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.

Blake’s deep voice came through, with background chatter

clearly, turning the camera toward Rachel kneeling on the street. “Your fiancée just stopped my car

phone, in the street, even the crowd held

said, voice suddenly

at the phone in

voice cut through the silence, ice-cold. “Didn’t you tell me

opened but nothing

doing instead?” Blake continued. “Blocking the Knoxes’ car in the middle of the street? Kneeling in public begging Mrs.

I…” Rachel managed.

“I

“Tell me exactly what you’re

bit her lip,

needed to apologize. Grandpa went to the hotel because he found out

over… there’s nothing ’emotional’ about my

started murmuring again,

grandfather, and Mrs. Knox ends now,” Blake declared firmly. “From this point on, if I hear anyone bringing this stuff

up without another

Rachel knelt there, face ashen, her performance completely

husband and I don’t want to continue this street

walked back to the car where

I caught her reflection in the side mirror. Her face had changed completely – pale and

Rachel’s POV

Chapter 402

in the street long after their car disappeared. The crowd scattered, their interest fading now that the show was

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

wasn’t how it was supposed to go. She should’ve stammered excuses, looked guilty, become the villain. Instead, with one simple call, she flipped everything

I answered

voice was eerily calm.

couldn’t speak, too angry

everything, Scarlett continued smoothly. “The little girl has been taken

“What

Chapter 403

Audrey’s POV

well,” Adrian commented, watching

at the New York traffic. “I dated him for years. Anyone who spent that much time with him would get

after you? Just because he figured out you’re

“Blake wouldn’t defend Rachel, and it has zero to do with me being Audrey. Like I told you before he never gave a damn about me.

I added, “He wouldn’t back Rachel because she dragged

and sister. If they weren’t

Adrian nodded slowly.

is different,” I explained. ‘Blake grew up with his grandfather. After his dad died five years ago, William

busy playing Miss Perfect, she painted

my closest family now. If someone talked shit about her,

Blake, William is

why would Rachel miss something that obvious?

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

flashing on the screen. My stomach instantly knotted – Astrid never called

I answered, tension

Her panicked voice hit

fingers tightened around the phone. “What do

snapped toward me. “What

the

the Four Seasons, she was drawing in the living room with the bodyguards around. She asked me to

up and wanted to go outside. I didn’t want to at first, but she started

you, but Emma pointed out your meeting with William

Adrian’s jaw clenched tight.

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

flowers while I sat on a bench. The bodyguards were right there, so I just looked down to text

harder with each

I woke up, the bodyguards were knocked out too, and Emma was gone…” Astrid completely broke down. “I’m so sorry, Audrey, I’m so sorry, Adrian! I never thought she’d get kidnapped… I’m

people to look, and I called the

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