**Audrey's POV**

The female officer looked uncomfortable with my question. She glanced at her partner before answering.

"Well..." she hesitated. "It depends on the situation."

She adjusted her posture. "If someone knowingly filed a false report despite being aware you weren't in that kind of relationship, they would face consequences."

"But if they were simply suspicious after seeing three people enter the same room... that could be considered a good-faith report. We can't punish someone for that."

Astrid leaned forward. "Don't let me find out who reported us!" Her eyes flashed. "If I discover who did this, I'll make them regret it!"

I put my hand on Astrid's back, patting gently. "Calm down.Getting angry won't help now."

As the police car started moving, I glanced out the window during a turn.A familiar black sedan was parked across from the hotel entrance. Michael stepped out, phone in hand, heading toward the hotel.

My eyes narrowed.

*What a coincidence. Just as we're reported and taken away, Michael shows up outside the hotel? This can't be random.*

At the police station, we sat while officers completed our statements.The female officer approached us again.

"Although your statements confirm you weren't engaged in those activities."she said, "we still need you to contact family members to come get you."

She glanced at our bathrobes. "In the future, try to avoid small hotels like Paris Night. People might get the wrong idea."

Astrid wasn't having it. "Someone was trying to set us up," she snapped."Even if we were sitting in the middle of the street, they'd report us for blocking traffic!"

Her hands clenched into fists. "Don't let me find out who's behind this.They'll pay forit!"

I pulled my bathrobe tighter, thinking about what had happened.

*Michael being there means Blake must be involved. But why would he care? Shouldn't he be with Laurel and her mother? How did they even know we were at this hotel?*

My phone rang with an unfamiliar number. I answered cautiously.

"Hello?"

"Audrey, it's mne, Victoria! Where are you?" Her voice was irritatingly sweet with an undercurrent of annoyance. "Dad said he told you I was coming back and that you'd pick me up at the airport..."

I remembered my conversation with Richard. He had mentioned Victoria coming to New York, but I'd clearly told him I wouldn't meet her.

"Audrey, you're being really unfair," Victoria whined. "Not showing up at

the airport is one thing, but you haven't even contacted me this whole time.

”

She paused before her tone changed. "Are you afraid I'll steal Blake Parker from you? Is that why you're avoiding me?"

I almost laughed at her words.

"Victoria," I replied coldly, "Richard and I already made things clear. We have no real relationship, we're not sisers, and you didn't come to New York for me. Since you're here for Blake, you should be contacting him,not me."

I hung up without waiting for her response.

Astrid looked impressed. "Audrey, who are you and what have you done with my friend? You never stood up to Victoria before."

I laughed. "I must have been out of my mind before."

*I used to think Victoria was still my sister despite having no blood relation. She was raised by Richard and Elaine, so I thought I should be patient.*

*I believed if I tried hard enough, we could become a happy family. But time has shown they'll never accept me.*

*And now, with less than three months left to live. I think:to hell with being one big happy family.*

"So, who are we going to call to get us out of here?" Astrid asked, looking at Ethan who was staring at his phone.

I sighed, "I'll call Blake."

"Blake?" Astrid's eyebrows shot up.′′Ijust complimented you on standing up for yourself, and now you're calling him?"

"Don't worry," I said. "I have my reasons."

As I scrolled through my contacts, I noticed a missed call from Blake from about half an hour ago, showing a duration of 30 seconds.

I looked at Ethan. "Did you answer my phone earlier?"

Ethan nodded. "Yeah, Mr. Parker called. I asked what he wanted, but he didn't say much. I was going to tell you after your shower, but when Astrid suggested poker, I got distracted."

"Is something wrong?" he asked, looking worried.

I rubbed my temples as everything clicked.

*So Blake called and Ethan answered. He must have assumed we were alone in a hotel room. He probably thought we were going to... that's why he had us reported.*

*Blake Parker, you really are something. It's lucky I brought Astrid tonight.If there had actually been something between Ethan and me, I would've been completely humiliated.*

I walked into the hallway with my phone.

**Blake's POV**

I had just turned onto Manhattan's main road when my phone rang.

Seeing Audrey's name, I pulled over and answered.

"Hello,"

"Mr. Parker, are you disappointed?" Her voice was sharp.

"Disappointed about what?" I kept my tone neutral.

"Disappointed that I wasn't arrested as a prostitute?" She didn't hide her anger. "Blake Parker, we were married. Even divorced, we're not enemies.Why report me?"

I paused,surprised she had figured it out. "How do you know it was me?"

"You called me and Ethan answered. Who else could it be?" Her voice rose."Blake Parker, don't you think you're being despicable?"

"I was just worried you might be making a mistake," I said.

"A mistake?" she cut in. "If Ethan had told you Astrid was also here,you wouldn't have reported us, right? Your way of 'helping' was to report me for prostitution?"

I heard her taking a breath. "If Astrid hadn't been here tonight, I'd be New York's laughingstock tomorrow! Blake Parker, in our three years of marriage, I never betrayed you. Is this how you repay me?"

"I didn't want to ruin your reputation," I insisted, feeling increasingly defensive.

*I just... had no choice in that moment. Seeing Ethan answer her phone -I couldn't stand the thought of them together. That college kid with my Audrey? No. Just no. When I made that call, revenge wasn't on my mind.I wasn't trying to destroy her reputation. I was worried about her, damn it.

*And I couldn't - still can't - handle the idea of her with another man.Couldn't let her become someone else's.*

*But now, hearing her angry voice, I'm starting to realize how badly I screwed up. Reporting her for prostitution... what the hell was I thinking?One phone call and I could've ruined everything for her."

"You didn't want to ruin my reputation, but you had Michael do it for you."she countered.

Her voice cracked slightly. "Blake Parker, I always knew you used some dirty tactics in business. But I thought those were just because you're a businessman - that's normal. I never imagined you would use those tactics on me!"

I was about to respond when I heard a strange sound from her end-choking followed by retching.

"Audrey?" I called, suddenly alert.

A woman's scream pierced through the phone: "Someone help! She's vomiting blood!"

My heart stopped. "Audrey? AUDREY!" I shouted, but there was no response, just chaos in the background.

My hands shaking, I immediately dialed Michael.

"Where is Audrey?" I demanded when he answered, my voice breaking with panic.′′Tell me which police station she's at!"