NovelOnlinehapter 31
Audrey's POV
Death Takes Me, CEO
Crouching by the roadside, | absentmindedly pulled at the grass growing between the flowers in the garden bed
while listening to Astrid i lectur.” Ito, the phone. After what felt like an eternity, my legs grew tired and | stood up
with a weary stretch.
Ive been waiting forever,” | said into the phone. ‘When are you getting here?*
Through the phe, | could hear someone's voice: “Astrid, can you take a look at this proposal? Does this revision,
work?”
“Yeah, that works, Astrid responded to her coll
before returning to our conversation with an apologetic tone. ‘Sorry Audrey...
“It's fine,” | said gently. “You focus on your work. I'm not in a hurry.”
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt
| really am swamped right now,” Astrid sighed, “but
“a for a handsguy to pick you up. He should be there any minute!”
“Handsguy? Your new boyfriend?” | couldn't help but tege
“Don’t joke about that!” Astrid’s voice turned seBuy doesn’t have the slightest interest in me! You can’t make
jokes like that?
Just as she finished speaking, a luxury sedan pulled up to the mansion’s circular driveway. The driver's window
rolled down, and | froze slightly as James Collins’ face appeared behind the glass.
“Looks like he’s arrived, Astrid’s voice took on a teasing lilt. “Now you understand what | meant. Go on, spend
stcatching up with him. You missed your chance three years ago - don’t let this opportunity slip
Clay now!”
Before | could protest, she had already hung up, leavingto face this carefully orchestrated situation alone.
My stomach churned uncomfortably, and this tit wasn’t just from the illness. Trust Astrid to turn even this
moment into an attempted matchmaking opportunity.
James stepped out of the car, looking every bit the successful jewelry executive in his tailored suit. “Good
morning, Audrey.”
I managed a polite smile, grateful that my discomfort wasn’t visible. “James. You didn’t have to call this
way.”
“I wanted to.” His voice carried that swarmth it always had, the kind that used to make my heart skip back
in college. Now it just made everything more complicated. “Shall we?”
As we pulled away from the mansion, | found myself staring out the window, watching the palatial homes of the
Hamptons elite roll past. | was immersed in my thoughts, remembering how | spent those boring days here.
“So, James broke the silence as we merged onto the highway. “You really told them you want a divorce?”
| nodded, keeping my eyes on the passing scenery. “I had to explain everything to William this morning. He
deserved to hear it fromdirectly.”
William Parker...” James's voice softened slightly. “He’s always been kind to you, hasn't he? Unlike the rest of
them.”
“He has. The memory of William's face this morning - the hurt, the understanding, the resignation - made my
chest ache. “That's why | needed to explain properly. Whatever happens with Blake and me, William will always
have my respect.”
James's hands tightened on the steering wheel. “And Blake? Did he even bother to make sure you had a way
back to the city? Or was he too busy with his precious Laurel Rose?”
The bitterness in his voice surprised me. “James...”
“I'm serious, Audrey. His usually gentle tone had an edge I'd never heard before. “The entire Parker family was
there - not one of them thought about how you'd get back? If it had been Laurel stranded out here, would Blake
have just driven off and left her to figure it out herself?”
“Tellthe truth, Audrey. Do you still have feelings for Blake, that jerk?”
*| no longer have feelings for him.” The words cout with a calm that surprised even me. Maybe it was true
what they said about reaching a point where
1/2
Chapter 31
you just couldn't hurt anymore.
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