NovelEnglishChapter 444
Audrey's POV
| walked into Blake's hospital room, unsure what to expect after our months apart.
His eyes locked onto mine, widening with disbelief. He blinked hard several times, like he couldn't trust what he
was seeing.
“Audrey, you didn’t die!?” His voice cracked with emotion.
Without warning, he threw back his blanket and tried to stand. His legs immediately gave out, sending him
crashing to the floor. Despite the fall, he looked up atwith a smile.
“Audrey,” he whispered, his voice filled with wonder.
| watched silently as he tried and failed to get up. His face flashed with momentary embarrassment before
determination took over.
“Sorry about this,” he said, breathing heavily. “Not exactly at my best right now.”
Using his arms, he dragged himself across the floor toward me. The sight of Blake Parker - once so powerful and
proud - crawling at my feet was surreal.
When he reached me, he clutched the hem of my pants, then wrapped his arms around my legs, pressing his
forehead against my knees.
| stared down at him, feeling oddly detached. This man who once meant everything towas now holding onto
“Thank God,” he murmured. “It’s really you. You're alive.”
His grip tightened. “I know the truth now. Five years ago, you were the one who took care of me, not Laurel.”
He looked up, eyes bright. “I only remembered my caretaker was Rachel's sister. | never thought she might not
be Rachel's actual sister...”
His words tumbled out faster. “I screwed up. Should've recognized you sooner. Shouldn't have treated you so
badly...”
After letting him speak for a while, | broke my silence.
“What exactly are you doing?” My tone was flat, emotionless.
Blake froze, then slowly looked up, confusion clouding his features.
“You're... not Audrey?” he asked.
The nurse who'd followedin started waving her hands frantically.
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‘She looks exactly like your wife!” she blurted. “Who else could she be?”
“I am Audrey Sinclair,” | confirmed.
The change was instant. Blake's expression hardened, vulnerability replaced by coldness. With visible effort, he
pushed himself away and pulled himself up using the nearby table.
“You're not her,” he stated, voice icy.
Taylor Arden, who'd been watching from the corner, stepped forward and touched the nurse’s arm.
“Let’s give them space,” he said quietly, guiding her toward the door. “Make sure he takes his medicine,” he
added tobefore closing the door.
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Chapter 444
“Who are you? Blake demanded when we were alone. “Really?”
| approached him. “Who do you wantto be?”
| stepped closer. “The wife you thought was dead? Or just slookalike stranger?”
| met his eyes directly. “Which makes you feel better?”
“You're not her,” he repeated firmly.
| shrugged. “Whatever helps you sleep at night.”
| pulled out my phone and showed him the news about William.
“We can deal with our issues later. You've got bigger problems now.”
Blake's face drained of color as he grabbed the phone and read the headline.
“No way,” he whispered, scanning the article. “This can’t be happening.”
His hands trembled. “Grandfather can’t be dead.”
He shook his head in disbelief. “He was getting better. The doctors said he'd recover...”
His composure cracked completely. He choked back a sob, then doubled over coughing. When he straightened,
blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
“Who was with him?” he asked, voice breaking. “When he died... who was there?”
“I was,” | answered. “As Audrey Sinclair.”
Blake seemed slightly relieved. “Good. He loved Audrey. Having her there
even someone pretending to be her - would've meant something to him.”
He wiped his eyes. “Did he say anything before...?”
“No. He couldn’t speak by then.”
Blake closed his eyes, regret written across his face. “What have | been doing all these months?” he whispered.
“Letexplain the situation,” | said. “The funeral’s in two days. Your mother’s having skind of breakdown,
and Thalia can’t handle both the funeral and Parker Group.”
| crossed my arms. “Meanwhile, Elizabeth and her husband have taken over. They're planning the funeral and
messing with affairs at the estate.”
Blake's expression darkened as | continued.
‘Charles has been texting Michael. Elizabeth's requesting funds from Parker Group but choosing the cheapest
options for everything. Pretty obvious where the extra money’s going.”
Blake's hand curled into a fist.
“If you want to watch Elizabeth trash William's funeral and then tear apart everything your grandfather and
father built...” My voice turned cold. “Then sure, keep refusing treatment. Just lie here and wait to die.”
| turned toward the door. “The empire William created - the one he wanted you to protect you can let it fall
apart. Your call.”
I'd barely taken two steps when Blake called out.
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Chapter 444
“Wait!
| stopped without turning.
‘Get the doctors,” he said, his voice suddenly stronger. ‘I'll take the treatment.”
| glanced over my shoulder to see him struggling back toward the bed.
“I need to be at my grandfather's funeral,” he added firmly.
After a pause, he asked, “Will you cwith me?’
| considered his request. “If you stick with your treatment, I'll think about it.”
The doctor was waiting anxiously when | stepped into the hallway.
“Thank you!” he exclaimed. “Whatever you said worked. He's actually asking for medication now.”
*He just needed the right motivation,” | replied, my mind already elsewhere. “That specialist, Taylor Arden - the
nurse said he works with memory?”
The doctor nodded enthusiastically. “Brilliant man! Pioneer in memory technology. He can extract complete
memories without damage, even transfer them to artificial systems.”
“His methods help police recover details from crvictims’ memories too. Truly revolutionary work.”
| thought about Astrid’s situation. “I have a friend with memory issues. Could Arden help?”
“Absolutely! The doctor handeda business card. “His techniques have helped countless amnesia patients.”
| noticed the address matched Astrid’s European university. Not a coincidence.
As | left, my phone rang - Astrid calling.
“Who's Taylor Arden?” she asked immediately.
“A memory specialist | just met,” | replied. “Why?”
“I found his nin my university records,” she explained. “He's listed as a professor, but | don’t remember his
classes.”
“Astrid, | think someone tampered with your memories,” | said. “Arden specializes in memory extraction. Maybe
someone took Kate Peterson’s memories and put them in your head during your accident.”
After a pause, Astrid replied, “That would explain why these memories with Ryan feel like someone else's life.”
‘I'll call Arden directly,” she added. “See what he says.”
“How's Blake?” she asked, changing subjects.
“Awake but confused,” | said simply.
‘Listen,” she continued, “why not join Henry andin Europe? We're leaving tomorrow.”
‘Europe?’ | repeated.
“Yeah! While we investigate my memory situation, you could escape all this Parker .”
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Chapter 444
We wel watered. Mom and Dad said William meant a lot to you. You must be feeling awful.”
“A change of scenery might help. What do you think?”
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