Divorce Me Before Death Takes Me, CEO

Chapter 69

Blake's POV

Audrey tumbled down the stairs before | could react. Her slight frhit each step with sickening thuds that

echoed through the marble halls, finally coming to rest in a crumpled heap at the bottom.

In that split second, it felt as if | didn’t know how to breathe. Without conscious thought, my body was already

moving toward her, driven by an instinct | couldn't understand.

But just as | had descended two steps, a voice cfrom behind me.

“Blake darling...” Laurel slumped to the ground, clutching her neck, her voice filled with misery. “It hurts... | can’t

breathe...”

| froze mid-stride, torn between the woman lying at the bottom of the stairs and the one currently on the ground,

one hand pressed tically to her neck. The sound of Laurel's labored breathing filled the silence.

“I can’t breathe... Blake... please...”

Her cancer. As | thought this, my eyes drifted to where Audrey lay. She was already pushing herself up, using the

banister for support.

The weight of my promise from five years ago pressed down onlike a physical thing,

I let out a sign, turned back, catching her just as her knees buckled. “Laurel? Are you alright?”

Her skin felt cold and clammy as I lifted her into my arms. She curled intoimmediately, her body trembling.

‘It hurts... everything hurts...”

| didn’t respond but stared at Audrey downstairs. The sight of her managing on her own helped ease the knot of

guilt in my chest. She was fine. She had to

be.

Audrey's POV

The world tilted and spun as | struggled to push myself up from the floor. Each movement sent waves of agony

through my body.

Compared to the physical pain, the grief welling up in my heart at this moment swept overlike a tidal wave.

Here | was, having just tumbled down an entire flight of stairs, while Laurel played the victim in Blake's arms.

| gripped the banister tighter, forcing my trembling legs to hold my weight. A small, bitter laugh escaped my lips

before | could stop it.

“Blake darling...” Laurel's voice drifted down. “Don’t worry about me... check on Miss Sinclair... she looks hurt...”

‘She’s fine, don’t worry about her.”

Fine? The fall could have easily broken every bone in my body - the fact that | was even conscious was nothing

short of miraculous. The height of those stairs... | should consider myself lucky to be alive at all.

‘I didn’t mean to push her...” Her voice cracked, the picture of regret. “She was choking me... | couldn't

breathe... | just reacted...”

The lies rolled off her tongue so easily. | watched as Blake pulled her closer, his protective instincts fully engaged

by her masterful performance.

‘I know, he murmured. “It wasn’t your fault.”

“Blake darling...” Laurel's voice quavered. ‘I need to hear it from Miss Sinclair herself... | need to know she

forgives me...”

| stared up at them, disbelief warring with fury in my chest. After pushingdown a flight of stairs, she had the

audacity to demand forgiveness?

‘Audrey.” Blake's voice carried that familiar edge of command. “Cup here and tell Laurel you don’t blame

her.”

“Don’t blher? Blake, are you out of your mind?” | forced myself to stand straighter, ignoring the protest from

every bruised muscle. Across the distance-

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Chapter 69

of the staircase, | met their eyes - Blake's cold stare and Laurel's deliberate distress.

“She pusheddown these stairs. If | hadn't been lucky, I'd be dead right now.” My voice cout steady. She

hasn't shown an ounce of remorse, and now you wantto tell her it's all forgiven?”

Laurel pressed a trembling hand to her chest. ‘I knew it... she hates me... Blake darling... | can’t breathe...”

Blake's eyes darted to Laurel's increasingly pallid face. Within seconds, his phone was at his ear. Michael, bring

the car around. Now.”

He pulled Laurel closer. “She’s unwell, and you attacked her first. She just defended herself. That makes you

even. Would it kill you to say a few words?”

Something insidecracked at his words. Last night's intimacy, that brief flicker of hope I'd foolishly allowed

myself to feel it all turned to ash in my mouth. A laugh escaped me, brittle as frozen glass.

“You know exactly why | grabbed her.” | said calmly. “She sawdesperate to find Snow, then deliberately said

those words.”

“Yes, | snapped. My voice hardened. ‘But it was barely a touch, and you know it.”

My eyes locked with his. “Look at her neck. Showthese terrible marks | supposedly left.”

The change was subtle but unmistakable. Laurel's hand flew to her throat. But Blake had already seen. His grip

gentled as he moved her hand away, eyes narrowing as they traced the flawless skin of her neck.

Something shifted in his expression as realization dawned.

“Now you see, | didn’t actually hurt her,” | continued, my voice steady despite the pain. “But she made sure | hit

every step on the way down. You wantto forgive her? Dream on!”

With that, | walked towards to the door. There was no point staying here to watch their romantic performance -

not when Snow was clearly gone.

The sudden creak of the front door frozemid-step, accompanied by a familiar meow. Snow?

‘Mrs. Parker? What happened?” Michael stood in the doorway, a cat carrier dangling from his hand. His eyes

widened as his gaze flickered betweenat the

bottom of the stairs and the tableau above.

There, in the carrier he held, was my beloved Snow the cat I'd spent the entire day searching for.

“Snow!”

The pain in my legs forgotten, | rushed forward, practically snatching the carrier from Michael's hands. My

fingers trembled as | opened it, gathering Snow into my arms. Her familiar warmth against my chest felt like

coming home.

“Michael.” Blake's voice cut through the moment as he released Laurel and stood. His eyes narrowed

dangerously. “Explain yourself. Why is the cat with

you?”

Michael met Blake's penetrating stare carefully. “The timing was unfortunate, sir. All grooming services were

closed when you gavethe instructions, so | had to keep her at my place overnight.”

“Yesterday afternoon, between meetings, | managed to get her to the groomer’s. By the t| could get back,

they were closing. They offered overnight care

services.”

His

gaze flickered upward, taking in the scene on the stairs. “About your call regarding Miss Rose, sir...”

‘Not necessary anymore.” Blake's voice was ice cold as he studied Laurel. Something dangerous lurked behind

his neutral expression.

| could see Laurel's practiced smile turning brittle as she remained silent.

“Michael... | bit my lip as | secured Snow's carrier, emotion making my voice rough. “Thank you.”

With that, | walked towards the door. My legs shook with each step, but | forced them steady. Snow was safe.

Nothing else mattered now,

Chapter 69

“Sir? Michael's voice followed me. “Should I...”

“Take her home. Blake's voice carried something | couldn't identify.

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