*Audrey's POV**

"That burn scar..." Rebecca's smlle widened as she stared at my exposed elbow, "I'm not wrong, am I?"

I sald nothing, my hands clenched Into fists where no one could see them.

The memory hit without warning. Three years ago. I was getting ready for dinner at the Parker manslon with Blake. I'd found a different tie for him,not knowing it was Laurel's gift. Blake exploded. Called me thoughtless.Said I didn't respect his things.

He stormed out, claiming he needed to work late.

I went to dinner alone. William's presence kept things civil. but he left early due to his health. Then Rebecca, Thalia, and Olivia pounced.They spent hours telling me how perfect Laurel was for Blake. How I was just keeping his seat warm.

I sat there taking it until I finally broke, "Your son's marrlage is between us." I told Rebecca through tears. "Not yours to decide."

That's when she grabbed the pot of scalding soup and dumped it on me,I dodged most of It, but some caught my elbow.

Blake dldn't come home for two weeks after that. Never answered my calls.As If I were the one who'd done somethlng wrong.

I glanced at Blake now. He was staring at my arm, his expression unreadable. This was probably tho first time he'd seen this scar up close.The first time he'd heard how I got it.

The irony twisted in my chest. This man I'd loved for five years never even noticed this mark on my body.

"Nothing to say, Audrey?" Rebecca smirked. "You think I'm stupid? You're just that worthless Audrey Sinclair in a fancy new costume."

"Ma'am, I don't know what you're so pleased about," I cut in, frowning.′′Γ m not who you think I am."

"Then explain this!" She jabbed a finger at the scar. "Isn't this from that dinner three years ago?"

I moved my arm away from her. "Obviously not."

"Now that I've exposed you, you must be freaking out." Rebecca crossed her arms. "If you were going to fake your death and pretend to be someone else, why keep the scars?"

Victoria sidled up beside her. "My sister grew up in some village. A hick like her could barely manage faking her death."

She looked at Rebecca with exaggerated admiration. "You're so smart, Mrs.Parker. The second she showed up, you caught her."

"Exactly." Rebecca nodded. "I spent more time with Audrey than anyone except Blake and his grandfather. She can't fool me."

"You claim you're not Audrey? Then what's this burn on your elbow?"

"Mom," Blake interrupted, frowning. "Lots of people have burn scars.Maybe Mrs. Knox just - "

"Don't defend her!" Rebecca snapped. "She's identical to Audrey, comes straight to see your grandfather, and has the exact same scar in the exact

same spot! Who else could she be?"

I met their eyes calmly.′′I′m Evelyn Knox. I'm here for the jewelry collaboration between Knox Corporation and Parker Group. My husband got your wedding invitation."

′′T′'m here because I had an incident with a Parker family member, and your son brought me to apologize to William. As for this burn scar..."

I dug my nail under the edge of the mark. From the corner of my eye, I saw Blake's breathing change.

"Even if you scratch it off, that proves nothing," Victoria sneered. "The fact it was there at all means you're Audrey!"

"What if there was never any scar?" I asked.

I peeled the patch from my skin, holding the thin material between my fingers. "Some evidence, huh?"

Rebecca and Victoria stared at my elbow, now smooth and unmarked in the sunlight. Not a trace of scarring anywhere.

Blake let out a quiet breath.

"Pretty realistic, isn't it?" I tossed the fake scar at their feet. "Since you care so much, keep it."

Victoria bent down to look at it.′′Itreally is fake..."

"You removed the real scar!" Rebecca's face darkened.'"You planned this!"

"There was never any scar here," I said, amused. "My daughter thought it would be fun to stick this on me."

*Rebecca wasn't completely wrong.* Of course I'd had the scar removed when I got my second chance at life. Dr. Clarke took care of it. and I wore the patch partly to protect the new skin, partly to remind myself of what I'd been through. Never thought it would come in handy like this.

I crossed my arms, looking down at Rebecca. "You grabbed me and tore my clothes. My husband won't let that slide."

"No wonder your daughter's such a brat. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

I smiled slightly. "I already taught Thalia a lesson. Keep this up,and I won't let your age stop me from doing the same to you."

Rebecca's eyes widened. "You hit my daughter?"

"That's right." I nodded. "Why do you think Blake brought me here to apologize?"

I looked her up and down. "You're only in your fifties but already this confused? When I said I disciplined a Parker family member,who else could it be?"

Rebecca's face twisted with rage.′′Ycou're dead!"

She charged at me. I lifted my foot and pulled it back at just the right moment. She stumbled forward, landing face-first on the ground with a loud thud.

She scrambled up and came at me again."You bitch!"

I timed mny next kick perfectly. She lost balance, rolled twice, and landed in a gurbage pile ngain. The Impact made her start rotching immediately.

"Know your limits," I said.

*Watching this woman who once bullied me now face-down in garbage felt better than I expected. Nothing beats seeing your tormentor get a taste of their own medicine.*

′′I′'m not Audrey Sinclair," I said flatly. "And unlike her, I don't silently take abuse."

"Remember this smell. Cross me again, and you'll end up right back here."

I turned and walked away, head high.

"Blake!" Rebecca's voice broke behind me. "Are you just going to watch while she throws your mother in garbage?"

I didn't slow down to hear his answer. I knew Blake would come after me for this - probably go after Adrian and the Australian Parkers too. But for the first time in my life, I wasn't afraid of Blake Parker's revenge.

**Blake's POV**

"Blake,say something!"

I kept my eyes fixed on Audrey's retreating figure, barely registering my mother's voice.

Rebecca pushed away Michael and Victoria's hands as they tried helping her up. She stayed planted in the garbage, her face red with rage.

′′Is this what being a man means to you?" she yelled. "That woman attacked your sister and your mother, and you just sit there?"

"She gets a free pass because she looks like your dead wife? You're watching your own mother get humillated and doing nothing?"

"I raised you, Blake. This is how you repay me?"

Her words grew more venomous, but they barely penetrated.I remaíned still in my wheelchair, watching until Audrey disappeared around the corner.

Only then dlid I look away.

This place held meaning. Audrey knew every corner of this facility from her visits with my grandfather. Yet instead of heading toward his building she'd deliberately gone the opposite way.

Erasing every connection to her past. To me.

A bitter taste filled my mouth.

Was what we had so worthless she couldn't stand even acknowledging it existed?

"Blake!"

When I didn't respond, my mother grabbed a chunk of rotten meat from the pile surrounding her and hurled it at me. "Listen when I'm talking to you!"