Divorce Me Before Death Takes Me, CEO

Chapter 443

Audrey's POV

Quick footsteps echoed from upstairs. Astrid had definitely been eavesdropping on our conversation. The fact

she hadn't texted to object toldeverything

I needed to know.

Henry continued chatting with the Wilsons about business prospects while straightening his already immaculate

suit. When a door closed upstairs, he looked up immediately.

#I'll have my team contact your company about those opportunities we discussed,” he told Mr. Wilson, buttoning

his jacket. “There's real potential for collaboration between our businesses.”

He glanced toward the stairs. “If you'll excuse me, | should speak with Astrid now.”

“Of course,” Mrs. Wilson said with an awkward smile. “Just remember, her memory isn’t right at the moment.

Don’t take anything she says too personally.”

Henry's lips curved slightly. “Don’t worry.”

He headed upstairs with confident strides while the Wilsons watched until he disappeared from view.

Mrs. Wilson leaned toward me. “Is he really only six or seven years older than Astrid?” she whispered.

“He’s handsome, wealthy, perfectly spoken, runs this huge company, yet talks to people like us without any

condescension...” She shook her head in disbelief. “Why would someone like him want our chaotic daughter?”

| laughed softly. “I honestly don’t know much about him either. He's rarely in New York, and keeps to himself

when he is.”

But a man like Hartford doesn’t propose marriage casually. If he says he wants to marry Astrid, he’s thought it

through.”

Mr. Wilson nodded. “Businessmen like him choose their words carefully. If Astrid accepts, it’s our family’s good

fortune.”

Mrs. Wilson sighed, worry still etched on her face. | understood her concern she feared her daughter might end

up hurt like | had been.

She handedsorange segments. “When we heard you'd died from cancer, we were devastated for

months.”

*Astrid completely fell apart. Wouldn't eat, wouldn't drink. We had to drag her to the hospital for IVs. Her voice

cracked. “She kept saying she failed to protect her best friend, that she deserved to die too.”

She squeezed my hand. “Without romantic attachments, you and Rachel were her entire world beyond family.”

“Speaking of Rachel,” she continued, “she seemed so normal when we first met. Who could've guessed she'd

wake up from that coma and turn out just like her sister? Life takes such strange turns.”

Mr. Wilson cleared his throat, interrupting his wife's spiral into melancholy. He turned to me. “What's next for

you? Are you staying in New York with Blake?”

‘I'm going back to Sydney,” | said firmly. “When my sister's family saved me, | promised to step into Evelyn's life.

That's what I intend to do.”

| stared at the orange in my hand. “William's gone now. Astrid has Henry. The only thing keepinghere is

making sure Blake recovers.”

‘Once his legs get proper treatment, I'll return to Sydney and fully becEvelyn.”

Mrs. Wilson watchedcarefully. “So it’s really over between you two?”

“Whenever we took Astrid to the hospital after your ‘death, we'd see Blake there,” she said softly. “His grief

matched hers. That's why we thought maybe you could forgive him.”

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Chapter 443

He only got involved with Laurel because he thought she was you. And Rachel was just a business arrangement

for William's sake.” She leaned forward. “He punished himself with drinking until his stomach bled. Hasn't he

suffered enough?”

| lowered my head. Everything she said was true, but it didn’t change my decision.

Blake's harm can’t be undone. My sister died so | could live - | have obligations to her family. How could | accept

their help only to abandon them for Blake?

*| appreciate your concern,” | said, meeting her eyes. “But Blake and | are done. I'm only still in New York

because he injured his legs saving me, and he protected Emma when his life was at risk.”

‘I just want to see him recovered before | leave. There's no reconciliation happening.”

My phone rang loudly, cuttingoff. Seeing Ethan's name, | answered quickly.

“What's up?

‘He’s awake!” Ethan practically shouted. ‘Blake’s awake!”

| jumped to my feet. “Seriously?”

*First thing he asked was where you were,” Ethan continued. “Doctors are examining him now. They specifically

askedto call you - they think your presence might help his recovery.”

“Can you cback now?”

| glanced upstairs. All quiet. Henry and Astrid seemed to be getting along fine, and I didn’t want to interrupt.

‘On my way,” | said, hanging up. “Could | borrow a car?” | asked Mr. Wilson.

“Absolutely,” he replied, already leadingto the door.

Half an hour later, | rushed through the hospital entrance, barely waiting for the car to stop.

“That was fast,” Ethan said, greetingin the corridor.

‘Nothing was keepingthere,” | replied, peering toward Blake's room where several doctors crowded around

his bed.

As | was trying to make out what they were saying, a tall man strode from the elevator toward Blake's room,

givinga cold look as he passed.

“You're here?” he said with unmistakable disdain.

| raised an eyebrow. “Do | know you?”

“No,” he snapped, continuing past without breaking stride.

“Who was that?” | asked after he entered Blake's room.

A nurse nearby leaned in. “Taylor Arden,” she whispered. ‘World-famous hypnotist and memory specialist.”

“Memory specialist?

“We in healthcare just heard about this field today,” she admitted. “Apparently it's cutting-edge science focused

on protecting and fixing human memory.”

Her eyes widened. “Doctor says five years ago he successfully copied someone’s complete memory. Recently

managed to put memories into a robot chip. His techniques help police reconstruct crscenes from victims’

memories.”

“Way beyond what regular people like us understand.”

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Chapter 443

My eyes narrowed watching Arden’s back disappear into Blake's room.

Why does memory copying immediately makethink of Astrid? Could someone have messed with her

memories?

“Why is he here for Blake?” | asked.

Ethan shifted uncomfortably. “That medicine they gave him had side effects. He's lost smemory since

waking up.”

“He only remembers things from about six months ago. Everything after that is fuzzy.”

“Since this specialist happened to be in New York, the doctors called him in to help.”

| froze, trying to process this information.

Blake lost his memory too? Right after Astrid? That's one hell of a coincidence.

The door opened and the doctor stepped out, scanning the hallway. “Ethan, have you reached Evelyn Knox? She

He spottedand rushed over, grabbing my arm. “Mrs. Knox, thank goodness. Blake's memory has regressed

to when your sister died. He’s demanding to visit her grave.”

His grip tightened. “Dr. Arden suggests you pretend to be your sister. It might be the only way to calm him

down.”

“Having just woken up and now believing your sister recently died... his recovery is hanging in the balance.”