Divorce Me Before Death Takes Me, CEO

Audrey's POV

Wind whipped through my hair as | pushed the red sports car around the coastal road. Astrid and 1 drove for

hours, stopping occasionally at overlooks before finally heading back to Manhattan as darkness fell.

The restaurant Astrid chose was tucked in a quiet corner of the Upper East Side elegant but not showy, with soft

lighting and privacy.

“If 1 didn’t have to drive this borrowed car back tonight, I'd definitely have a proper drink with you,” Astrid said,

watchingas she poured our tea. “You have no idea how upset I've been seeing all that crap online about you

lately.”

“Being in the modeling industry, | know exactly how brutal online trolls can be.” Her fingers tightened around her

cup. “I was terrified that all this negativity would be too much for you to

handle,”

“But instead of letting the inte crush you, you actually used it to your advantage and finally divorced

Blake!” Her eyes lit up. “I still can’t believe you did it with all those cameras rolling.”

| took a sip, and smiled, “I guess something good cfrom all this mess after all.”

“Even though you've divorced Blake, people are still attacking you online,” Astrid frowned. “Wantto get my

agency's PR team to handle it? They're experts at cleaning up messes.”

“Don’t bother. Let them keep talking.” | met her gaze directly. “If they stop now, there won't be enough recent

evidence when | collect everything for my lawsuit.”

Astrid’s eyes widened before her face split into a grin. She waved to

red!”

the server. “Your best bottle of

Then she leaned forward. “You're really suing those trolls?”

“I've spent years holding back for the sake of being Mrs. Parker. They all thought | was born to be pushed

around.” | straightened my shoulders. “Now that I’m divorced, | don’t need to save anyone's face anymore.”

The server returned with wine, pouring a glass for Astrid.

“Audrey, I'm so happy!” Astrid’s eyes suddenly glistened. “You're really... back!”

| watched her take a big sip of wine. “I thought you weren't drinking?”

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Chapter 116

Can't help it! She grinned. Besides, you can’t drink anyway because of your health, so you can drive when we

return the car. My boss only said | had to return It personally never specified | had

to drive it.”

As she continued drinking, her emotions becmore pronounced.

“After Rachel disappeared, you were the only close friend | had left, but you got so wrapped up in Blake, that

jerk. She took another drink. “For him, you quit racing, stopped designing jewelry, quit having fun...”

“Watching you change for that man, putting up with his family’s crap...” She set her glass down firmly. “It killed

me, and | felt so useless | couldn’t protect Rachel, couldn't help you...”

Her teary eyes met mine. “When you cafter your miscarriage saying you were done with him, I didn’t

believe it. | thought you'd go back and break my heart all over again. Now you're finally free, and | can breathe!”

My chest tightened. I'd never realized how my marriage had affected her too.

“Anyway, from today on, there's no more Mrs. Parker - just my friend Audrey Sinclair!” she declared, raising her

glass. “We'll look after each other, and when we retire, we'll travel everywhere together!”

The future she imagined retirement, travel, years of friendship was something I couldn't promise

her.

“Why wait until then?” | asked, looking away. “Do you have tsoon? Let's go traveling now.”

Astrid set her glass down, surprised. “No need to rush. I've got a major runway show coming up and need to

train the junior models. | won't have free tfor at least a month or two... After the show, I'll take stoff

and we can really enjoy ourselves!”

| sighed quietly. | probably won't live long enough for ‘someday.

“Fine, I'll wait for you,” | lied.

By the twe left, Astrid was thoroughly drunk, leaning againstas we reached her family’s

home.

Mrs. Wilson opened the door, concern on her face. Two staff members waited behind her.

“Mom!” Astrid waved, nearly falling. “Look who | brought!”

Mrs. Wilson's eyes moved from her daughter to me. “So drunk!”

Her face softened, “She must have been celebrating your divorce today.”

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Chapter 116

“Yes, she’s happy for me.”

The staff helped Astrid inside. Mrs. Wilson took my hand. “Audrey, Congratulations on your

freedom.”

Her simple words caughtoff guard genuine, understanding what this divorce truly meant.

“Thank you, Mrs. Wilson,” | smiled.

“Audrey... Astrid called from the stairs. “Don’t forget the car...”

Even drunk, she remembered her responsibilities.

“Don’t worry!” | called back.

Back in the car, | messaged the owner as instructed. The response cimmediately a location pin.

| stared at it, frowning. The Underground.

Blake rented that club tonight to celebrate our divorce. The car owner was probably among

guests.

his

| hesitated, finger hovering over the ignition. | didn’t want to encounter anyone connected to Blake or have

people know | went near his divorce party.

But | can’t let Astrid down. If I'm quick drop off the car and leave immediately | might not even run into any

Parkers.

Decision made, | started the car and headed toward The Underground.

The neon lights of The Underground cast a blue glow across the sidewalk as | parked. Music pulsed from within,

muffled by the doors but still vibrating through the pavement.

| texted: “I've arrived.”

The response cquickly: “Wait a moment, I'll be right out.”

“Okay.”

| got out, keys in hand, and waited. The club doors swung open, and three women emerged.

Before | could turn away, a familiar voice called out: “Well, look who it is!”

Thalia Parker. Blake's sister and my most vocal critic.

“What a coincidence,” she added.

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Chapter 116

“Who is it?” asked Olivia, her ever present sidekick.

“I don’t recognize her, said Laurel Rose, her voice measured. “If Thalia knows her, let's say hello.”

My back stiffened. | took a deep breath before turning to face them.

“Quite a coincidence indeed,” | said with a forced smile,

Olivia's eyes widened. Audrey Sinclair!? What are you doing here?”

“She’s here to ruin everyone's good time,” Thalla crossed her arms. “She must have found out Blake rented this

place to celebrate, so she cto spoil everything.”

| stayed silent, letting her continue.

“I suggest you leave before my brother sees you,” she warned. “He's in a great mood tonight and drinking more

than usual. If you ruin his night... | won't let you get away with it!”

Three years ago, those words would have intimidated me. Three years of Parker disapproval had taughtto

back down, apologize, make myself smaller.

Not anymore.

| crossed my arms and met her gaze coldly. “You and your brother may have rented The Underground, but did

you also buy the sidewalk outside?”

| stepped forward. “Have you forgotten that I'm no longer part of the Parker family?”

Looking directly into her shocked eyes, | added, “Your threats... mean nothing tonow.”

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