Divorce Me Before Death Takes Me, CEO

Chapter 20: Are You Planning to Be A Homewrecker?

Audrey's POV

Hearing the familiar voice, | fell my heart skip a beat as | instinctively looked toward the doorway.

Blake stood there at spoint, elegantly rolling up his sleeves as fill my ward, making the space feel smaller

somehow.

walked in with a cold smile. His presence seemed to instantly

“My, my...” His eyes fixed on where James's hand still held mine, “What a touching scene.

| watched as he moved deeper into the room, each step seemingly ending on my heart, making me

unconsciously feel a bit nervous. “Promising to stay with a mantled woman...” is voler was filled with sarcasm.

Mr. Collins, are you planning to be a homewrecker?”

James's hand tensed over mine before he quickly withdrew it. “Mr. Parker, watch your month.”

Are my words:

closeness.”

“This

inappropriate, or are your actions unseemly? Blake moved closer, with a fake smile on his face, “How touching,

your

isn’t what you're thinking,” James started to explain, but Blake cut him off with a sharp gesture.

“So this is why you're so desperate for divorce?” His eyes bore into mine, cold and accusing. “For him?”

Hearing this question, | felt something insidegrow still. Here he was, after spending every waking moment

with Laurel since her return, having the nerve to question my integrity and my friendship with James? The bitter

irony of it all nearly madelaugh.

“It has nothing to do with James,” my voice cout steadier than | expected.

“Blake Parker,” James's voice took on an edge I'd never heard before, you're the one being unfaithful with Laurel

Rose. Don’t project your sins onto Audrey!”

The hospital room’s atmosphere grew heavier with each passing second. Blake's presence was suffocating. The

familiar ache in my stomach began to intensify, but | forced myself to remain still.

“Ever since Laurel returned,” he continued, each word precise and cutting, “you’ve been acting out - terminating

our child, announcing divorce at Grandfather's birthday.”

The mention of William's birthday made my chest tighten. The memory of last night was

is still too fresh the public humiliation, Thalia’s slaps, Blake rushing to catch Laurel while | collapsed...

Blake's cold gaze fixed onas a cruel smile played at his lips. “You know, | actually felt guilty before, thinking

I'd neglected you by paying too much attention to Laurel.”

*#But now | see - all of this was just an act. You ve been conspiring with your dear senior Collins all along, haven't

you?”

I bit my lip hard, clutching the hospital blanket tightly as I looked at the sneer on Blake's face. The pain in my

stomach was nothing compared to the despair crushing my heart.

“Blake!” James interjected, cutting through the tension, his voice tight with barely contained anger. “Audrey’s

health is fragile, watch

your words!

Blake's laugh was cold enough to lower the room temperature. “I've checked. Just sminor stomach issues.

Why the tics?”

“Trying to copy Laurel's bleeding to get my attention, aren’t you?” His eyes narrowed. “Your acting skills have

improved

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Chapter 20: Are You Planning to Be A Homewrecker?

Looking at his cold expression, listening to his sarcastir words, | had never felt him more like a stranger than in

this monsent. A bitter smile played at my lips.

Yes, | had asked Dr. Evans to list my canter as a simple stomach ailment to hide the truth. But James had seen

through it almost Immediately. If blake had shown even a fraction of the concern he wished on Laurel, he would

have discovered in rest diagnosis

long ago.

“This is an act!” James stood up so quickly his chair scraped again the floor. Blake Parker, have you na

conscience? Audrey actually...”

“James, stop!” | cut him off before he could reveal my c

condition. The last thing | needed was Blake's pity- or worse, his disbelief.

The silence that followed was deafening. Blake's gaze flickered between us, something dark and possessive

flashing in his eyes. The

“You used to claim you loved me,” he finally said, his voice unnaturally calm. “Refusing divorce no matter what i

said.”

| watched him pace the room like a caged predator. “But right after finding a replacement, you're desperate to

leave.”

His next words cout like a whip crack: “Now lettell you, Audrey. Until | agree, you'll remain Mrs. Parker

until death.”

The irony of his words s wasn’t lost on me. Until death if only he knew how soon that would be.

“Moreover, my relationship with Laurel isn't filthy like yours with James! Everything between Laurel andis

open and above board. Nothing improper.”

“But you two...” His eyes narrowed dangerously. “You claim to have gely met twice recently in public, but who

knows what's been going on behind closed doors? Only you and your dear senior know the truth of that, don’t

you?”

That was the final straw for James. Before | could blink, he had Blake by the collar.

“She gave you everything!” James's voice shook with fury. “Nearly died for you! You can insultall you want,

but how dare you slander her reputation!?”

“You dare strike me?” Blake's voice was deadly quiet.

“The way you treat her,” James's grip tightened, “I should have done this long ago!”

Within seconds, the pristine hospital room devolved into chaos as both men threw away all pretense of civility.

The sound of expensive suits tearing and bodies slamming against hospital furniture filled the air.

Blake had becquite obsessive about physical training after his comma, often spending hours in the gym to

rebuild his strength, so after just a few exchanges, | could see James beginning to falter, bruises already

darkening across his face.

“Blake, stop!” | tried to get out of bed, my legs shaking beneath me. The familiar vertigo that accompanied my

condition threatened to overwhelm me, but | forced myself forward: “Please!”

Nolther-man seemed to hear me. The burning pain in my stomach was becoming unbearable, but | had to stop

them. | couldn't let them destroy their reputations like this.

“Let’s talk about this,” | pushed myself between them, my voice trembling with the effort of standing. “Don’t-

The impact cbefore | could finish. Blake's elbow caughtin the stomach as he swung at James. The pain

exploded like a supernova, and | could no longer hold back. A spray of blood erupted from my mouth, splattering

across Blake's suit.

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de, Apr 85

Chapter 20: Are You Planning to Be A Homewrecker?

The last thing | saw before dat

darkness claimedwas Make's face, hexpression shifting from rage to horror as collapsed.

The world faded to black. So, to this the end of my marriage... and my hie? | thought as consciousness slipped

away.