Chapter 369
Audrey’s POV
“Well, well, well. The Doctor laughed as he patted my shoulder. “You’ve certainly matured since I last saw you.”
Still picking fights with the medical establishment?” His smile was genuine, almost fond.
‘I was young back then,” I admitted, embarrassed by my former self’s brashness.
The Doctor waved us into his office. The room hadn’t changed. He poured tea with practiced movements before settling into his chair.
2
“After you left, nobody’s questioned my methods quite like you did.” His expression shifted, business-like now. “But I doubt you’re here for a reunion. Looking for someone?”
I stood immediately, pulling out my phone and finding the photos.
“Do you know these people?” I asked, watching his reaction.
The Doctor barely glanced at the screen before nodding. “They’re in our high-security wing. Three years and still trying to break out weekly. Determined pair.”
I hesitated, uncertain how to phrase my next question. “Who committed them?”
“Their biological daughter,” he said simply.
“Interesting case,” he continued, oblivious to my shock. “Their adoptive daughter left them, so they blackmailed her for money – which she paid. When that ran out, they tried the same trick with their biological daughter, figuring she’d be an easy mark since she was raised wealthy.”
He sipped his tea. “Instead, she had them locked up here. They’ve been with us three years now.”
I processed this, pieces falling into place.
No wonder Malcolm and Ivy disappeared from my life when I married Blake. All this time, I’d assumed they were keeping their distance because of the Parker name and wealth. Never imagined Victoria had them committed.
“Their biological daughter’s got ice in her veins,” The Doctor remarked. “Why the interest in them?”
I looked him directly in the eyes. “I need to take them out for a few days.”
His eyebrows shot up.
“I’m their adoptive daughter.”
The St. Regis Hotel entrance was chaos. At 3 PM sharp, Adrian and I arrived to find streets blocked by news vans and the entire area swarming with reporters and cameras.
I’d expected Richard and Victoria to make a scene, but this? This was beyond anything I’d imagined.
Many of the reporters looked familiar – the same vultures who’d hounded Astrid with cruel questions after my “death.” Thalia’s
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Chapter 369
people, no doubt. This wasn’t just a confrontation with the Sinclairs. I was walking into a trap set by both families.
Fine. Let them have their spectacle.
A reporter spotted us first. “She’s here!” he shouted, pointing. “Audrey Sinclair!”
They descended like predators, shoving microphones in my face while cameras flashed bindingly.
“Why fake your death?”
“The Sinclairs claim DNA proof you’re Audrey. Your response?”
“Is your daughter with Knox from before your marriage to Parker?”
“Did Parker know about this child?”
“Was Knox your secret lover during your marriage?”
Adrian’s face hardened as one reporter called him “secret lover.”
“Watch your accusations,” he warned, voice dangerously calm. “This woman isn’t Audrey Sinclair. She’s my wife, Evelyn Knox.”
“We’ve been married five years with a four-year-old daughter. Continue with these baseless claims, and I’ll see you in court.”
The reporter who’d overstepped backed away, suddenly quiet.
“Very impressive, Mr. Knox.”
I didn’t need to turn to recognize that voice.
“Bullying reporters while helping that bitch spread lies,” Thalia continued. “Some big shot you are.”
Adrian’s face remained perfectly composed. “Miss Parker. First time seeing you in person. Online photos really don’t capture your…
essence.”
Thalia paused, then tossed her hair with practiced elegance. “Oh? How do I compare in person?”
“You’re right that online photos are misleading,” Adrian replied smoothly. “In reality, you’re significantly uglier.”
The crowd went completely silent.
“Perhaps the Parkers can’t afford decent mirrors,” he added casually. “Would you like to borrow one? Might help you see just how unfortunate your face really is.”
Thalia’s face flushed crimson. “How dare you!” Her voice shook with rage. “Nobody talks to me like that! You’re – ”
She lunged forward, arm swinging. The reporters parted, eager for drama. Just before her hand connected with Adrian’s face, someone caught her wrist mid-air.
“Enough, Thalia.”
Blake sat in his wheelchair, calmly restraining his sister.
Chapter 369
1 couldn’t mask my surprise. Why was he here? To watch me squirm?
“Blake! Thalia stared at him, bewildered. ‘Did you hear what he said about me?”
“He wasn’t wrong,” Blake replied coolly, lowering her arm. “Your photos are definitely different from reality.”
Thalia gaped at him, utterly stunned.
I couldn’t help laughing at her expression. Adrian had accomplished with a few sentences what had taken me months of physical training to do cutting Thalia down to size.
–
My laughter redirected Thalia’s fury. “What’s so funny, bitch?” she spat, jabbing a finger at me.
“She’s laughing because you’re ridiculous,” Adrian cut in. “Your appearance isn’t funny – it’s sad. But your delusion that you’re beautiful? That’s hilarious.”
He glanced at Blake. “Mr. Parker clearly has better genes and taste than his sister. Same parents produced such different results. Fascinating, isn’t it, Mr. Parker?”
“Mr. and Mrs. Knox,” Blake said, leaning back in his wheelchair, “my sister is young and impulsive. Please excuse her behavior. I apologize for any offense.”
“Why are you apologizing to them?” Thalia practically shrieked. “Why call them ‘Mr. and Mrs. Knox’? That woman is Audrey Sinclair, your ex-wife who faked her death! This guy’s just helping her run some scam!”
Blake stared at his sister, voice dropping to a dangerous level as he emphasized each word: “Do I need you to remind me whether she’s the wife I once lived with day and night?”
Thalia backed up, her bravado crumbling. “Blake, come on…”
“I was just –
“Thalia.” Rachel appeared from nowhere, grabbing Thalia’s wrist and pulling her back. “That’s enough.”
She positioned herself between Thalia and Blake like a human shield.
“Blake, Rachel said firmly, “back off. You’re scaring her.”
Adrian laughed, the sound sharp and mocking. “Scared? Miss Parker just tried to slap me and called my wife a bitch in front of a dozen cameras. She’s got plenty of nerve.”
Thalia glared at him from behind Rachel. “We all know who that woman really is.” She jabbed a finger in my direction. “No way the Australian Parkers would protect Audrey Sinclair unless they’re complete morons.”
‘She’s not some fancy heiress! She grew up in a village before the Sinclairs took her in!”
Then she looked directly at me, triumph in her eyes. “The Sinclairs brought DNA proof. Game over.”
I frowned. “DNA test?”
How the hell had they gotten my DNA?
My eyes snapped to Rachel’s face.
Rachel couldn’t meet my gaze. “I picked up your hair from the boutique yesterday,” she said quietly.
Finally, she looked up, her expression a mixture of confusion and realization.
“So you really are Audrey.”
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