**Audrey's POV*

I caught Rachel studying me, her expression cold and calculating.Gone was the warmth she once showed to Audrey Sinclair.

"I admit," she said, "neither Blake nor I are jewelry design experts. Our lack of knowledge in this area is understandable."

She held up her phone, showing comparison images of jewelry pieces."But we can still see the striking similarities between your designs and Audrey's work."

"We're not calling it plagiarism, Mrs. Knox. We just think your design approach seems remarkably similar to Audrey's."

She paused, taking a deep breath as something painful crossed her mind.

"We'd like to understand what inspired you when creating these pieces,"she continued after collecting herself. "With work so similar to Audrey's,your creative process must follow similar patterns."

Rachel leaned forward. "Mrs. Knox, I know this might sound strange, but I truly want to help complete my friend's legacy. While she was alive, I never really understood what she was trying to express through her designs." She looked directly at me. "So we thought-"

"Let me get this straight," Adrian cut in. "You want to collaborate with Q·elegant so my wife can explain her design philosophy, which you'll then use to figure out your friend's Intentions?"

He raised an eyebrow at Rachel."That's actually not unreasonable."

His gaze shifted to Blake. "But Mr. Parker's attitude seemed more like he was accusing my wife of stealing his ex-wife's work."

"How do you explain that?"

Rachel laughed awkwardly. "Blake's never been great with people. He didn't mean it like that. Like me, he just wants to understand Audrey's vision through Mrs. Knox's similar work."

She turned to me. "My fiancé sometimes says the wrong thing.If he offended you, please don't hold it against him. We came for collaboration.If we truly thought you were copying Audrey, why would we propose these terms or seek a partnership?"

Adrian stepped between us. "It's fine. I'll forgive him on her behalf."

His protective stance was unnecessary but predictable. After months together, I'd come to understand Adrian's nature. Cold and distant, caring only about what directly mattered to him.

"My wife will explain her design philosophy after Dr. Clarke's birthday celebration," he said, guiding me to a seat.

He sat beside me, crossing his legs. "But I've been wondering about something else. Miss Hayes, you were Mr. Parker's ex-wife's best friend.right?"

Looking at Rachel like this made my stomach twist with conflicting emotions.

"It's only been ten months since his ex-wife died," Adrian continued, "How did you two get engaged so quickly?"

I knew what he was doing. Adrian was asking the question I couldn't.

"One of you claims you loved your ex-wife enough to attempt suicide," he said with thinly veiled mockery. "The other acts deeply concerned about your dead friend. So why are you two together?"

The room went dead silent. My face remained neutral, but my hands tightened into fists. I'd wondered the same thing. I knew better than anyone that Rachel and Blake never had romantic feelings for each other.What pushed them into this engagement?

I glanced at Adrian, our eyes meeting briefly before I frowned and looked away.

**Blake's POV**

I watched their quick exchange of glances, irritation flaring in my chest.Even knowing this woman wasn't Audrey, seeing someone with her exact face sharing looks with another man made it hard to breathe.

My engagement to Rachel was straightforward business. Laurel had died in custody, and Rachel now almost controlled both the Rose and Hayes families. Working with them brought enormous value. And most importantly, my grandfather...

It was just a partnership. The engagement was merely a cover to satisfy family expectations. Rachel was free to finad someone she truly loved. As for me, after Audrey. I couldn't love anyone else.

Not that I needed to explain any of this to them.

"Mr. Knox." Rachel said with a practiced smile, "my engagement to Blake has its reasons."

Her tone remained polite but cool. "We've only met twice. We're business partners, not friends yet. I don't think we owe you explanations about our

private matters." She turned to me. "Blake, don't you agree?"

I shifted my gaze away from the woman with Audrey's face. "Yes. Maybe when we become actual friends, we'll explain our engagement. Right now,these questions seem inappropriate."

"What are you talking about?" Adrian sneered. "You think I care why you're engaged?"

"I'm just curious if you two betrayed Audrey Sinclair while she was alive."

"Audrey died ten months ago," he continued. "You announced your engagement with a lavish ceremony just three months later. Is that enough time for a man who supposedly loved his wife to move past grief and get engaged to her best friend?"

I clenched my fists, feeling my control slipping. Rachel quickly placed her hand on mine, subtly shaking her head.

"Of course, you can keep saying it's private," Adrian pressed. "But since we're discussing a business partnership, I need to understand who I'm working with." He leaned forward. "Did either of you betray Audrey Sinclair while she was still alive?"

I stared at Rachel's hand on mine, then looked up toward Audrey's double.She was calmly pouring tea for Adrian, completely uninterested in our conversation.

Her indifference squeezed something in my chest. Though I knew she wasn't Audrey, her complete lack of interest still hurt, making me feel like Audrey herself had never cared.

Rachel tightened her grip on my hand. "Mr. Knox, let me be clear."

′′Myengagement to Blake isn't based on romantic feelings. It involves family interests and business considerations. Neither of us ever betrayed Audrey. Her death is a wound we haven't recovered from. There's no romantic relationship between Blake and me. Even if we eventually marry.it won't be about love."

Rachel took a deep breath-and looked Adrian straight in the eye. "Does that answer your question, Mr.Knox?"

She then turned to Evelyn. "Mrs. Knox, if we'd betrayed Audrey, would we go through all this trouble just to understand her creative process through your similar designs?"

Evelyn waited a moment before responding. "I believe you."

She glanced at Adrian. "Let's drop it. We've spent enough time on other people's personal business."

She stood up and walked over to Emma, who was playing with her stuffed bear in the corner. She scooped her up and headed for the bedroom. "Dr. Clarke's expecting us soon. I need to get Emma ready."

"Handle the business details without me. I don't need to be there for that part."

At the doorway, she stopped. "I look like his ex-wife. That's it. I'm not her.1

"Whatever they did or didn't do to Audrey Sinclair has nothing to do with me. I don't want to hear about this again."

After the door clicked shut, Rachel smiled tightly and handed the agreement to Adrian. "Since your wife's out, let's go through these terms."

Adrian cleared his throat and started reviewing the paperwork with us.

I couldn't focus. My eyes kept drifting toward the bedroom door.

The muffled sounds of laughter fiItered through.

I couldn't help thinking: if I'd known about Audrey's pregnancy sooner, if I'd known about her illness...

Maybe our baby wouldn't have died before it had a chance to live.

If our child had survived... would it have been a girl?

Would she have laughed like Emma?

"Blake?"

Rachel's voice pulled me back. I blinked, frowning. "What?"