** Audrey's POV*

Though I hadn't completely trusted Eleanor's words, I'd been keeping my distance from Adrian this past month, but I never expected him to warn me about the Parkers.

It seemed the relationship between Adrian and the Parker family was more complicated than I'd thought.

I didn't care about their conflicts. What mattered was my sister's death.That sister I never met but who cared about me so much - was her death really an accident? If someone deliberately caused it, one of these people with their contradictory stories must be involved.

I'd taken on Evelyn's identity and responsibilities. The least I could do was uncover the truth about her death.

Adrian noticed my silence and frowned. "The Parkers got to you already.didn't they? No wonder you've been avoiding me all month."

"I thought you were one big happy family when I first woke up," I said.

"If we were, Evelyn wouldn't be dead," Adrian said flatly.

"About my sister's death -"

"Let me guess," he cut in. "They said I drove her to it? That I locked her up in a psychiatric facility and got her pregnant there? That I forced her to have Emma?"

"Something like that," I replied, surprised at his accuracy.

Adrian shrugged. "Not thefirst time they've spread that story. Lies don't become trut through repetition."

"You're focused on New York right now. When you return, I'll tell you everything about your sister." After a pause, he added, "Including how the New York Parkers fit into it."

"The New York Parkers?" I couldn't hide my confusion. "What do they have to do with Evelyn?"

My sister had never been to New York as far as I knew. And during my three years with the New York Parkers, I'd never heard of any connection to their Australian counterparts.

"More than you'd think," Adrian replied. "We'll talk when you get back."

He left me standing there, my mind racing with questions.

I tossed and turned all night, my thoughts a jumble of Adrian, the Parkers.William,and Blake.

The next morning, eyes heavy from lack of sleep, I packed our bags and took Emma to the airport. Adrian couldn't join us - company business,he said.

Eleanor met us at the departure gate, her fingers tight around mine.

"If you can't let go of Blake Parker, we won't stand in your way," she said,her voice dropping to a whisper. "But remember - Adrian's business is deeply entangled with our family assets. Don't rush into anything. Don't provoke him."

Her eyes held mine.'′′W need time to investigate your sister's death. We can't tip him off."

I stared at this woman I thought I knew, feeling like I was seeing her for the first time. I'd thought of Eleanor as the perfect mother figure,but this family wasn't nearly as simple as they appeared.

"Evelyn," she prompted when I didn't respond.

I forced a smile and hugged her briefly."T"m just going to see William.Nothing more."

As we walked toward security, I could feel her eyes tracking us, calculating.

"What did Grandma say?" Emma asked, her small hand warm in mine.

My mood lifted instantly. "She said this is our first mother-daughter trip and I should take good care of you."

"Of course you willl" Emma jumped excitedly, pulling me through security.

Five hours later, we landed in New York.

"Over here!" Astrid and Ethan waved from the arrival area, both holding enormous bunches of sunflowers.

"Emma, look! Sunflowers!" I pointed.

Emma broke free and ran toward them, but in her excitement, she collided with an electric wheelchair crossing her path.

"Ouch!" She tumbled to the ground with a cry.

"Emmal" I rushed over and scooped her up.1'm so sorry about my daughter-"

T'he words died in my throat as I recognized the eyes above the mask.

Blake Parker.

In a wheelchair.

Before I could say anything, he pressed the control and sped away.

"Wait!" I called after him. Emma still in my arms.

**Blake's POV*k

I increased my wheelchair's speed, ignoring the voice behind me.

I'd come to the airport just to catch a glimpse of her. After a month apart,

I needed to see her face.

I hadn't expected her to recognize me so easily despite the mask hiding most of my face.

A bitter feeling settled in mny chest. Maybe I'd underestimated how well she knew me. Maybe she could identify me with just a glance.

If I'd shown her even a fraction of that attentiveness during our marriage.would things have turned out differently?

**Audrey's POV*

"Blake Parker, stop! What happened to your leg?" I called as I chased the wheelchair.

A month ago, he'd stepped into an animal trap meant for me. Now he was in a wheelchair. The connection seemed obvious.

"Mommy, put me down!" Emnma squirmed in my arms. "I can find Auntie Astrid by myself!"

I hesitated, glancing toward the exit where Astrid stood.

"I won't get lost." Emma insisted. "You need to catch up to him!"

I set her down gently. "Go straight to them, okay?"

"Don't worry!" She nodded solemnly and took off toward Astrid.

As I turned to pursue Blake, Ethan rushed past me and cut off the wheelchair's path.

"Hold up," he said, gripping the armrest firmly. "Someone's trying to talk to you."

"Let go," Blake snapped, glaring up at him.

I caught up, breathing hard. "Blake! Why are you running? What happened to your leg?"

Ethan looked between us, surprised."Blake? Blake Parker?"

Blake just frowned, refusing to answer.

"Are you sure it's him?" Ethan asked me, doubt creeping into his voice."Evelyn, I think you might be mistaken."

"It's definitely him," I stepped in front of the wheelchair, catching my breath. "Blake. Take off the mask."

He let out a sigh.

"Mrs. Knox," he finally said, "Been a while."

Ethan's jaw dropped at the sound of his voice.

"What happened to your leg?" I asked directly.

I hated owing people favors, especially Blake Parker. But there's a difference between not wanting to be in someone's debt and pretending you don't know you are.

He had stepped into that trap for me on Long Island. When we tried to visit himn after, he'd refused to see us. Now he was in a wheelchair.I couldn't ignore the possible-connection.

We locked eyes, neither of us backing down.

"Blake was in a car accident with me."

Rachel appeared beside us, casually resting her hand on the wheelchair handle. "I should've been the one who got hurt, but he pushed me out of the way."

She rolled up her sleeve, revealing a large patch of healing abrasions on her arm."See? I only got scraped up. Blake's leg took the worst of it."

The wound was too extensive to be from some minor incident. I couldn't deny what I was seeing.

"He didn't want me in a wheelchair for the wedding," Rachel continued,"Said a long wedding dress doesn't look right with wheels. He'd rather be injured himself."

She tilted her head. "Any other questions, Mrs. Knox?"

My nails dug into my palms. "No."

I took a breath. "I was worried his injury might be from when he helped me last month."

"Since it's not... I'mn glad."

I grabbed Ethan's arm and walked away.

Stupid. I should've known better.

Blake had made it clear we were done. If his leg really had been damaged saving me, he would've contacted Adrian for compensation immediately.Why wait a month?

Instead, I'd humiliated myself and been forced to hear about their perfect relationship in the process.

"Audrey," Ethan whispered,′′Isaw Blake standing in some business news last week. Don't worry about that."

I just nodded and walked faster.