NovelEnglishChapter 296
Audrey's POV
| caught Rachel studying me, her expression cold and calculating. Gone was the warmth she once showed to
Audrey Sinclair.
“I admit,” she said, “neither Blake nor I are jewelry design experts. Our lack of knowledge in this area is
understandable.”
She held up her phone, showing comparison images of jewelry pieces. “But we can still see the striking
similarities between your designs and Audrey's work.”
“We're not calling it plagiarism, Mrs. Knox. We just think your design approach seems remarkably similar to
Audrey's.”
She paused, taking a deep breath as something painful crossed her mind.
“We'd like to understand what inspired you when creating these pieces,” she continued after collecting herself.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt“With work so similar to Audrey's, your creative process must follow similar patterns.”
Rachel leaned forward. “Mrs. Knox, | know this might sound strange, but I truly want to help complete my
friend's legacy. While she was alive, | never really understood what she was trying to express through her
designs.” She looked directly at me. “So we thought -
“Letget this straight, Adrian cut in. “You want to collaborate with Q-elegant so my wife can explain her
design philosophy, which you'll then use to figure out your friend's intentions?”
He raised an eyebrow at Rachel. “That's actually not unreasonable.”
His gaze shifted to Blake. “But Mr. Parker's attitude seemed more like he was accusing my wife of stealing his ex-
wife's work.”
“How do you explain that?”
Rachel laughed awkwardly. “Blake’s never been great with people. He didn’t mean it like that. Like me, he just
wants to understand Audrey's vision through Mrs. Knox's similar work.”
She turned to me. “My fiancé sometimes says the wrong thing. If he offended you, please don’t hold it against
him. We cfor collaboration. If we truly thought you were copying Audrey, why would we propose these terms
or seek a partnership?”
Adrian stepped between us. “It’s fine. I'll forgive him on her behalf.”
His protective stance was unnecessary but predictable. After months together, I'd cto understand Adrian's
nature. Cold and distant, caring or y about what directly mattered to him.
“My wife will explain her design philosophy after Dr. Clarke's birthday celebration,” he said, guidingto a seat.
He sat beside me, crossing his legs. “But I've been wondering about something else. Miss Hayes, you were Mr.
Parker's ex-wife's best friend, right?”
Looking at Rachel like this made my stomach twist with conflicting emotions.
“It's only been ten months since his ex-wife died,” Adrian continued. “How did you two get engaged so quickly?”
| knew what he was doing. Adrian was asking the question | couldn't.
“One of you claims you loved your ex-wife enough to attempt suicide,” he said with thinly veiled mockery. “The
other acts deeply concerned about your dead friend. So why are you two together?”
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Chapter 296
The room went dead silent. My face remained neutral, but my hands tightened into fists. I'd wondered the same
thing. | knew better than anyone that Rachel and Blake never had romantic feelings for each other. What pushed
them into this engagement?
| glanced at Adrian, our eyes meeting briefly before | frowned and looked away.
Blake's POV
| watched their quick exchange of glances, irritation flaring in my chest. Even knowing this woman wasn’t
Audrey, seeing someone with her exact face sharing looks with another man made it hard to breathe.
My engagement to Rachel was straightforward business. Laurel had died in custody, and Rachel now almost
controlled both the Rose and Hayes families. Working with them brought enormous value. And most importantly,
my grandfather...
It was just a partnership. The engagement was merely a cover to satisfy family expectations. Rachel was free to
find someone she truly loved. As for me, after Audrey, | couldn't love anyone else.
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