**Audrey's POV*

I stared at Rachel, searching for any trace of the friend I once knew.Nothing. The woman standing before me was a stranger wearing my friend's face.

"If I remember correctly," I said, my voice tight, "you and Audrey Sinclair were pretty close."

"Since you went through the trouble of stealing my DNA and now believe I'm Audrey.Why aren't you happy about finding your supposedly dead friend?"

Rachel swallowed hard.′′I′'m just angry you'd fake youar death and disappear without telling anyone."

Her voice lacked conviction. Five years ago, this woman taught me everything about surviving in high society. Now she couldn't even lie convincingly.

"Audrey Sinclair."

Thalia stepped around Rachel, positioning herself between us. She shot Rachel a dismissive glance before turning her full attention to me.

"You seriously think she'd still be your friend? You knew she woke up from her coma, but you faked your death and bailed on her. Do you have any idea how devastated she was?"

"Now you show up right before she marries my brother? Everyone knows what you're doing." Thalia leaned in, lowering her voice to a theatrical whisper, "You want to steal her fiancé and expect her to welcome you with

open arms? The fact she's not treating you like an enemy already shows how much she values your past."

I couldn't deny her logic. Even if Rachel accepted I was Audrey, what difference would it make? We were on opposite sides now. Our friendship was over.

"Evelyn."

Adrian's voice pulled me back. His hand found mine, squeezing gently.The small gesture steadied me.

I took a deep breath. "I simply asked a question. I don't understand why everyone's so worked up. I've already told you, I'm not Audrey Sinclair."

My eyes found Rachel's. "Your reaction makes me wonder about your relationship with this Audrey person."

"Are you cold to me because you really see Audrey as a rival?" I asked."Or because you know I'm not her, and you're just making things up?"

Rachel looked down, saying nothing. The reporters pressed closer,hungry for drama.

"Let's go," Adrian said, tugging my hand. "The Sinclair confrontation will settle this. No point wasting time with these people."

As we walked toward the hotel entrance, I glanced back. Blake sat in his wheelchair, watching us leave. Our eyes met briefly. His gaze held none of the stubborn determination from before - just longing and something like helplessness I couldn't quite place.

I quickly looked away,

**Blake's POV*

I watched them walk away, Adrian's hand firmly clasped around Audrey's.My eyes caught on the green maple leaf preserved in his cufflink-identical to the one Audrey had picked up yesterday at Northern Care Facility.

She'd stopped to collect it while walking those grounds, twirling it between her fingers during my call. Now Adrian wore it like a trophy.

So she'd made him a custom gift using something she found after seeing my grandfather. In her eyes, he really mattered. Their relationship had progressed faster than I'd imagined.

"Blake." Thalia's voice cut through my thoughts. "Stop staring at them."

She planted herself in front of my wheelchair. "Didn't you say you were here to back us up? Why are you taking their side?"

"She's right," Rachel added. "You didIn't have to embarrass Thalia in front of everyone."

I gave them both a cold look. "So I should've let her slap Adrian with every reporter in New York watching? Smart plan."

"Do you understand who Adrian Knox is? Rachel, I thought you were the one who knew how to handle delicate situations. What would happen if videos of Thalia attacking the son-in-law of the Australian Parkers went viral? Want to replay what nearly destroyed Parker Group twenty years ago?"

Rachel bit her lip. "That's not what I-"

"You figured that since you're about to become my wife, you need to

please Thalia at all costs," I interrupted. "You're even manufacturing evidence.You stole Audrey's DNA to help the Sinclairs prove Evelyn Knox is actually her."

I stared her down. "Tell me I'm wrong."

Rachel paled. "Blake, I -"

"Blake!" Thalia pushed between us. "What's wrong with Rachel getting along with us? I used to hate her because she was friends with Audrey,but she's nothing like I thought. She's as likable as Laurel - maybe even easier to get along with!"

"Ireally like her now! No wonder she and Laurel are sisters!"

I leaned back in my wheelchair with a cold smile. "Indeed. Sisters through and through. Miss Hayes is truly becoming more and more like Laurel Rose."

I didn't wait for a response, turning my chair and leaving them standing in the chaos.

**Audrey's POV*

Inside the hotel, reporters continued following us like shadows, cameras flashing constantly. Adrian kept his hand at my back, looking completely unbothered.

"So this is what being a movie star feels like," he said.'′′ISydney,reporters wouldn't dare photograph me this way."

"I'm sorry for dragging you into this mess."

"Don't be. I chose to come knowing exactly what would happen," He

guided me deeper into the lobby. "A few photos don't bother me. I just need to expand beyond Australia so I'm not disrespected every time I visit a new city."

I glanced at the circling reporters. "They're not usually this aggressive.

These people were paid to create a scene."

Victoria and the Sinclairs wanted to force me to admit who I was,while Thalia wanted revenge. They needed a public spectacle, and the more attention,the better.

"Makes sense," Adrian nodded. "They wouldn't be this interested in a foreign businessman without incentive."

He raised his wrist toward the nearest camera. "Make sure you get my cufflink too. This maple leaf is unique to New York this season.My wife picked it herself as a memento of our first visit."

I glanced at Adrian's wrist, finally noticing the cufflink. It wasn't some luxury brand piece but clearly handmade, featuring a yellow-green maple leaf identical to those I'd seen yesterday on the path at William's care facility.

Once the reporters finished their shots, Adrian lowered his arm.

"When exactly did I make you cufflinks?" I asked quietly.

After yesterday's mess, I'd tossed that leaf without a second thought.

Adrian smirked."My assistant got bored while I was talking to Henry yesterday. He wandered off to some airport gift shop and bought New York souvenirs- these maple leaf cufflinks. I grabbed one from him."

"So your assistant bought it, and you're telling everyone I made it?"

"Just playing the loving husband." He shrugged. "Those cameras couldn't capture the details anyway. No one's questioning its authenticity."

I shook my head and dropped it.

We pushed through the lobby doors into what looked like a full-blown press conference. The Parkers and Sinclairs had clearly rented the entire place.

Richard and Elaine sat at the central table with Victoria, facing Rebecca and Elizabeth Parker. Olivia stood behind them like a sentinel, with two empty chairs obviously saved for Thalia and Blake.

A massive projection screen dominated one wall, playing a movie about a woman who fakes her death only to lose everything when she returns to her husband. Subtle.

Every corner was packed with journalists and social media types, phones and cameras ready.

I almost laughed at the theatrics.

"They'rehere!" someone shouted.

Every head turned our way.

I took Adrian's arm, straightened my spine, and walked in.

Showtime.