Divorce Me Before Death Takes Me, CEO

Chapter 417

Astrid’s POV

Thalia stared at Rebecca, her face blank with shock. “Mom… is all this true? I…

She could barely get the words out, her voice cracking like dry wood.

Rebecca smiled, stroking her daughter’s hair with surprising tenderness. “Of course it’s true. I never told you before because you can’t keep secrets. You would’ve acted weird around Blake, and he would’ve figured it out.”

I stayed frozen behind my tree, barely breathing, my fingers cramping around my phone as I kept recording.

“But now Blake’s dead, so there’s no reason to keep hiding it,” Rebecca continued. “And don’t worry – I won’t let that outsider Rachel Hayes take over Parker Group.

“What do you mean?” Thalia asked.

Rebecca leaned back, confident as a cat. “Once you’re married, Parker Group will have a new son-in-law. Rachel Hayes will have to step aside for your husband. The power comes back to us, where it belongs.”

I watched understanding dawn on Thalia’s face. The family resemblance between them had never been clearer – same calculating eyes, same cold smile.

“If this guy’s your pick,* Thalia nodded firmly, ‘I’ll marry him after Blake’s funeral and when William’s gone. Let Rachel deal with the mess first, then we take back what’s ours.”

Rebecca squeezed her daughter’s hand, looking deeply satisfied. “That’s my girl.”

Thalia threw herself into her mother’s arms. “Mom, you’re brilliant. I’ve wanted to take Blake’s power for ages.”

My stomach turned watching their tender moment. They were discussing deaths like social events.

“I know, sweetie,” Rebecca said, returning the hug. “Three years ago, your last business-savvy boyfriend was also my selection. When things looked promising between you two, I arranged Blake’s car accident…”

She said it so casually. I felt sick.

was a vegetable, I tried to finish him off multiple times, but William had Audrey marry him. That bitch never left his side

to cover my

boyfriend after Blake’s accident. Once you broke up, I had to put

“Sorry I

Rebecca patted her back. “Things

was hearing. Rebecca caused Blake’s accident? Tried to kill him in his coma? Now

wasn’t family drama –

thinking, I stepped back. A dry branch snapped loudly under

Crack

Chapter 417

apart instantly, heads whipping toward me. “Who’s there?!” they

Sha

Audrey’s POV

“Miss Hayes.”

me in the parking garage. Despite her reddened eyes from the police station

sneered. “Here to claim your daughter’s body? Finally

kept my face neutral. “I’m not identifying anyone. Just thought I’d deliver this myself rather than sending

held out

hostility immediately gave way to barely contained excitement. After confirming it was

immediately pulled a USB drive from her

data. Five years ago, I would’ve been outraged. Now I just observed her like

help in Sydney,” Rachel said, eyes on the screen. “Trying to start from scratch with Adrian? I’ll admit, Q.elegant’s impressive for a jewelry

An empire that rivals your adoptive parents’ entire business.

irony. “None of it came from your own work. What’s there

by what she’d become. I remembered her at a bar, ranting

said, face flushed with righteous anger, beer in hand, we need to build something ourselves! What’s the point of everything she has? None

had been infectious back then. I’d chugged my beer and agreed, “You’re right! I’ll design, you’ll manage, and we’ll

talk about ‘hard work.’ Evelyn, you’re as naive

Ding!