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.

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

to cover my mouth

‘you cheated on your boyfriend after Blake’s accident. Once you broke up, I had to put my plans on hold. Never thought Rachel

squeezed tighter. “Sorry I messed

Rebecca patted her back.

couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Rebecca caused Blake’s accident? Tried to kill him in his coma? Now planning to use Thalia’s boyfriend to take

to tell Audrey. This wasn’t family drama

back. A dry branch snapped loudly under

Crack

Chapter 417

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

Sha

Audrey’s POV

“Miss Hayes.”

in the parking garage. Despite her reddened eyes

Knox, she sneered. “Here to claim your daughter’s body? Finally accepted she’s

face neutral. “I’m not identifying anyone. Just thought

held out Blake’s

contained excitement. After confirming it was Blake’s limited edition model, she quickly

immediately pulled a USB drive from her

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

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

An empire that rivals your adoptive parents’ entire business. Something you’d never achieve

bitterly at the irony. “None of it came from your own work. What’s there to be

five years ago would’ve been disgusted by what she’d become. I

something ourselves! What’s the point of everything she has? None of it came from her own

right! I’ll design,

laughed. “Only losers with no options talk

Ding!