**Audrey's POV**

I froze outside the living room door, catching snippets of conversation from inside.

"Snow,huh? That's a good name for you. Are you sure Blake really giving her up?"

My hand stopped mid-air. *Snow?* That name hit me like a physical blow.

"This is my first time seeing such a beautiful ragdoll cat," Dr. Clarke continued."How old is she?"

"About two and a half," Rachel answered. "She belonged to my friend when she was alive. She took this cat everywhere with her."

"But now she's gone, and there's no one to take care of her," Rachel continued. "Blake and I are both too busy. We thought you'd be perfect since you love cats so much."

My mind spun. Ten months ago, when I thought I was dying, I'd given Snow to Ethan. How had Blake ended up with her?

"Your friend," Dr. Clarke's voice turned cautious, "the cat's original owner...that would be Blake Parker's ex-wife, Audrey Sinclair?"

"Yes," Rachel confirmed. "Audrey had this cat when I was still a vegetative patient, so I didn't spend much time with her. But from what I heard, this cat got her through a lot of lonely nights."

"If Snow meant so much to Audrey," Dr. Clarke asked,"why give her

away? Shouldn't Blake keep her as a reminder?"

The living room fell into silence.

Adrian squeezed my elbow. "Let's go in," he whispered.

He pushed the door open and pulled me into the room.

"Dr. Clarke!" Adrian called. "Look who I've brought!"

Dr. Clarke turned, a white fluffy cat cradled in his arms. When he saw me.his eyes widened.

"You..."

"My wife, Evelyn Knox," AdIrian jumped in. "Remember? You treated her heart condition in Sydney two months ago."

Understanding flickered across Dr. Clarke's face. "Of course! When I saw you last, you were fighting for your life. Multiple organ failure from that infection."

He looked me up and down. "Remarkable recovery. This will make an excellent case study."

"I owe you my life," I replied, getting the message. "Without your expertise.

I wouldn't be here."

My eyes locked on the white bundle of fur in his arms.′′This cat..."

Snow's ears perked up. She wiggled in Dr. Clarke's grasp, then leaped to the floor and darted straight toward me. She rubbed against my legs,purring loudly.

I stared down, stunned. Despite my determination to cut ties with my past,

something in my chest softened. I knelt and stroked her famillar fur.

"Wow, kitty!" Emma squealed, crouching beside me. Her small hand reached toward Snow.

"Don't touch her!" Rachel snapped. "Keep your hands to yourself! She's skittish!"

Emma's hand froze mid-air. Herface crumpled as she looked up at Rachel,eyes filling with tears.

"Waaah!" Emma burst into sobs. ′′Ijust wanted to pet her! Did Emma do bad?"

"I didn't mean - " Rachel stammered.

"It's okay, baby," Adrian cut in, scooping Emma up. "You didn't do anything wrong."

He shot Rachel a cold look.′′Ifyour cat is too precious to be touched,maybe you shouldn't bring her out in public."

"That's not what I - " Rachel started.

"Emma," I sad gently. "Want to pet her? You can if you're gentle."

Emma sniffled, glancing nervously at Rachel."Really?"

"Of course. Just use a soft touch."

Emma hesitantly reached out and patted Snow's head. To my surprise,Snow pushed against her hand, clearly enjoying it.

Rachel stared at us, eyes wide with disbelief.

Dr. Clarke cleared his throat. "Interesting. The cat seems quite taken with you,Mrs.Knox."

He stroked his beard. "Miss Hayes, since Blake gave Snow to me, would I be right in assuming I can do with her as I please?"

Rachel blinked. "In principle,yes,but-"

"Excellent! Then I've decided. This cat goes to Mrs. Knox. They clearly have a connection."

"Dr. Clarke, that's not appropriate," Rachel protested. "This cat means a lot to Blake. He trusted you specifically-"

"Are you suggesting my wife would mistreat her?" Adrian's voice turned icy.

"Or that our daughter isn't gentle enough?" He held Emma closer. "You're giving the cat away while claiming she's too important to give to just anyone. That's hypocritical."

′′Ijust meant - " Rachel tried again.

"Miss Hayes," Dr. Clarke interjected kindly but firmly. "The Knox family will take good care of Snow. And look at that connection. Isn't that worth respecting?"

Rachel pressed her lips together, then turned to me. "Mrs. Knox, have you owned pets before? With such a young child, I'm concerned-"

"My daughter loves animals," Adrian interrupted. "And my wife is perfectly capable."

He stepped closer to Rachel."We may have demanding schedules, but we

always make time for those we care about."

The icy mockery in Adrian's voice drained the color from Rachel's face.

I watched her reaction while cradling Snow, feeling an unexpected pang of sympathy.

Years ago, Rachel had spent days crying when Scarlett planned to give away one of her dogs. The memory was still clear. I knew she wouldn't abandon Snow without a good reason.

And Blake not showing up himself to handle this? That said everything.

He supposedly mourned his dead ex-wife, but couldn't even keep my cat around. Instead, he pawned off the task on Rachel.

Typical Blake. Five years hadn't changed him one bit.

At least now Snow would be with me again, where she belonged.

I took a deep breath and met Rachel's worried gaze. "Miss Hayes. Snow will be fine."

"I'll take good care of her."

"And since we're working on the collaboration anyway, you can drop by to see her whenever you want."

**Rachel's POV**

What else could I say? Evelyn had backed me into a corner.

"Alright," I sighed, nodding.

I should never have snuck Snow out behind Blake's back, If I'd just given

her to Dr. Clarke like we planned, Blake would've been mad, sure, but he would've gotten over it.

Now? I was screwed.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. Blake. Perfect timing.

I stepped away to answer. "Hey."

"Where's Snow?" His voice was tight with panic. "She's gone. Did you take her?"

I bit my lip, watching Evelyn across the room. She held Snow against her chest, laughing at something Dr. Clarke said.

Something about her triggered a memory.

Years ago, after what Laurel did to me. My body had been covered in bruises I couldn't let anyone see. I'd demanded a female caregiver my own

age.

That's how I met Audrey.

Our first meeting was behind the hospital in that tiny garden. She was burying a dead cat, and I was a total bitch about it.

"If you actually cared," I'd sneered, "you would've been kind to it while it was alive instead of putting on this whole sad funeral now that it's dead."

She just looked at me, not saying a word.

Later I found out it wasn't even her cat - just some stray she'd found. God,I felt like such an asshole.

I dragged her to a pet store, determined to buy her a cat to make up for it.

She held one of the kittens exactly the way Evelyn was holding Snow now.

"I can't keep one," she'd told me, stroking its fur. "Cats need stability.

They need someone who's emotionally steady."

"They're like kids - they need someone who's actually there."

"Between school and my jobs... it wouldn't be fair to the cat."