NovelEnglish“Just Blake being Blake,” | said with a shrug. “Talking nonsense.”
| took Snow from her and sat down, running my fingers through his soft fur. “He helped with that kidnapping
report, so | gave him five minutes. That's all.”
Astrid flopped onto the other couch with a tic sigh. “God, that man.”
“When you were married, you couldn’t find him with a search party. Now you're divorced, and he’s everywhere
like a rash.
She twisted to look at me. “Maybe he realized what he lost? That's why he’s always making up reasons to see
you?”
| rolled my eyes. “Yeah, right.”
“He was literally just downstairs tellinghow I’ve got his precious Laurel all wrong. Who talks about one
woman while chasing another?”
Astrid made a gagging noise. “I still don’t get what he sees in her!”
“Not my problem anymore.”
“Okay, but what did you see in him?” She rolled onto her side. “You never toldhow you fell for Blake Parker.”
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt“Did you really meet him at that nursing hwhile taking care of William?”
| set Snow down and got up to open cat food. “Sure, let's go with that. Love at first sight.”
Five years ago on that beach when | pulled Blake from the water...
| pushed the memory away. | didn’t want to think about it.
The promises he'd made back then. How he’d toldwhen his eyes healed, I'd be the first person he'd see.
How we'd be together.
Then he disappeared without a goodbye. Forgot | existed.
Even now, remembering it made my chest ache. | didn’t want Astrid carrying that weight too.
“You're hiding something.” Astrid narrowed her eyes.
She swung her legs up onto the sofa back, getting comfortable. “Well, forget it. What's your plan tomorrow?
Wanna race?”
| watched Snow attack his food. “Work first. I've already skipped two days.”
“And after?”
“After...” | hesitated, thinking about my promise to convince William about Laurel. “I'm heading to the Parker
mansion to see William.”
“Want backup?” Astrid sighed. “If it’s just William, fine. But if Blake's mom and sister show up... they're brutal.”
1/2
Chapter 209
| can handle myself now,” | said with a half-smile. “Not the pushover | used to be.”
“Plus William will be there. They might hate me, but they won't try anything stupid in front of him.
After work the next day, | grabbed a taxi straight to the Parker mansion.
Astrid textedthe whole way there. If you see Thalia or Rebecca, just leave. Don’t argue. Stay calm. Text me
updates.
| typed back short replies to each message, trying not to roll my eyes.
Turned out Astrid was psychic.
The moment | walked into the Parker mansion, | spotted Rebecca and Thalia sitting across from William, faces
wet with
tears.
“Dad, you can’t do this...” Rebecca's voice hitched through a sob as | stepped into the living room.
“Miss Sinclair.” Charles nodded toat the doorway.
The crying stopped instantly.
Rebecca and Thalia’s heads snapped up, their tear-streaked faces morphing into looks that could freeze hell.
“You actually showed up?!”
The hatred in their eyes was like a physical thing.
| had no idea what I'd supposedly done this time, but whatever.
| walked toward William, shooting the mother-daughter duo a cold look. “Why wouldn't I? I'm here for William.”
“Audrey!” William's whole face brightened when he saw me.
He wavedover eagerly. “Perfect timing! | need to talk to you!”
| quickened my pace, surprised. “You neededfor something?”
“Yes!” William grabbed my hand, grinning. “I have something important to announce...”
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