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.

what’s up?” Blake’s deep voice came through, with background chatter

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

in the street, even

Blake finally said, voice suddenly

the

silence, ice-cold. “Didn’t you

mouth opened but nothing

doing instead?” Blake continued. “Blocking the Knoxes’ car in the middle of the street? Kneeling in public begging Mrs. Knox not to seduce me? This is

I…” Rachel managed.

“I always thought you were

paused. “Tell me exactly what you’re doing

bit her

to see Grandpa because she hit Thalia and needed to apologize. Grandpa went to the hotel because he found out Mrs.

that video everyone’s obsessing over… there’s nothing ’emotional’ about my look. I just happened to glance in that

murmuring again, their tone

whole discussion about me, my grandfather, and Mrs. Knox ends now,” Blake declared firmly. “From this point on, if I hear anyone bringing this stuff up again, neither I nor Parker Group will

hung up

silence after was deafening. Rachel knelt there, face ashen, her

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

turned and walked back to the car where Adrian waited.

I caught her reflection in the side mirror. Her face had

Rachel’s POV

Chapter 402

street long after their car disappeared. The

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

This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. She should’ve stammered

I answered

my mother’s voice was eerily

too angry to form

Scarlett continued smoothly. “The little

“What do you

Chapter 403

Audrey’s POV

pretty well,” Adrian commented, watching me with

for

wouldn’t he come after you? Just because

has zero to do with me being Audrey. Like I

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

they weren’t blood, he’d never

Adrian nodded slowly.

up with his grandfather. After his dad died five years ago, William became the only family member

gestured vaguely. “While Rachel was busy playing Miss Perfect, she painted William as some senile old man who’s

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

Blake, William

would Rachel miss something that

probably knew

name flashing on the screen. My stomach instantly knotted – Astrid

answered, tension

Her panicked voice hit me like a

“What do you mean gone? How could Emma be

toward me. “What

put the call

the Four Seasons, she was drawing in

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

Emma pointed out your meeting

Adrian’s jaw clenched tight.

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

bodyguards were right there, so I just looked down to text Henry for a minute…” Her voice cracked. “Then something hit

hammered 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

to

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