Chapter 402
Audrey’s POV
‘Everyone says I’m only getting close to William Parker for his money,” Rachel began, her voice cracking perfectly. “But that’s not true.”
She dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief, sniffling. “I only care for him because he’s a sweet old man I respect.”
The crowd around us went quiet. I watched her performance without reacting.
‘He thinks I’m Audrey,” she continued, voice dropping. “It breaks my heart to be someone’s stand-in, but I do it to make him happy.”
Tears streamed down her face. “Every day, I pretend to want his inheritance. It’s our little game when I ask for it, he’ll donate everything to charity instead… exactly what he wants.”
The crowd started whispering.
“Wait, so the livestream was all an act?”
“Damn, this Rachel girl’s something else…”
I caught her lips curving slightly before she fixed her sad expression.
‘But I don’t get it, Rachel turned back to me, voice shaking. “Since you showed up in New York, William’s health has tanked.”
She took a deep breath. “The nurses told me his condition crashed after your visits. What did you say to make an old man so sick?”
The crowd’s whispers grew louder, more accusatory. I felt their eyes on me.
Rachel suddenly dropped to her knees and grabbed my coat.
“Mrs. Knox,” she begged, tears flowing freely. “Blake and I are getting married tomorrow, but after seeing you this morning, William ended up in the ER.”
Her voice broke. “The doctors barely saved him. His dying wish is to see Blake marry his friend’s daughter – Audrey.”
She paused, catching herself. “I mean, since Audrey’s gone, he accepts me as her replacement because of his condition. Blake and I are only getting married to fulfill an old man’s last wish.”
She looked up at me, eyes wide. “Could you please stay away from our wedding? And don’t see William again until after?”
Her grip tightened on my coat. “I just want him to die without regrets…”
More tears fell. “Please…”
The crowd had grown, their whispers turning sympathetic toward Rachel.
“So she’s been pretending all along to help the old man?”
“That’s some next-level kindness, playing along as someone’s replacement…”
“Meanwhile this Knox lady shows up and suddenly gramps is in the hospital? Sketchy as hell…”
I stood there, unmoved by her calculated performance. Without warning, I pulled out my phone and dialed. Rachel’s eyes widened slightly, her act faltering.
‘Miss Hayes,” I said coolly, stepping back from her. “Cute story.”
Rachel blinked, confusion crossing her face.
1/3
“What story?” she asked, voice still trembling.
“All of it,” I replied. “Yes, I visited William after coming back to the States, but you know why. Need me to remind you what happened at the hotel this morning when William came to see me?”
Rachel stayed silent, eyes darting between my face and phone.
“As for me supposedly seducing Blake…” I let my words hang as I hit the call button.
The crowd went silent as the phone rang on speaker. When Blake answered, Rachel’s face went white.
‘Hello. Mrs. Knox, what’s up?” Blake’s deep voice came through, with background chatter behind him.
“Mr. Parker,” I said clearly, turning the camera toward Rachel kneeling on the street. “Your fiancée just stopped my car in traffic. She’s on her knees begging me to stay away from William and stop seducing you.”
Complete silence followed on the phone, in the street, even the crowd held their breath.
“What?” Blake finally said, voice suddenly sharp.
Rachel stared at the phone in horror.
‘Rachel, Blake’s voice cut through the silence, ice-cold. “Didn’t you tell me you were heading home to prep for tomorrow?”
Rachel’s mouth opened but nothing came out.
“What the hell are you doing instead?” Blake continued. “Blocking the Knoxes’ car in the middle of the street? Kneeling in public begging Mrs. Knox not to seduce me? This is your wedding prep?”
I…” Rachel managed.
“Rachel, Blake interrupted, sounding tired and disappointed. “I always thought you were different from Laurel.”
He paused. “Tell me exactly what you’re doing right now.”
Rachel bit her lip, silent.
“Every question you’re asking Mrs. Knox,” Blake continued, “I’ve already answered. I took her to see Grandpa because she hit Thalia and needed to apologize. Grandpa went to the hotel because he found out Mrs. Knox is Audrey’s biological sister and wanted to meet her and her kid.”
He took a breath. “And that video everyone’s obsessing over… there’s nothing ’emotional’ about my look. I just happened to glance in that direction while talking to Grandpa.”
The crowd started murmuring again, their tone shifting.
“This whole discussion about me, my grandfather, and Mrs. Knox ends now,” Blake declared firmly. “From this point on, if I hear anyone bringing this stuff up again, neither I nor Parker Group will let it slide!”
He hung up without another word.
The silence after was deafening. Rachel knelt there, face ashen, her performance completely destroyed.
“Hayes,” I said quietly, pocketing my phone. “Sorry, but my husband and I don’t want to continue this street drama with you.”
I turned and walked back to the car where Adrian waited. The crowd parted silently.
As our car carefully maneuvered around Rachel, I caught her reflection in the side mirror. Her face had changed completely – pale and furious, hands clenched into fists.
Rachel’s POV
Chapter 402
I stayed kneeling in the street long after their car disappeared. The crowd scattered, their interest fading now that the show was over.
I stared at the empty space where she’d stood, my nails digging into my palms until I felt skin break.
How dare she? How dare she call Blake directly? This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. She should’ve stammered excuses, looked guilty, become the villain. Instead, with one simple call, she flipped everything around.
My phone rang. I answered without checking.
“Rachel,” my mother’s voice was eerily calm. “Don’t worry, sweetie.”
I couldn’t speak, too angry to form words.
“Mom’s taken care of everything, Scarlett continued smoothly. “The little girl has been taken care of.”
My breath caught. “What do you mean?”
“Those two,” she said, her voice hardening. “I want them out of New York tonight!”
Audrey’s POV
In Adrian’s car, I leaned back against the leather seat with a slow exhale.
Adrian checked his phone, a cold smile on his lips. “Rachel must be desperate to pull that street stunt.”
He shook his head. “When she stopped us, she probably thought her plan was perfect fixing her image from this morning’s livestream disaster while painting you as the villain with some secret agenda in New York.”
He glanced at me curiously. “But she never expected you to call Blake directly. Weren’t you worried he’d side with Rachel and turn on you instead?”
I shook my head. “He wouldn’t.”
