**Audrey's POV**

Blake's icy voice cut through my racing thoughts.

I froze behind the fire exit door, unable to move. My heartbeat thundered in my ears as if trying to escape my chest.

I lifted my gaze toward his voice. Blake had already reached the emergency exit, his hand pulling the iron door open. I gripped the handle tighter, as if that could somehow protect me from the humiliation of being caught.

"You think holding that door means I don't know you're behind it?" Blake asked, his voice dripping with mockery.

Heat rushed to my face. Being caught eavesdropping on my ex-husband was mortifying enough. Hearing him discuss using me to manipulate William made it infinitely worse.

Blake yanked the door open with a cold snort. Our eyes met, his dark gaze boring into mine.

"Hello," I managed, barely audible.

Blake leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "When did you pick up eavesdropping as a hobby?" he asked. "I thought you'd reveal yourself when I was talking with my grandfather. You showed surprising restraint."

My eyes widened. "You knew I was there the whole time?"

The corner of his mouth lifted in a not-quite-smile as he stared down at me without answering.

"So you asked me to beg William to approve your engagement to Laurel because you knew I was listening?" I asked, frowning.

Blake raised an eyebrow. "No. I genuinely want you to convince my grandfather to accept Laurel."

I stared at him, unconsciously looking up to meet his gaze. His eyes held none of the playfulness I'd expect from a joke. They were serious,determined.

*I know that look too well. He's not joking. He honestly expects me, his ex-wife, to plead with his grandfather to approve his engagement to Laurel.*

"Don't you find that request both ridiculous and offensive?" I asked,keeping my voice steady despite the storm building inside.

"Maybe," Blake admitted. "But grandfather listens to you. When I can't convince him of something, you speak up and he caves. You're the perfect person to handle this."

I looked at Blake coldly, bitterness washing over me.

*He only sees that William listens to me. He's never once wondered why.Does he think it's simply because I was his daughter-in-law?*

*Behind William's "favoritism" were three years of devotion and care.Every time, William agreed to Blake's requests because he saw my sacrifice,my effort.*

*Blake never noticed what I did behind the scenes. The days at the mansion tending to William. The hours listening to his stories. The special meals prepared just the way he liked. The chess games where I'd let him win just enough to keep his pride intact.*

*He thinks William's goodwill toward me appeared out of thin air. That his grandfather's respect for me required no work on my part.*

*Three years together. Even a stone held against your chest would eventually warm. But Blake never did.*

*And now, divorced,when he needs William's approval, he still thinks of me as his tool.*

"I refuse," I said firmly. "This is between you and Laurel. I'm divorced from you. There's no reason for me to help."

I turned away, heading down the stairs. I'd taken two steps when Blake's voice stopped me.

"Audrey. Why did you come looking for me tonight?"

My foot froze mid-step.

*I came to find him because of Ethan. To convince Blake not to target him.*

Blake loosened his tie with a sharp tug and walked to the stairwell.He moved down to stand two steps below me, turning to look up. Our eyes were perfectly level now.

His nearness made me uncomfortable. I instinctively stepped back, but Blake followed, maintaining the distance between us.

When I tried to retreat again, Blake suddenly moved forward, backing me against the wall. My spine pressed against cold concrete as he leaned in,his chest pressing against mine. The contact sent an unwelcome jolt through my body.

I scowled, trying to poush him away."Let go!"

Blake caught my wrists and pinned them above my head in one swift motion. I was trapped.

My phone rang suddenly, cutting through the tension. Blake reached into my pocket with his free hand and pulled it out, still holding my wrists with the other.

His brow furrowed at the screen. "Ethan? Ethan Davies?"

He looked from the phone to my face, expression darkening.′′It′ten at night. You know that.right?"

The phone stopped ringing only to start again immediately.

"How close are you and this Ethan? He's calling this late?" His thumb hovered over the answer button. "Seems he won't stop until you answer."

"No!" I cried out, struggling against his grip.

*I know exactly why Ethan's calling. My last words to him were that I'd handle Blake myself. Ethan, young and impulsive, is calling to tell me to stay out of it, that he can handle Blake alone.*

*If Blake answers, Ethan will confront him immediately. Instead of protecting Ethan, I'll be throwing him to the wolves.*

"No?" His eyebrows rose. "I used to answer your calls whenever I wanted."

"That was then, this is now!" I snapped. "Blake Parker, we're divorced now! Our marriage is over!"

"What if I insist on answering this call for my ex-wife?" he challenged,his finger moving toward the screen.

"Blake Parker!" I shouted, my voice echoing in the stairwell. "Don't force me to hate you!"

Blake's finger froze just as he was about to answer.

He gave me a cold look, then glanced at the phone again.

After a moment, he tossed it back to me with an icy expression. "Boring."

With that single word, he turned and climbed a few steps,stopping at the landing above. He leaned against the wall, pulled out a cigarette, and lit it with a sharp click.

I frowned at him before covering the phone and answering. "Ethan, what's wrong?"

"There are men in black suits knocking on doors in my dorm," Ethan's anxious voice came through. "They're asking everyone which room I live in..."

"Are these Blake's men?"

I bit my lip,glancing at Blake smoking in the corner. In the dim light and cigarette smoke, I couldn't make out his expression.

"Stay hidden," I said quietly. "I'll handle this."

"Okay," Ethan's voice carried reaI fear for the first time. "There are four guys inside, but I saw five vans downstairs with about fifteen more men waiting..."

He paused. "Are they going to hurt me?"

"I thought they'd delete my posts and that would be it. It was only online for an hour... I didn't think it would hurt Miss Rose that much. At woret

I expected police involvement, maybe a public apology..."

"I never expected a small army at my dorm in the middle of the night..."

His voice dropped. "Audrey, you and Astrid are my only friends here, and I can't drag you two women into this at this hour."

"Do you know any guys who could pick me up? Find me somewhere to crash? I just stepped out for water. My wallet, clothes - everything's still in my room. I'm hiding in the stairwell..."

I glanced again at Blake, who continued smoking, content to wait out my call.

"Stay hidden," I whispered. "Put your phone on silent. Save your battery. I'll figure something out."

"Thanks,Audrey."

I hung up and walked toward Blake, stopping as he took a final drag from his cigarette.

He crushed it against the trash can and looked at me coldly. "Was that your goodnight call with little Ethan?"

I narrowed my eyes. "With you involved. will Ethan sleep at all tonight?"

Seeing my serious expression, Blake frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"