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.

Knox, what’s up?” Blake’s deep voice

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

silence followed on the phone, in the

Blake finally said, voice suddenly

at the phone

“Didn’t you tell me you were heading home to prep for

but

in the middle of the street? Kneeling in public begging Mrs. Knox not to seduce

I…” Rachel managed.

disappointed. “I always thought you were different from

me exactly what

bit her lip,

to apologize. Grandpa went to

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

started murmuring

this point on, if

up without another

deafening. Rachel knelt

I said quietly, pocketing my phone. “Sorry, but my husband and I don’t want to continue this street

walked back to the car

her reflection in the side

Rachel’s POV

Chapter 402

kneeling in the street long after their car disappeared. The crowd scattered, their

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

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

phone rang. I answered

voice was eerily calm. “Don’t worry,

couldn’t speak, too

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

“What do you

Chapter 403

Audrey’s POV

pretty well,” Adrian commented, watching me

him for years.

Just because he

zero to do with me being Audrey. Like I told you before he never gave a damn about me. Any

added, “He wouldn’t back Rachel because she

barely tolerates his mom and sister. If they weren’t

Adrian nodded slowly.

his dad

she

seat. Makes sense. Emma’s my closest family now. If someone talked shit about her, I’d

Blake, William is

that obvious? She supposedly loves the

together. “She probably knew but forgot

My stomach instantly knotted – Astrid

What’s up?” I answered, tension

Her panicked voice hit me like a

around the phone. “What do

head snapped toward me.

put the

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

I didn’t want to at first, but she started crying and saying she wanted to find

took a shaky breath. ‘I was gonna call you, but Emma pointed out your meeting with William was being livestreamed. She said if I

Adrian’s jaw clenched tight.

definitely be cool with me taking her to the hotel garden…” Astrid’s voice trembled. “It made sense, so I took

just looked down to text Henry for a minute…” Her voice cracked. “Then something hit the back of my head and I

heart hammered harder

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

send people to look, and I

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