Chapter 405
Audrey’s POV
I stepped closer to the monitors, a suspicion forming. “Can you show me this guy from another angle?”
The hotel employee nodded, clicking through several camera feeds. “The hallway has multiple cameras. Let me find a better view.”
“Try to get a clear shot of his face,” I said.
Finally, he found a camera that had captured the sixth bodyguard passing directly beneath it. The man’s face was clearly visible for a brief moment before he moved out of frame.
I froze.
‘Audrey?” Astrid noticed my reaction immediately and hurried over. She studied the screen carefully before looking back at me. “You found something?”
“This man…” My lips trembled slightly. “I’ve seen him many times before.”
“You’ve seen him?” Astrid stared at me, then back at the screen as understanding dawned. Her face went pale. “You mean… Blake?”
My mind was racing. This bodyguard had been following me in Australia. I’d only recently discovered he was assigned by Blake to watch over me. After returning to New York, I hadn’t seen him again – I’d assumed Blake had called him off.
Yet here was the same man, following Emma and Astrid, then disappearing.
I took a deep breath, trying to organize my chaotic thoughts. Was Blake protecting Emma through this man? Or was Astrid right – had Blake ordered Emma’s kidnapping?
My head throbbed with confusion. None of this made sense. Why would Blake want to harm Emma? What could he possibly gain?
“I need to find Blake,” I said, standing up straight.
‘I’m going with you,” Astrid said, but I was already heading for the door.
“Audrey!” Adrian caught my wrist as I passed. “Where are you going?”
I turned back, meeting his worried eyes. “I need to see Blake. That bodyguard worked for him.
‘I’m coming too,” he said, his grip tightening.
I gently pulled free. “No, I should go alone.”
‘But – ‘
Adrian, think about it,” I explained. “If Emma’s disappearance has nothing to do with Blake, both of us rushing over there would waste time. Stay here with the police. We need to cover all possibilities.”
He studied my face before reluctantly nodding. “Fine. But call me the second you learn anything.”
I hurried out of the hotel and flagged down a taxi. ‘Parker Group headquarters, fast as you can.”
During the ride, I kept calling Blake’s number, but it went straight to voicemail every time. I tried again and again, growing increasingly anxious.
What’s going on? He answered my call earlier today. Why ghost me now?
By the time I reached the Parker building, my nerves were completely frayed.
I paid the driver and immediately dialed Michael’s number. He answered on the third ring.
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Chapter 405
‘I’m at Parker Group,” I said. ‘Where’s Blake? I can’t reach him.”
There was a moment of silence before Michael replied, his tone carefully measured. “Mr. Parker is resting. He’s asked not to be disturbed.”
‘I need to speak with him now,” I insisted. “It’s important.”
‘I’m handling all company matters,” Michael said firmly. “He’s not available. You should go home, Mrs. Knox.”
–
I didn’t believe him for a second. Blake wouldn’t be ‘resting” right now not with everything that had been happening.
“Stop lying,” I said sharply. “This isn’t about business. My daughter has been kidnapped, and I have reason to believe Blake knows something about it. I need to see him immediately.”
The line went quiet for a moment. When Michael spoke again, his voice had hardened.
“Mrs. Knox,” he began with a sigh, “please don’t make this difficult. Mr. Parker doesn’t want to see you.”
“Your daughter’s disappearance can’t possibly be connected to him. If you want to investigate, fine, but stop bothering Mr. Parker.”
His tone grew increasingly frustrated. “Since you showed up, you’ve turned the Parker family upside down. This wedding was supposed to be the event of the year the most lavish, romantic ceremony New York has ever seen.”
*But you waltz back into town, and everything falls apart. Now the entire internet is trashing Miss Hayes. The wedding is tomorrow, and thanks to you, the bride has become a complete laughingstock.”
He paused for breath. “Now you’ve got problems at home and expect Mr. Parker to fix them? Some ex-wife you are.”
I frowned, caught off guard by the accusations. “Are you seriously suggesting Blake had my daughter kidnapped as payback for embarrassing Rachel?”
Michael hesitated. “Believe whatever you want.”
“Just remember your place now. You’re Adrian Knox’s wife, not Mrs. Parker anymore. After tomorrow, there’ll be a real Mrs. Parker in this family.”
His voice grew colder. ‘Handle your own problems. Stop bothering Mr. Parker. A month ago, he became disabled because of you. Whatever he owed you, he’s paid it with his legs.”
‘Don’t contact him again, Mrs. Knox.”
The call ended abruptly, leaving me frozen on the sidewalk, mind reeling from his final words,
Disabled because of me?
I immediately called back, my hand shaking slightly.
“Michael,” I demanded as soon as he answered, “what the hell do you mean Blake became disabled because of me?”
I walked into the building as I spoke. “When I asked about his legs before, he told me they were damaged saving Rachel in a car accident. Who’s lying here?”
There was a heavy pause before Michael responded.
“Mrs. Knox,” he said carefully, “you think I’d be the one lying?”
‘Remember Long Island a month ago? When he jumped in front of that animal trap for you?”
My breath caught as he continued.
“That was in the middle of nowhere. The trap was rusty, contaminated with bacteria from dead animals. When it snapped on his legs… did you think he’d just walk away fine?”
Chapter 405
‘He nearly died from fever that night. When he learned he might never walk normally again, he cut contact because he didn’t want you feeling guilty or disrupting your new life. That’s why he transferred your project to Ella.”
Michael’s voice grew increasingly emotional. ‘He told you it was from saving Rachel because he didn’t want you to feel responsible.”
And how do you repay him? By showing up right before his wedding, attacking his family, humiliating his fiancée…”
“If you have any decency left, you’ll leave him alone and stop dumping your problems on him!”
As I listened, I bit my lip hard, my heart feeling like it was being crushed in an invisible vise. I had never imagined Blake had done so much behind my back, carrying such a burden alone…
Suddenly, a piercing scream cut through the lobby.
“The CEO! Something’s happened!”
I jerked my head up toward the commotion. Several young women were staring toward the building’s entrance in horror, their faces pale with shock.
I turned to follow their gaze.
Medical personnel were rushing in from the parking garage, carrying a stretcher. The man lying on it was covered in blood, with more still flowing onto the marble floor. Clutched tightly in his arms was a blood-stained burlap sack.
I stared in disbelief, my mouth falling open as I recognized the injured man.
It was Blake.
