Divorce Me Before Death Takes Me, CEO

Chapter 410

Felix’s POV

My foot wouldn't stop tapping as | watched the closed guest room door. Our mansion had turned into a makeshift

ER in minutes - equipment wheeled in, doctors barking orders, that unmistakable copper smell of blood hanging

in the air.

Through the crack in the door, | could see Adrian sitting with his sleeve rolled up, expressionless as his blood

flowed into the tube connected to Blake.

| glanced at Astrid beside me. Even her usual swagger seemed worn down today.

| said, just to break the silence. “Lucky my grandfather Sebastian kept this room stocked with medical gear for

Harrison's research. Without a sterile setup like this... Blake's chances would be way worse.”

Astrid just nodded, eyes fixed on the door.

“So what actually happened?” | pressed. “Everything online is chaos - people are saying Blake died in the Parker

garage! | can't figure out what's true.”

Astrid sighed, giving Adrian a quick look before answering quietly.

*Someone kidnapped Emma. They took her to the Parker garage. Blake went to save her.” She paused like she

was editing her thoughts. “The rest... well, you

can see.”

“That explains why she wanted to give blood,” | muttered. My brain kept spinning with questions. Who targets a

kid? Why Parker Group? How did Blake even know?

The whole thing stank.

“But wait,” | frowned, ‘why bring him here instead of Mayo? Parker Group's had a deal with Mayo forever. Any

employee gets hurt, they go straight there. So why the change today?”

Astrid’s eyes narrowed. “If the people behind Mayo were the ones who hurt Blake, would you want him sent

there?”

I froze. “You think - ”

The door swung open before | could finish. One of the surgeons stepped out, mask pulled down, looking worried.

“Mr. Thompson.”

‘How is he?” | moved forward quickly.

The doctor frowned deeper. “Which one is Audrey Sinclair?”

“What's wrong?”

“Parker's unconscious but keeps saying this name. Won't settle down.” The doctor looked exhausted. “We've

tried everything, but he won't let us work on him.”

He scanned our small group. “Is Ms. Sinclair here? In his condition... her presence might help.

Inside the room, Adrian stood up as the nurse removed his needle. His eyes went cold.

“Audrey’s busy. You'll have to manage without her.”

lie gave the doctor a look that shut down any argument. “Blake isn’t going to die just because she’s not here.”

The doctor's face fell, | could see him struggling between medical necessity and not wanting to push Adrian

further.

“What about sedatives?’ | suggested. “Would that help if he won't calm down?”

“It would, but...”

Audrey's POV

“What sedative are you talking about?*

Everyone turned. | rushed in with Jett beside me, his arm bandaged but otherwise looking okay. My chest felt

tight as | approached them.

“How's Blake? Why does he need sedatives?” | asked.

The doctor looked surprised before sighing. “The patient's unconscious but fighting us. He keeps muttering and

won't let us treat him properly.”

He gestured helplessly. “With his blood loss being so severe, we can’t hold him down. That's why we're

considering sedatives.”

| stood there, trying to process what he was saying.

Ethan suddenly spoke up. “Doctor, this is Audrey Sinclair.” He gavea gentle push forward. “Didn't you say

she could help?”

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The doctor's eyes lit up. “Ms. Sinclair!” He grabbed my arm. Please cwith me!”

He practically draggedtoward the emergency room, talking fast. “We've never seen anything like this. He's

terrified of treatment, keeps saying your name, won't let anyone touch him...”

Inside, | wasn’t prepared for what | saw. Blake was deathly pale, bloody bandages across his chest, face twisted

in pain. His lips moved constantly, whispering:

“Audrey, Audrey...”

My heart squeezed painfully.

“Audrey, I'm sorry...”

His voice was so faint | had to lean closer.

‘I know | can’t make it right... no right to ask forgiveness, but Audrey...”

He was lost somewhere between consciousness and darkness.

‘Audrey, | was wrong...”

The doctor pushedinto a chair by the bed. “Please try to calm him. We can’t work while he’s like this.”

| looked at Blake - the man | once loved more than life itself. The man whose coldness nearly killed me. The man

who just saved my daughter.

If this had happened before, | would've crumbled instantly. Would've held his hand, whispered comfort, promised

to stay. But now? After dying once already? Whatever feelings remained, | could handle them. Control them.

| took a deep breath and leaned to his ear.

“Blake Parker.

His body went completely still, like my voice had shocked him.

21

Chapter 410

If you want to seeagain, let the doctors work.”

Just like that, the tension left his body. His face relaxed, and he went still except for shallow breathing.

The doctors exchanged shocked looks before quickly getting to work. Blood transfusion resumed, wounds

cleaned, stitches placed.

“What's your relationship with him?” one doctor asked while working. “We tried everything, but he fought us like

crazy. Then you show up, say one sentence, and he’s completely calm... Never seen anything like it.”

| stood up, looking at Blake's peaceful face. “I'm not Audrey Sinclair. I'm her twin sister.”

| turned to leave, voice cold. “My sister was his ex-wife. He killed her ten months ago.”

| walked out without looking back, leaving them staring.

The moment | stepped into the hall, something crashed into my legs.

“Mommy!”

| knelt down immediately as Emma threw her arms around my neck.

“Is Uncle Blake okay?” Her eyes were huge with worry, bottom lip quivering.

| kissed her forehead, holding her close. “He's fine now, don’t worry.”

“Good!” Her whole face brightened. “He saved me! | hope he gets better fast!”

“He will,” | promised, smoothing her hair. Despite everything, | meant it.

“Audrey.”

| looked up to see Astrid approaching with her phone, face grim.

“You called it. Rachel's got people waiting at Mayo,” she said, handingher phone. “She's already telling

everyone Blake's dead. Just waiting to ID the body.”

She made a disgusted sound. “Didn’t expect her to be this eager to bury him.”

Shifting Emma to my hip, | took the phone. On screen, Rachel stood outside what looked like a wedding venue,

reporters swarming around her.

‘Miss Hayes,” one called out, “rumor says today’s Parker Group garage incident involved Mr. Parker himself. As

his fiancée,Chapter 411

Audrey's POV

| watched Rachel's interview, frowning at what | saw. Her act was flawless teary eyes, shaky voice, all of it. Too

perfect.

Then | scrolled through the comments, and sure enough, the comments had exploded with theories about Blake.

Sclaimed he was already dead. Others swore he was fighting for his life in the ICU.

If I hadn't seen Blake myself, | might've bought it too. The way Rachel kept saying “if he’s fine” while subtly

suggesting he wasn’t it was masterful manipulation.

| handed the phone back to Astrid, my chest tight.

How is this the sRachel who taughtto drive? Who spent nights helpingpractice for social events?

The woman who beclike a sister to me?

Is she actually hoping Blake is dead?

| couldn’t wrap my head around it. Rachel had pined after Blake for years. She'd stepped into my shoes after my

“death,” playing girlfriend to a man who didn’t recognize her. She'd endured Rebecca’s cruelty, Thalia’s

tantrums, William's confusion - all to stay close to Blake.

How does someone go from that kind of devotion to arranging murder?

Ethan dropped into a chair, running his hands through his hair. “Still can’t believe Rachel would try to kill Blake. |

mean, she was weird about him, but murder?”

He leaned forward. Must be because of that livestream this morning - the way Blake looked at you. People online

went crazy. Then when Rachel stopped your car and you called Blake directly? The way he shut her down without

hesitation?” He shook his head. ‘She must've snapped.”

“That's part of it,” James said, “but there's something bigger most people don’t know.” He paused. “Blake and

Rachel completed their marriage paperwork days ago.”

My breath caught. “They're already legally married?”

“The ceremony was just for show. Under New York law, they're husband and wife.”

Felix whistled. “So if Blake died today...”

‘Rachel inherits a fortune,” James finished. “Blake’s personal wealth is enormous, separate from Parker Group.

His portfohas outperformed the family business three-to-one.”

He looked grim. “Think about it - why stay with a man who doesn’t love you when you could bechis wealthy

widow instead? She'd get his billions and likely keep her position at Parker Group.”

‘She’s been Deputy CEO for months now,” he continued. “William's dying. After Blake, only Rebecca, Thalia,

Elizabeth, and Olivia remain - none of whom have ever shown interest in actually running things.”

“Throw enough money their way and they'd let her take over,” Felix added bitterly. “One signature from Blake,

and just like that, she’s set to becone of the most powerful women in New York.”

“This was her plan all along,” Felix said, pacing. “Just waiting for the perfect moment.”

| sat back, stunned. The Rachel | knew had been ambitious, sure, but never murderous. The woman who

arranged Emma's kidnapping and Blake's stabbing was a stranger wearing my friend's face.

Adrian’s POV

Chapter 411

“I think Rachel was improvising, not following smaster plan.”

Everyone turned as | walked in with Emma half-asleep against my shoulder. | passed her to Audrey’s waiting

arms.

*Rachel couldn't have predicted Blake would risk his life for our daughter,” | said. “Her original plan was probably

just to kidnap Emma - hurting our child while damaging Audrey’s standing with Blake. When Blake showed up

unexpectedly, her people had to adapt.”

| turned to the doctors. ‘Is Blake awake yet?”

“Not yet,” the younger one replied. “He’s out of danger but needs rest. Lost too much blood and struggled while

unconscious. His body’s recovering.”

The doctor hesitated, then added, “But | noticed something interesting about his legs - they're not beyond

treatment as previously thought.”

Audrey spun around, eyes suddenly bright. “Are you saying he could walk again?”

“Yes,” he nodded. “His condition is complex, and treatment would be challenging. I'd need to consult with

Harrison Clarke first.”

“Of course, his determination is crucial,” he added. “If he truly wants to walk and puts in the work, it's just a

matter of time.”

“That's fantastic!” Astrid exclaimed, grabbing Audrey’s hands.

| watched Audrey's face transform at the news

the light in her eyes, the color in her cheeks. A reaction I'd never seen before.

“Blake's recovery seems quite important to you all,” | said coldly.

Astrid looked confused. “Not to us

to Audrey! She - ”

Astrid. Audrey cut her off sharply. “Drop it.”

The room seemed to freeze as Audrey turned to me. “I've explained this before. I'm glad Blake might walk again

because his disability was my fault. He got hurt savingon Long Island.”

Her voice was ice. “It’s guilt, nothing more.”

| laughed. “Right. Everyone knows his legs were damaged saving Rachel from a car accident.”

That look in her eyes when she heard Blake might walk again - I've never seen it before.

She promisedbefore we cto New York.

Why can’t she just stay away from him?

Does he really matter more to her than the people who saved her life?

The tension in the room was suffocating. No one spoke.

Audrey's POV

| would've explained everything to Adrian before. Carefully broken down why | cared about Blake's recovery,

assured him it was just guilt.

But after how he treated Astrid when Emma disappeared? After hearing him lash out at my best friend? | just

don’t have the energy anymore.

Yes, he spoke from fear. | get that panic makes people cruel. But those unfiltered words showed his true

thoughts.

He’s my sister's husband. He saved my life. | can’t hold grudges over small things.

2/3

Chapter 411

But right now, | have zero interest in explaining myself again.

Ethan, can you showthe garden?” Emma’s small voice broke the silence. ‘I can’t breathe in here!”

She slipped from my arms and walked to Ethan, who smiled and offered his hand. “Sure! I've never been to

Felix’s place either - I'm curious too.”

*Felix, mind if | take Emma to see the garden?” Ethan asked.

Felix, visibly relieved by the distraction, nodded eagerly. “Go ahead! Our garden's beautiful. Just don’t damage

my grandfather's flowers he’s pretty serious about them.”

“Don’t worry, Emma promised sweetly. “We'll just look.”

As Ethan reached for Emma, Adrian's face darkened. “Who said you could take my daughter anywhere?”

His cold tone made everyone freeze.

Astrid is Audrey's friend. You're Audrey's friend too,” he continued. “Her last friend lost my daughter in a hotel

garden. Planning a repeat?”

He scooped Emma into his arms. “I'll handle my own daughter. We don’t need your help.”

“Adrian,” Felix tried, “this is Thompson property. Our gardens are secure

Emma would be completely safe.”

“My daughter won't be visiting any gardens for a while,” Adrian replied, already heading for the door. “I can’t go

through that fear again.”

Without another word, he carried Emma out of Thompson mansion.ait for Blake to respond himself.”

“If he’s fine, he'll have heard about all this and will address it soon.”

Another reporter pushed forward. “You're heading to tomorrow’s wedding venue. Are you making changes, or...

canceling?”

Rachel looked appropriately displeased. “Just svenue adjustments. I'm talking to the staff, and I'd

appreciate no speculation until things are finalized.”

She wiped away what had to be fake tears. “No more questions. Please leave.”

DivorceBefore Death Takes Me, CEO