Divorce Me Before Death Takes Me, CEO

Chapter 436

Audrey’s POV

The driver hesitated, glancing at me in the rearview mirror.

“I probably shouldn’t tell you this, he finally said, lowering his voice. “But given who you are, I might as well be straight with you.”

He took a breath before continuing. “That cruise five years ago – Leo wasn’t keen on going. He hated those events, and he didn’t want Blake exposed to that side of the business world.”

“But these cruises can be dangerous, right?” I asked.

“Exactly. He nodded. ‘Blake was dying to go, but Leo always refused.”

He gripped the wheel tighter. “Until he got an email from Australia. His old flame’s sister wanted to meet him – said she had something left for him. That’s the only reason he agreed to take Blake.”

He sighed. “Poor guy just wanted a memento from his first love. Instead, he lost his life.”

I leaned back, processing this. Eleanor wasn’t on that ship – her sister Evelyn was. My biological sister.

Whenever my adoptive mother mentioned the New York Parkers, she would seethe with hatred, especially about Leo. Her face would twist with rage, like she wanted to tear them apart.

Was returning Leonora’s memento just a cover story? Had the real purpose been to lure Leo onto that ship to die in the disaster?

A chill ran through me. Maybe I shouldn’t think such things about my sister’s adoptive parents… but everything seemed so strange.

“Ma’am.”

The driver’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. He had pulled over to the side of the road.

*Blake never knew about this,” he said, his expression serious. “After the shipwreck, I told William. He stayed quiet for a long while, then told me to keep it from Blake.”

His eyes found mine in the mirror. “He wanted Blake to remember that his father’s final act was supporting him in business, not chasing a memento from some long-dead girlfriend.”

He looked at me imploringly. “Could you also keep this between us?”

After a moment’s consideration, I nodded. “I will.”

truth. Hurting his memories of

you for telling me, though, I added with a

“No need for

once the Parker family’s daughter-in-law and William’s favorite. I’ve

outsider.

leaves covered the nursing home’s tree-lined path as I stepped from the car. Autumn had arrived almost overnight, turning the

Chapter 436

walked here with Blake, we’d encountered Rebecca, and he’d tumbled into a heap of garbage trying to help me. I never imagined the proud, dignified CEO would embarrass himself that way for my

had consistently tried to

–

Long Island to taking a

could sense his good intentions, but accepting his belated depth of feeling remained difficult. Whatever we

reached William’s floor. “What about Blake?

glancing toward William’s

emergency treatment, William’s a bit better

doctors say he doesn’t have much time. He can’t

trembled. “If they removed the machines…

him, I never would have shown it to him. Blake specifically said not to let him

tissue from my purse. “Don’t blame yourself. No one will hold this against you –

done well enough. William’s

dabbed his eyes, nodding gratefully. “Thank you for listening to my

slightly. “His condition is a bit better than before. He’s conscious now and can understand what people

he

the rhythmic beeping of machines. During the brief silences between beeps, I heard William’s labored breathing – raspy like a creaking door, harsh

tighten as

Audrey,

twitched slightly. Slowly, his eyes opened and turned toward me. When his clouded eyes found my face, he paused momentarily

face, partially covered by the oxygen mask, trembled as he tried to speak. Despite his evident effort, only unintelligible sounds emerged: “Ah,

said gently. I know you’re

worry about Blake not being Rebecca’s son. He’s accepted

His announcement at the wedding shows he’s come

he had DNA tests done many times while Leo was alive. He’s still

will change that.”

he’s been handling everything from the wedding. It’s not that he doesn’t want to see