**Blake's POV**

Hearing Audrey's question, I paused. When I didn't immediately respond.she asked again.

"Are you here because you were worried about me?"

I nodded. "Of course. What else would it be?"

Her expression changed instantly. A cold, mocking smile touched her lips.

I stepped closer to her bed, frowning. "What's with the attitude?"

She'd been hiding in here for two days, ignoring hundreds of calls from everyone,including Astrid. I'd barely slept, searching everywhere for her.And now that I'd finally found her, she was looking at me like I was her enemy.

"What attitude?" she asked, her voice sharp. "Blake Pärker, do you think two days is enough time for me to forget what you did?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Let me remind you," she said. "Two nights ago, I was playing cards with Astrid and Ethan at that hotel. You had Michael report us for prostitution,bringing the police to arrest us!"

"And now you claim you've been looking for me because you were worried.Where was that concern when you were having the police drag me away?"

I stood frozen as her eyes flashed with fury.

"I..." I started, then stopped. What could I say? She was right. I had arranged that report. driven by jealousy I couldn't admit even to myself.

"I apologize for what happened that night." I finally said. "But I did it because I was worried about you."

"Worried about what?" she cut in.

"I was worried that-"

"You were worried Ethan and I would be sleeping together," she interrupted. "So you reported us to the police!"

"You knew if we were caught in a prostitution investigation. we'd both be humiliated," she continued, her voice trembling. "You had Michael waiting outside to take photos ofus being escorted out. to destroy our reputations!"

"Blake Parker, you claim you were worried about me. But I think you weren't satisfied with my humiliation yet. You wanted to make sure I was completely ruined so you and your Miss Rose could celebrate!"

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Was this really how she saw me?

"Audrey Sinclair," I said, "why would you think I planned something like that? How would your public humiliation benefit me in any way?"

I'd only been concerned that after sleeping with Ethan, the young college student wouldn't take responsibility for her. That she would end up hurt and alone. How had she twisted my simple concern into such a malicious plot?

"If I were publicly disgraced," she replied coldly, "it would prove that Blake Parker cheating on me with Laurel Rose and divorcing me was the right decision. Wouldn't that benefit you?"

I stured at her, cold fury settling in my chest. So this was what she truly thought of me.

Victoria was right. This woman never understood genuine concern, never appreciated anything. She twisted everything to fit her narrative of victimhood.

"I shouldn't have come," I said, turning away. "Goodbye, Audrey."

At the doorway, I nearly collided with Dr. Evans, who was carrying a fruit platter.

"Mr. Parker," she said, looking surprised. "Leaving already?"

"Yes," I looked at the fruit and said, "Dr. Evans, I suggest you save your energy for patients who actually need treatment, like Laurel, rather than wasting it on someone who's pretending to be sick and doesn't appreciate your help."

Dr. Evans paused, then simply shook her head with a faint smile. "Have a good day, Mr.Parker."

Her calm response puzzled me. I frowned,giving Audrey one last cold look before turning to leave.

Outside,Michael waited with several security personnel. He hurried over as I emerged.

"Sir, how is Miss Sinclair? What happened with the blood? Is something wrong with her health?"

"Nothing's wrong with her," I snapped.

I recalled Dr. Evans's earlier explanation: "Just a stress reaction. She has

bleeding gums, so the blood isn't as alarming as it looks. She's been resting here and seems fine now..."

Something about her manner had seemed off. Her explanation sounded rehearsed,wvith hesitations that suggested she wasn't being entirely truthful.

The thought that I'd mobilized thousands of people to search for someone who was perfectly fine made me want to punch something.

"If she's okay, that's a relief," Michael said. "With Miss Rose's gastric cancer already causing you stress, if Miss Sinclair were also - "

"Who gave you permission to compare her to Laurel?" I cut him off.

Laurel was gentle and kind. And Audrey? Just a cold, ungrateful person who talked about loyalty but showed none.

Michael cleared his throat. "Now that you've found Miss Sinclair, perhaps you should visit Miss Rose? She's receiving IV fluids at Twilight Mansion.quite upset about her missing phone."

I nodded, then recalled something. "That night when we reported Audrey.you were waiting outside the hotel?"

"Yes, sir. You said you would go to the hotel yourself, and I was worried you wouldn't know the way, so I parked in a corner near the entrance...Why?"

"Audrey saw you that night," I explained. "She thinks I stationed you there to take compromising photos of her when the police brought her out.

11

Michael's eyes widened. "That's a misunderstanding! Should I explain

things to her?"

I shook my head. "No point. She wouldn't believe you anyway."

She didn't trust me. No matter what explanation I gave, she wouldn't believe a word.

"Any word from Original Studio today?" I asked, changing the subject.

Michael shook his head. "George says they still haven't been able to contact that designer, Rachel Hayes."

I tugged at my tie in frustration. "Tell Original Studio that if this designer doesn't show up by this afternoon, we're canceling the collaboration."

**Audrey's POV*

The moment Blake stormed out, my body betrayed me. The room spun,and I tasted blood rising in my throat.

"Audrey!" Ethan rushed to my side as I swayed. "Dr. Evans, is she going to vomit blood again?"

Dr. Evans hurried in, pressing a tissue to my lips. "What are you doing.getting worked up again? You were just starting to recover!"

She shook her head. "You were married to Mr. Parker. Couldn't you have spoken to him more calmly?"

I wiped the blood from my mouth and managed a weak smile. "If I hadn't gotten angry... would he have left so quickly?"

Dr. Evans gave me a long look. She sighed, handing medication to Ethan with instructions.

"Was it really necessary?" she asked as Ethan helped me take the medicine.

"Mr. Parker seemed genuinely concerned. Did you have to bring "h

past and drive him away?"

I shook my head. "He doesn't care about me. If I hadn't mentioned that night, he would have taken my friend's phone for his precious Miss Rose."

Though I'd backed up all the content from Rachel's phone, the device itself was just as important to me. It was a tangible connection to Rachel-a physical reminder of our friendship. The content was Rachel's life story.her perspective on the world.

Even knowing that Blake would eventually force me to return the phone to Laurel, I wanted to keep it with me as long as possible.

Dr. Evans gave me an enigmatic look. "Actually... Mr. Parker's visit might not have been about the phone at all."