Divorce Me Before Death Takes Me, CEO

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.

Mrs. Knox, what’s up?” Blake’s deep voice came through, with

said clearly, turning 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 from William

phone, in the street, even

said, voice

at the

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

mouth opened but nothing

Knoxes’ car in the middle of the street? Kneeling in public begging Mrs. Knox

I…” Rachel managed.

sounding tired and disappointed. “I always thought

paused. “Tell me exactly

bit her

asking Mrs. Knox,” Blake continued, “I’ve already answered. I took her to see Grandpa because she hit Thalia and needed to apologize. Grandpa went to the hotel because

there’s nothing ’emotional’ about my look. I just

started murmuring again, their tone

this point on, if I

hung up without another

deafening. Rachel knelt there, face ashen, her

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

back to the car where Adrian waited. The

car carefully maneuvered around Rachel, I caught her reflection in the side mirror. Her

Rachel’s POV

Chapter 402

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

space where she’d stood, my nails

it was supposed to go. She should’ve stammered excuses, looked guilty,

rang. I

mother’s voice was eerily

couldn’t speak, too angry to

everything, Scarlett continued smoothly.

breath caught. “What do you

Chapter 403

Audrey’s POV

to know Parker pretty well,” Adrian commented, watching me with

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

Just because he

and it has zero to do with me being

still looked skeptical, I added, “He wouldn’t back Rachel because she dragged William

tolerates his mom and sister. If they weren’t blood, he’d

Adrian nodded slowly.

After his dad died five years ago, William became the only family member Blake actually cares

busy playing Miss Perfect, she painted William as

family now. If someone talked shit about her, I’d be

Blake, William is

miss something that

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

rang, Astrid’s name flashing on the screen. My stomach instantly knotted – Astrid never called unless something was

answered, tension in my

panicked voice hit

around the phone. “What do you mean gone? How could

toward me.

quickly put the call on

got to the Four Seasons, she was drawing in the living room with the

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

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.

to the hotel garden…” Astrid’s voice trembled. “It

The bodyguards were right there, so I just looked down to text Henry for a minute…” Her voice cracked. “Then something hit the back of my head and I

harder with

down. “I’m so sorry, Audrey, I’m so sorry, Adrian! I

people to look, and I