Divorce Me Before Death Takes Me, CEO

Chapter 415

Audrey's POV

“What do you think? Rachel's cold laugh cut through the phone.

| lowered my voice. “So Emma and Blake getting hurt that was your doing?”

*#Mrs. Knox, why do you always think the worst of me?” She didn’t deny it. “I mean, con. | wouldn't hurt a

four-year-old kid or my future husband the day before our wedding.”

| stayed quiet, waiting her out.

“I'm heading to the police station to ID Blake's body,” she said, voice turning playful in a way that made my skin

crawl. “Aren’t you even going to check on your daughter?”

“Look, Rachel continued when | didn’t respond. “I know you don’t want to see me. Fine. Just courier Blake's

phone to Parker Group. As his widow, | need to

handle his stuff.”

“Sendthe phone and you can keep pretending your kid's alive. Whatever helps you sleep at night.”

Her voice sharpened. “And quit with the bullshit about giving the phone back to Blake. His body's literally at the

morgue. How exactly would that work?”

‘Don’t mess with me. This is New York. You and Adrian don’t stand a chance.”

The call ended with a sharp click.

| raised an eyebrow and turned to Blake. “She wants your phone.”

“Take it,” he said, handing it over immediately.

| turned the device in my hand. “She’s after your contacts and business connections?”

Blake nodded. ‘She wants Parker Group. Thinks she can step into my shoes and be the female CEO everyone

admires.”

His expression darkened slightly. “Worked withfor less than a year and thinks she’s ready. Foolish.”

So who'll have the reddest eyes when they cout?’ Astrid asked, slurping her bubble tea as we watched from

our car outside the police station.

Rachel had just gone inside with Rebecca and Thalia, all of them in tears.

Rebecca, probably,” | said, watching the station doors. “Whatever issues they have, he’s still her son. Plus he

bankrolls her lifestyle. Losing that would hit hard.”

Astrid chewed a tapioca pearl. “Nah, my money’s on Rachel.”

“She’s using Blake's ‘death’ to grab his fortune and win over his family, right? She’s gotta look completely

destroyed if she wants the Parkers to buy her whole grieving fiancée act.”

“Good point, | admitted, eyes still fixed on the entrance.

“Laurel should've taken acting lessons from Rachel,” Astrid said, her mouth twisting. “Maybe then she'd have

beca Hollywood star instead of ending up dead in custody.”

“I saw Rachel's death records in Sydney,” | said, taking a sip of my tea. “Things didn’t add up.”

1/3

Chapter 415

*First off, Laurel wasn’t the type to feel guilty enough for suicide. | swirled my straw in the cup. “And the file

claimed police negligence allowed her to kill boyself, but | checked both officers on duty. They were rookies - one

was still an intern.”

After Laurel died, they both immediately quit and disappeared from New York.”

Astrid’s eyes widened, “They quit? Just like that?”

Exactly what caught my attention. They vanished completely after resigning,” | nodded, studying the station

entrance. “That's why | think Laurel was murdered.”

By who? Blake? Astrid frowned. “But he’s the one who had her arrested. If he wanted her gone, why bother with

all that?”

| took another long sip of my tea. “What if Rachel killed her?”

Astrid froze for a second before nodding quickly, ‘Damn... | never thought about that.”

If what Rachel said on the phone is true, she had more reason than anyone to want Laurel dead,” she reasoned.

“Laurel didn’t just steal her plans - she knew all Rachel's secrets.”

‘Once Rachel woke up, if Laurel exposed everything, any chance with Blake would've been toast,” Astrid

continued. “Rachel would have been desperate to silence her.”

Astrid sighed heavily, looking toward the station. ‘I never imagined Rachel could be like this.”

She turned towith rare vulnerability in her eyes. “I always thought you two were closer than we were. | was

the outsider, trying to fit in with your inside jokes and shared history.”

| tried so many times to really be part of your circle, but there were always memories | wasn’t part of.”

After Rachel’s accident, | was grieving too, but focused on helping you through it. Her voice grew quieter. “I even

wondered sometimes... why couldn't it have beeninstead?”

“What are you talking about?” | grabbed her hand and squeezed it. “You're important too.”

But Rachel did mean something different toback then.

Without her, | wouldn't have gotten past my insecurities after my birth parents abandoned me.

I'd never have discovered racing, camping, adventure...

| wouldn't even have found my way to jewelry design.

Rachel was both friend and teacher tothen.

She mattered more than anyone - even Blake.

But after four years, I've learned | was just her project - her ego boost.

Her kindness to a poor girl likewas just to feel superior.

She showednew experiences only because she needed validation when her family ignored her.

After | saved Blake, she found out who he was but warnednot to tell him my real name. “Rich boys can’t be

trusted,” she said.

| believed her completely.

How could | have guessed she planned to take my place, using my rescue of Blake to secure her own future with

him?

2/3

Chapter 415

If Laurel hadn't interfered, | might have seen Rachel with Blake four years ago.

The thought sent ice through my veins.

The friend | trusted completely had been plotting againstfor five years...

“They're coming out!” Astrid elbowed me, snappingback to reality.

The station doors opened, revealing Rachel and Rebecca sobbing tically, supported by officers. Thalia

followed behind, head down, constantly wiping

tears.

Can you tell who's crying harder?” Astrid asked, leaning forward to get a better look.

| squinted at them. “Can’t really see from here.”

I'll go find out.” | was about to open the car door.