel kneeling on the street. “Your fiancée just stopped my car in traffic. She’s on her knees begging me to stay away

silence followed on the phone, in the

Blake finally said, voice suddenly

stared at the phone

silence, ice-cold. “Didn’t you tell me you

but

in the middle of the street?

I…” Rachel managed.

tired and disappointed. “I

“Tell me exactly what you’re doing

bit her lip,

hit Thalia and needed to apologize. Grandpa went to the

video everyone’s obsessing over… there’s nothing ’emotional’ about my look. I just

murmuring again, their tone

on, if

up without another

silence after was deafening. Rachel knelt there, face

pocketing my phone. “Sorry, but my husband and I don’t want to

and walked back to the car where Adrian waited. The

her reflection in the side mirror. Her face had changed completely – pale and furious, hands clenched

Rachel’s POV

Chapter 402

The crowd scattered, their interest fading now that

space where she’d stood, my nails digging into my palms until I felt skin

Blake directly? This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. She should’ve stammered excuses, looked guilty, become the villain.

phone rang. I answered without

voice was eerily

couldn’t speak, too

smoothly. “The little girl has been

caught. “What do you

Chapter 403

Audrey’s POV

well,” Adrian commented, watching me with those

York traffic. “I dated him for years. Anyone who spent that much time

after you? Just because he figured out you’re

defend Rachel, and it has zero to do with me being Audrey. Like I told you before he never gave a

added, “He wouldn’t back

tolerates his mom and sister. If they

Adrian nodded slowly.

grew up with his grandfather. After his dad died

vaguely. “While Rachel was busy playing Miss Perfect, she painted William as some

Makes sense. Emma’s my closest family now. If someone talked shit

To Blake,

that obvious? She

my lips together. “She probably knew but forgot in the moment. She

Astrid’s name flashing on the screen. My stomach instantly knotted

I answered, tension

voice hit me

phone. “What do

head snapped toward me.

the call

breaking. “When I got to the Four Seasons, she was drawing in the living

said she felt cooped up and wanted to go outside. I didn’t want

was gonna call you, but Emma pointed out your meeting with William was being livestreamed. She said if

Adrian’s jaw clenched tight.

be cool with me taking her to the hotel garden…” Astrid’s voice trembled. “It

sat on a bench. The bodyguards were right there, so I just looked down to text Henry for a minute…” Her voice

hammered harder with

knocked out too, and Emma was gone…” Astrid completely broke down. “I’m so

people to look,

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