**Blake's POV**

I took a second, then nodded.′′Yes.′′

"I don't know why you dropped the charges against Jennifer," I said.meeting Audrey's eyes. "But she needed to face consequences."

"So I made Michael keep pushing."

I looked for any reaction, then got to the point. "I answered your question."

"Let's talk about Rachel Hayes now. Privately."

Audrey signaled to Astrid with a quick hand motion before walking a few steps away with me.

"What now?" she asked when we were alone.′′Ialready told you everything."

"At the mansion," I started, watching her face. "You said Rachel called you her sister. Was that true?"

"Yes."

She crossed her arms. "You're thick with Laurel, so you must know the family situation."

"Rachel couldn't stand Mr. Rose or Laurel. They bullied her constantly.That's why she wanted me as her sister instead."

My forehead creased with doubt. "But Laurel and Rachel were close."

I'd heard about their relationship myself. But thinking back to those two months when Rachel cared for me... she never once said her sister's actual name, just "sister" or "dear." If Audrey was telling the truth...

"Just call me a liar and be done with it," Audrey said with a bitter laugh."You show up asking about Rachel, then don't believea word I say.What's the point?"

She turned to leave.

I came to my senses and caught her wrist. "I asked because I want to believe you."

"It's just... I think you've got Laurel wrong. Their relationship too..."

"I don't have anyone wrong," Audrey snapped,yanking free.

She faced me squarely. "Including you, Blake Parker."

"If all you want is to believe Laurel's version without checking facts yourself... why even talk to me? Trying to make me as clueless as you are?"

"Not happening."

She walked away without looking back.

I almost reached for her, wanting to explain Laurel wasn't what she thought. My hand stopped halfway.

Her words knocked around in my head, impossible to ignore.

After standing there like an idiot for a minute. I got back to my car and called Michael. "I need everything you can find on Rachel Hayes."

Michael sounded confused. "Sir, isn't she dead? Been that way for four

years? You want me investigating a corpse?"

I yanked at my tie, my patience wearing thin. "She's not dead. She's a vegetative patient. The Rose family's keeping her hidden."

The phone went silent. When Michael finally spoke, he sounded stunned."Wait... Rachel Hayes is alive? A vegetative patient?"

"And the Roses told everyone she committed suicide?"

"Yeah." I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Laurel claims Scarlett bought into some psychic's bullshit. Something about announcing her death would trick the Grim Reaper into thinking he'd already collected her soul."

Michael snorted. "Sir, no offense, but that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard."

"When you were a vegetable, Mr. William Parker told the whole damn world. Put out rewards for doctors. That's why you're walking and talking now."

"If they told everyone Rachel was dead, they can't exactly go doctor-shopping, can they? So what's their plan? Let her lie there until she dies of old age?"

"Sounds to me like they want her gone for good."

His words hit like a bucket of ice water.

*Shit. He's right.*

If the Roses actually cared about Rachel like Laurel claimed,why wouldn't they be moving heaven and earth to heal her?

"Find out if they've brought in any specialists for vegetative patients in tho

last four years," I sald, my voice hardening. "And get me the contact info for the team that woke me up. I want them to evaluate Rachel."

**Audrey's POV**

"What did Blake want?" Astrid pounced the moment I walked in. hugging Snow to her chest. "What's his deal now?"

"Just Blake being Blake," I saíd with a shrug. "Talking nonsense."

I took Snow from her and sat down, running my fingers through his soft fur. "He helped with that kidnapping report, so I gave him five minutes.That's all."

Astrid flopped onto the other couch with a dramatic sigh. "God, that man."

"When you were married, you couldn't find him with a search party. Now you're divorced, and he's everywhere like a rash."

She twisted to look at me. "Maybe he realized what he lost? That's why he s always making up reasons to see you?"

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, right."

"He was literally just downstairs telling me how I've got his precious LaureI all wrong. Who talks about one woman while chasing another?"

Astrid made a gagging noise. "I still don't get what he sees in her!"

"Not my problem anymore."

"Okay, but what did you see in him?" She rolled onto her side. "You never told me how you fell for Blake Parker."

"Did you really meet him at that nursing home wvhile taking care of

William?"

I set Snow down and got up to open cat food. "Sure, let's go with that.Love at first sight."

*Five years ago on that beach when I pulled Blake from the water...*

I pushed the memory away. I didn't want to think about it.

The promises he'd made back then. How he'd told me when his eyes healed. I'd be the first person he'd see. How we'd be together.

Then he disappeared without a goodbye. Forgot I existed.

Even now, remembering it made my chest ache. I didn't want Astrid carrying that weight too.

"You're hiding something." Astrid narrowed her eyes.

She swung her legs up onto the sofa back, getting comfortable.""Well.forget it. What's your plan tomorrow? Wanna race?"

I watched Snow attack his food. "Work first. I've already skipped two days."

"And after?"

"After..." I hesitated, thinking about my promise to convince William about Laurel. "I'm heading to the Parker mansion to see William."

"Want backup?" Astrid sighed. "If it's just William,fine. But if Blake's mom and sister show up... they're brutal."

"I can handle myself now," I said with a half-smile. "Not the pushover I used to be."

"Plus William will be there. They might hate me, but they won't try anything stupid in front of him."

After work the next day, I grabbed a taxi straight to the Parker mansion.

Astrid texted me the whole way there. *If you see Thalia or Rebecca, just leave. Don't argue. Stay calm. Text me updates.*

I typed back short replies to each message, trying not to roll my eyes.

Turned out Astrid was psychic.

The moment I walked into the Parker mansion, I spotted Rebecca and Thalia sitting across from William, faces wet with tears.

"Dad, you can't do this..." Rebecca's voice hitched through a sob as I stepped into the living room.

"Miss Sinclair." Charles nodded to me at the doorway.

The crying stopped instantly.

Rebecca and Thalia's heads snapped up, their tear-streaked faces morphing into looks that could freeze hell. "You actually showed up?!"

The hatred in their eyes was like a physical thing.

I had no idea what I'd supposedly done this time,but whatever.

I walked toward Williamn, shooting the mother-daughter duo a cold look."Why wouldn't I? I'm here for William."

"Audrey!" William's whole face brightened when he saw me.

He wvaved me over eagerly. "Perfect timing! I need to talk to you!"

I quickened my pace, surprised. "You needed me for something?"

"Yes!" William grabbed my hand, grinning."Ihave something important to announce..."