**Blake's POV*

After resolving Hannah's situation at Mayo Clinic, I returned to Lunar Mansion exhausted, but couldn't find Audrey anywhere despite searching the entire house. My frustration grew with each empty room.

*If she hadn't had security call me about needing medicine, I wouldn't have lost Thalia. Hannah wouldn't be fighting for her life right now. And this woman has the nerve to disappear after claiming she's dying?*

I loosened my tie in frustration and headed toward the back garden. The mansion had limited exits, and since security confirmed she hadn't left, the only place she could be was the garden.

As I approached the back door, voices drifted through.

"So you had embarrassing moments as a kid too?" Felix Thompson."I thought someone as beautiful as you would've always been perfect."

"Perfect? Me?" Audrey laughed. "I grew up in a village doing farm work.People thought I was rough around the edges."

"I'd love to see that sometime..."

I stepped into the garden. Audrey sat inside our property. On the other side of the fence - technically outside my security perimeter-Felix Thompson lounged like a man without a care. Not exactly looking like someone who'd supposedly drowned in the Hudson.

"What are you doing?" I asked, walking toward them. "This is your dying emergency,Audrey?"

I'd rushed back worried about her, and here she was, flirting through a fence.

Felix stood awkwardly. "Blake. Audrey isn't well. I brought medicine."

"Medicine?" I looked between them. "My staff can't buy medicine? We need the 'dead' Mr. Thompson to hand-deliver it? Or does it only work when he brings it?"

Audrey stood up. "You should go."

"Blake, there's nothing between us," Felix said.

"Leave."

One word. Felix hesitated, then walked away, glancing back repeatedly.

When he disappeared, Audrey turned to me."Ithought you wouldn't be back for a week."

She walked toward the house. No limping. No hunched posture from pain.Just her usual graceful walk.

*Unbelievable. Hours ago she claimed she'd die without medication. And I almost bought it.*

"If I hadn't come back today, I'd have missed your garden date," I said,following her.

Inside, I caught her arm, pinning her against the door. "When did you get so cozy with Thompson?"

She didn't flinch.

"Coming out of hiding just for you? Makes sense - he faked bis death to

protect you anyway."

I leaned closer. "You're better at seducing men than I thought."

Audrey shoved my hand away."You locked me up. Someone had to bring me medicine."

"My security's medicine not good enough?"

"That's right." She took a breath. "Blake, I'll tell you the truth. I'm terminally ill. Not much time left."

"Your guards can't get what I need. Felix brought it because his grandfather is Dr. Clarke."

I raised an eyebrow. "What terminal illness?"

"Late-stage gastric cancer."

I laughed. "Really? That's the best you could come up with? Gastric cancer?You accused Laurel of fakingillness. Now you're doing the same."

She started for a while, then smiled bitterly. "You're right. I was faking.Had security call because I wanted you back. Happy now?"

*I knew it.*

I grabbed her jaw, forcing her to look at me."Do you know what I was doing when they called?"

"If you hadn't pulled that stunt, I wouldn't have lost Thalia. What they did to Hannah wouldn't have happened."

**Audrey's POV*

I froze. Felix had mentioned Hannah earlier - the woman who got my medication. Blake's new charity case. The reason he came rushing back.

"So you were following your sister," I said, connecting the dots. "My call made you lose them, and by the time you found them again, they'd already hurt this Hannah girl?"

Blake didn't answer, but his fingers dug deeper into my jaw. Hard enough I thought the bone might crack.

I laughed,yanking his hand away. "How is that my fault?"

"I didn't assault her. I'm not responsible for your sister's actions.How was I supposed to know what you were doing? If you're mad about failing to protect your new girlfriend, don't blame me."

"Instead of wasting time on me, maybe discipline your psychotic sister! I've putup with her crap for years. If she keeps going, someone will die,and you'll go down with her."

I snatched up Snow and stormed upstairs. Minutes later, I heard his car start.

Gone.

I curled up with Snow, pain throbbing through me now that I didn't need to hide it.

*T'm over him. Done. But hearing him give away medicine I needed to live.then blame me for his sister's cruelty... why does that still hurt?*

I held Snow tighter and closed my eyes.

*Why does heartbreak feel so physical? Is death the only way I'll escape

Blake Parker? Well, death's coming soon anyway.*

For the next week, Blake stayed away. But security doubled. Before, Felix could pass things through the fence. Now guards watched every inch of the property.

I grew weaker without proper treatment. A canary in Blake's gilded cage.

But I wasn't hopeless. I started with just Felix, then added Astrid and Ethan to my secret calls. Their voices kept me going.

Sometimes,catching my skeletal reflection, I felt oddly relieved.

*Better Blake locked me away. If Astrid saw me like this, she'd fall apart.Dying quietly isn't so bad.*

My only wish now? Hearing Rachel wake up before I go.

That day, I'd framed a small painting to hang in the bathroom.I hammered a nail into the wall, phone on speaker.

"Rachel really woke up?" I asked.

"Yes!" Felix's excitement poured through the phone. "She said some words yesterday. They were slurred, but definitely your name!"

"Grandpa's doing rehab with her. In a few days, she should be talking in full sentences!"

"That's amazing!"

A car pulled up outside.

*Blake's back?*

Remembering his reaction last time, I quickly ended the call. I didn't want to lose my last connection to the outside.

I left the bathroom and heard an angry female voice from downstairs.

"Laurel. I was right! My brother stayed here that night.Someone's definitely living here!"

"It's her. I won't get it wrong this time!"

Thalia. My stomach dropped.

I never expected her to bring Laurel here. Just a week ago, Thalia had helped torture Hannah until she nearly died from a lung infection. Blake had cleaned up that mess,and I figured that was the end of it.

Guess answering Blake's phone that morning was all it took for them to hunt me down.

I turned to sneak through the back corridor to the garden. No way I could face all three of them.

"There she is!" Olivia's voice rang out.

Busted. I felt their stares like daggers in my back.

"So Blake really does have a side piece," Laurel said, her voice sickly sweet."You know his dead ex-wife used to live here, right? Not creeped out by

that?"

"Turn around," she coaxed. "Let me see who stole my fiancé."

My hands balled into fists. I stayed frozen.

Then Thalia's grip locked around my arm,spinning me forcefully.

"Are you deaf?" she snapped. "Look at us when we're talking to you!"