Chapter 428

Audrey’s POV

Rachel stormed off, shoving through curious onlookers as she disappeared toward the preparation room. The crowd quickly dispersed, returning to their champagne and gossip.

Henry took another sip of wine. “You went soft on her.”

‘What?’

“After everything she’s done to you,’ he said, swirling his glass, “you still held back. She tried to have you kidnapped, maybe killed, and you just reminded her about ceremony time?”

His eyes studied me. “Still hanging onto that old friendship?”

The question stung. I remembered laughing with Rachel years ago, learning to drive together, planning our futures over cheap beer.

“You still think she ever actually cared about you?” Henry pressed.

I set my glass down. “This isn’t about her. It’s about Blake.”

My eyes drifted to where Blake sat with Jett in a far corner, away from attention.

Blake had been on those crutches too long already. We’d injected him with that medicine almost thirty minutes ago, and he only had about ninety minutes left before it wore off.

I recalled our debate at Thompson mansion. Blake had insisted on walking rather than using his wheelchair.

“Someone on crutches blends in, he’d argued. “People see a guy limping at a wedding, they figure he twisted an ankle. A wheelchair? That grabs attention.”

Felix had reluctantly agreed and practically begged Harrison Clarke for that adrenaline compound to temporarily boost Blake’s circulation.

The doctor had warned us about serious side effects, giving Blake just enough to last two hours time for his dramatic entrance, but not enough to cause permanent damage.

“This has nothing to do with Rachel,” I told Henry firmly. “We’ve got work to do.”

Henry studied my face before nodding silently.

Astrid’s POV

net worth. His voice faded to background noise as

genuinely concerned. And Henry… just thinking about him made my heart

car. Something about it triggered a strange feeling. Ryan had

we meet again,’ Ryan had

in the back seat had a face that could’ve been carved from stone strong features, deep penetrating eyes, an expression

his eyes met mine. I knew him. My body recognized him in ways my

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Chapter 428

powerful arms holding me tight, passionate kisses. I couldn’t see his face clearly in these memories, but I remembered the intensity, the

with my

tightened his grip. “My fiancée is happy with

ignored him completely, focusing on me.

like I was drowning in his gaze. “I’m…

see you for

been my fiancée for years, Ryan interjected. “Since university in Europe. Why else would she work so hard to get into

darkened.

showed I’d deliberately infiltrated Henry’s company, becoming his closest female associate. Ryan had photos of us together on campus with classmates

make me sick now? Why did being near Ryan feel so wrong while Henry’s presence

whatever deception I’d been part of. I

a smile. “Ryan and I have been together since Europe. I did whatever

words felt like

remained silent before speaking. “I never knew you had

all

me and my fiancée? Can’t accept that your closest woman was working

up!” Henry thundered, silencing even Ryan.

back to me. “Was everything between us

to answer. Why did he care so much about an

an embrace by Evelyn Knox,

watched them talk, their heads bent close. Their obvious familiarity stirred

fingers wrapped around my wrist. “Pay attention,’ he whispered.

Audrey’s POV

chapel bells chimed, and the crowd immediately fell silent as the officiator

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