Divorce Me Before Death Takes Me, CEO

Chapter 421

Audrey's POV

| froze when | heard an unfamiliar voice outside the car. Deep and commanding, with a slight rasp that

demanded attention.

Standing beside the open door was Henry Hartford in a perfectly tailored gray suit. My breath caught. He was

supposed to be overseas. Adrian had specifically mentioned that when I'd asked for his number to help find

Astrid.

What's he doing here?

| hesitated, not moving to get out. Henry's piercing gaze swept over me, his patience visibly thinning.

“I said get out,” he repeated, his tone harder.

When 1 still didn’t move fast enough, Henry reached in and yankedroughly from the car. | stumbled, letting

out a startled cry.

‘Ah - 1"

My shoulder throbbed where his grip had been. Henry immediately pushedaside, turning to Blake who was

still in the car.

“Let go of me!” Blake growled as Henry and Felix lifted him from the car.

Henry's lips curled into a slight smile as he placed Blake in his wheelchair. “Taking care of the disabled is

everyone's responsibility.”

Blake glared at him, adjusting his position in the chair. His jaw clenched as he ground his teeth, refusing to

acknowledge the comment.

Henry turned around and pulled out a cigarette. | noticed something odd his hand trembled slightly as he

reached for it. The tremble was subtle but definitely there.

“How'd it go at the funeral home?” he asked, his voice deliberately emotionless.

He seemed to be working hard to hide his feelings. This wasn’t the cool, collected professional I'd heard about

from Astrid. He seemed... rattled.

“The accident victim, it wasn’t Astrid Wilson, was it?” Henry asked, taking a deep drag from his cigarette.

Blake adjusted himself in the wheelchair. “No, it wasn’t her.”

| watched Henry's face. A flicker of relief crossed his features before his expression returned to neutral.

“Maybe her necklace was stolen or she just lost it,” Blake continued. “We haven't found her yet, but at least we

know the accident victim wasn’t her.”

Henry exhaled smoke. “Good.”

He took another drag, blowing smoke rings upward. “Astrid Wilson is my person. From now on, leave the search

for her to me.”

| remembered Astrid tellingshe had always crushed on Henry, but he never showed any special feelings

toward her.

But seeing Henry's reaction to her disappearance, I'm starting to doubt that. Isn't he clearly trying to hide how

worried he is? Even his smoking seems like a cover for his trembling!

Henry turned and gavea cold look. “You sure that when you split up, she said she was following Rebecca and

Thalia?”

“Yes,” | nodded. “If something happened to Astrid, those two must be involved.”

“Right now, they're at the Parker mansion getting their hair done for the press conference announcing Blake's

‘death,” Henry said, staring at his cigarette.

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Chapter 421

I've checked their movements and communications. Nothing unusual.

He put out his cigarette under his heel. “I think after she followed them, she ran into trouble in that area where

the surveillance cameras were down.”

His expression hardened, determination flashing in his eyes. ‘I'll find Astrid, don’t worry. As long as...”

His words trailed off as he turned away, heading toward the mansion entrance.

Astrid’s POV

| was lying on a fancy round bed, my head throbbing. When | reached up, | felt bandages wrapped around my

skull.

The ornate wooden door opened silently. A man in a black suit with expensive leather shoes stepped onto the

plush carpet, his footsteps muffled.

Without a word, he sat on the bed and touched my face. Even unconscious, | turned away from his touch.

But he kept stroking my face, saying quietly, “A model's face really is well-maintained. Smooth as porcelain.”

After what felt like forever, | finally managed to rub my aching head and sit up. My vision cleared to reveal a

strange man watchingintently.

Looking down, | discovered | was wearing sridiculous princess dress with frills. My hair was loose with a

giant bow on top. | could feel heavy makeup on my face.

“Who are you?” | croaked. “Why am | here?”

The man smiled and reached for my face again. “Astrid Wilson.”

| tilted my head, confused. “Don’t you remember?” he asked.

‘I'm your fiancé. You're going to marry me.”

| leaned back against the headboard, rubbing my throbbing head. “Why can’t | remember anything...”

The man stood and walked to a nearby table. “You were in a car accident.”

He poured tea from a thermos and handed it to me. “Doctor says you've got a concussion. That's why you've

lost your memories.”

His smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Don’t worry. We're getting married soon.”

‘After we're married, I'll help you remember everything.”

Ryan laughed softly. “No rush to get your memory back. Withhere, it'll cback eventually.”

| tried desperately to remember anything about this man, but my mind was completely blank.

‘Really?” | asked, skeptical.

| vaguely remembered being attracted to sguy, and having a friend I'd do anything for.

But | couldn't picture what he looked like or remember my friend's name.

| knew these people existed, but whenever | tried to recall details, my mind went blank and my head hurt worse.

“My name's Astrid Wilson... What's yours?” | bit my lip, studying his angular face.

Though I couldn’t remember anything, something inresisted this man claiming to be my fiancé.

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Chapter 421

| had a strong feeling he definitely wasn’t the guy I'd been into.

If he’s not the one | liked but claims to be my fiancé, then who was the real guy?

“What? You don’t even remember the nof the man you love most?” Ryan's eyes flashed with anger.

“My nis Ryan Quinn. Remember it.” His voice hardened. “Soon you'll be Mrs. Quinn, my woman.”

1 gripped my teacup tightly. “Can my best friend visit me?”

‘I don’t remember the accident, but I think...” I hesitated.

“I had something really important to tell her. Could you ask her to csee me?”

Ryan’s eyes narrowed. “You still remember having a best friend?”

“Yeah. | think | found out ssecret about her, so...”

‘She won't come,” Ryan cutoff coldly.

He gavea dismissive look. “She's dead.”

“Your best friend was Laurel Rose.”

Ryan sat back on the bed, crossing his legs elegantly. “Laurel Rose pissed off the owner of New York's biggest

corporation. Got sent to prison and died because of someone’s scheme.”

“That can’t be right. | clearly remember...” | started, confused.

| remembered wanting to tell my friend about ssecrets I'd discovered. How could she have been dead for

ten months?

Ryan tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “The accident’s probably messing with your memories. That's why

you think she’s still alive.”

“You're exhausted, Astrid.”

He stared atintensely. “Get srest, and tomorrow we'll get our marriage license, okay?”

| swallowed hard. Something felt deeply wrong, but with no memories and no way to prove my suspicions, what

choice did I have?

“Okay,” | whispered.

DivorceBefore Death Takes Me, CEO