**Audrey's POV**

Adrian crouched in front of me, back turned. "Come on. Helping you is just part of being your husband."

I frowned and climbed onto his back. His shoulders felt broader than they looked in his suits, solid beneath my weight.

"You've done rock climbing before?" I asked as he gripped the rope.

"Not just rock climbing." He started up toward the opening with surprising efficiency. "Whatever Evelyn wanted in a boyfriend, I became that. She had many interests, so I picked up quite a few skills."

The fondness in his voice when mentioning my sister was unmistakable."You'll find I'm pretty much good at everything."

As he climbed, I thought about how different our lives had been. Evelyn grew up surrounded by love from her adoptive parents and Adrian, a man who shaped himself to fit her desires. Meanwhile, I'd wasted years on Blake Parker, who couldn't evenrecognize me when I was right in front of him.

Two identical women. Two completely different lives.

Halfway up, I whispered, "You shouldn't have saved me. You should've gone through with the brain transplant."

Adrian barely paused. "Saving you was the right call," he whispered back."Evelyn was brain dead. Dr. Clarke said bringing her back was practically impossíble, but you could recover."

He pulled us higher. "You don't need to feel like you owe us. Saving you was your sister's decision."

"I didn't tell you, but Evelyn once said she wanted to help her sister."

"If you really feel indebted to her, then take care of her parents and Emma,and stay away from your old life," he added with an edge to his voice. "I doubt Evelyn would want the sister she saved to go back to the man who caused her so much pain."

"Don't worry," I assured him. "Even if Blake discovers who I am, I won't go back to him. I'm done with that life."

"Good," Adrian said as we reached the top. "Remember that."

Once on solid ground, I slid off his back. The forest buzzed with activity -security personnel, medical staff working on Blake, flashlights cutting through the darkness.

Astrid approached right away, arms crossed as she looked Adrian over.

"Well, Mr. Knox, I'm impressed," she said coolly. "You look all buttoned-up, but you can fight and climb like that?"

Adrian just gave her.a cold look. "Is that your business?"

"I don't care what kind of person you are," Astrid shot back, "but since you took Snow, that is my business."

She pushed past him and came straight to me. "You're Mrs. Knox,right?"

She grabbed my arm, her intense gaze fixed on my face. "I'm the best friend of Snow's real owner. Audrey Sinclair. That cat was the last thing she had in this world before she died."

"As her friend, I need to know Snow is being well cared for-"

She stopped mid-sentence as a flashlight beam hit my face. Her eyes widened,mouth falling open.

"Audrey?" she barely whispered.

Without hesitation, she threw her arms around me, holding me like I might vanish. "You're alive! Oh my god, you're alive!"

I froze as her tears soaked my shoulder. Memories flooded back - lying in that emergency room, hearing Astrid's heartbroken cries when she thought I was dying.

Over her shoulder, I caught sight of Blake. Despite the medical team working on his mangled leg, his pale face was turned toward me, his eyes never leaving mine.

I realized Blake must have gone to great lengths to bring Astrid here. I could keep up the charade, insist I wasn't Audrey Sinclair. Maybe I'd even pull it off. But then what? Blake would just find another way to test me.drag another person from my past in front of me.

Taking a deep breath, I stopped fighting and wrapped my arms around Astrid, holding her just as tight.

"Astrid, it's been a long time," I said softly. "I've missed you."

Everyone around us went still. Adrian's eyes turned cold. his brow furrowed.Rachel stared in disbelief. The only sounds were the wind through the trees and the medical team working on Blake's leg.

"Audrey, this is amazing!" Astrid cried, squeezing me tighter. "You're really alivel"

I let her hold me a moment longer before gently breaking free. "That's enough crying. Let's talk when you calm down."

Looking at her tear-streaked face, I couldn't help smiling. "You're still so impulsive."

Astrid tried to speak but got so emotional a bubble formed at her nose.I laughed at the sight, and after a second of surprise,she joined in.

"What are you laughing at? This is your fault!" She swatted my shoulder."I'm a big-deal model now, and look at me! You owe me!"

I caught her hand, feeling lighter than I had in months. "Fine, fine,it's my fault."

"First thing you do after all this time is hit me?" I asked, pretending to be offended.

Her face softened as she hugged me again. "I've missed you so damn much."

"I've missed you too," I said honestly. "Seeing you makes me so happy."

We turned to face everyone, still holding hands. "I'll explain how I survived later."

"Okay." Astrid nodded,trying to compose herself.

She looked at Rachel, still beaming. "No wonder you said I'd understand why you gave Snow to her once I met Mrs. Knox."

She squeezed my hand. "You knew Audrey was alive this whole time. If you'd told me, I would've been here days ago."

Rachel's lips tightened as she stared at me. "Mrs. Knox, this isn't funny."

"What isn't?" I asked.

"You tell me," Rachel said coldly. "This friend of mine was devastated when Audrey died. Of course she can't tell the difference between you two."

She stepped forward. "That doesn't give you the right to pretend you're Audrey and mess with her emotions. Astrid's feelings are genuine. Have you thought about how crushed she'll be when she finds out you're not really Audrey?"

Astrid just stared at Rachel. "Rachel, what the hell are you talking about?"

Rachel frowned and moved between us, pulling our hands apart. "Astrid,she's fooling you! She's not Audrey at all. She just looks like her."

I stared at Rachel, something cold settling in my chest.

This woman - once someone I would've died for - was looking at me like I was a stranger. Like I was the villain here. After everything we'd been through together.

I'd literally just admitted who I was. Astrid believed me instantly. Why was Rachel fighting this so hard? Did she really not believe me, or did she just not want to?

"My wife doesn't owe anyone an apology." Adrian stepped up beside me.hand landing on my shoulder.

"Funny how this works," he said. "You've all been hounding her, insisting she's Audrey Sinclair. You even dragged her friend here to test her."

He gestured toward Astrid. "Let's be real - you didn't come for the cat.You wanted Audrey's bestie to ID her."

"So now she says what you wanted to hear, and suddenly she's the bad guy? Make up your minds."

"Mr. Knox, you're misunderstanding -" Rachel started.

"We're done here." Adrian cut her off, nodding toward Blake on the stretcher. "Parker saved my wife tonight. The Knox family won't forget that."

"We'll settle that debt through our companies."

He turned to me.""Let's go."

I nodded,too drained to argue.

As we turned away, I caught Astrid's eye and gave her a quick blínk.