**Audrey's POV**

"What's your condition?" I asked,looking up at Laurel.

"Jennifer," she said, cutting straight to the point. "Drop all charges against her and get her released."

I went quiet. The memory of Jennifer ordering those men to beat me flashed in my mind, clashing with Rachel's smiling face,her chin propped on her hands.

"Fine," I said after a moment, letting outa bitter laugh. "I agree."

*Even if I only get to contact Rachel's family once, just to learn her condition, it'll be enough. Rachel was my first friend in New York. She never looked down on where I came from. Instead,she introduced me to new experiences,showed me things I'd never seen.*

*For Rachel, I can swallow this.*

"But I have a condition too," I said, taking a deep breath, "Once Jennifer's out, keep her away from me. Don't let her try anything again."

"Otherwise, I'll come after both of you next time. And don't say I didn't warn you."

Laurel waved her hand like she was shooing away a fly. "Don't worry about it."

She called over a maid standing nearby, whispered something in her ear.and the woman hurried off. When she returned a few minutes later.she was holding an old model phone.

Laurel handed it to me. "Step one of our deal: your phone back."

"Step two, drop the charges and free Jennifer. Then I'll tell you how to contact the Hayes family."

"Step three, convince William Parker to approve my engagement to Blake.Once we're engaged, I'll give you Rachel's phone."

I nodded. "Got it."

"One more thing," Laurel said with a frown. "Keep this deal between us.The Rose and Parker families can't know about it."

"Until our transaction is complete, don't mention Rachel Hayes to anyone from either family. Clear?"

Though I didn't understand why, I nodded. For Rachel, I'd play by her rules.

Satisfied, Laurel smirked and handed me the phone. "Don't forget what you promised."

"Iwon't," I said, my lips pressed into a thin smile.

"It's getting late," she said, glancing at her fancy watch. "You should leave now."

"Don't ruin my dinner mood with Blake."

I checked the phone, and suddenly my eyes narrowed. I noticed something off about it, but quickly masked my reaction with a smile.

"Don't worry," I said. "I have zero interest in watching my ex-husband eat dinner with his future wife and mother-in-law."

I slipped the phone into my pocket and looked toward the garden's back gate. "Can I leave through here?"

Laurel seemed caught off guard.

By the time she was about to nod, I was already at the exit.

"Remember your promise," I called, waving the phone at her."I'm out!"

I walked away without waiting for her response.

"Astrid, can you pick me up near Twilight Mansion?" I called my friend the minute I was clear of the property, walking barefoot down the dark road.

"You've already met Laurel Rose?" Astrid asked after a pause.

"Yep," I said, my steps quickening with excitement as I played with the phone. "You won't believe what I got."

*This isn't my phone - it's Rachel's. Fivre years ago when she bought these two phones, they were identical models in the same color. Unless you used them regularly, you couldn't tell them apart. Laurel's maid grabbed the wrong one, and in the dark, Laurel didn't check before handing it over.That's why I bolted - before she could realize the mistake!*

"We'll talk when you get in the car," Astrid sighed.

A red sports car pulled up beside me seconds later. The window rolled down to reveal Astrid's worried face in the streetlight. "Been waiting forever."

I blinked in surprise, then hung up and jumped in. "When did you get here?"

"Ages ago," she said, taking a swig from her water bottle."Iwas worried Laurel and her mom might gang up on you, so I took time off to check on you."

"Just got here when I saw Blake's car drop you off," she continued, setting down her bottle. "Seeing you with him made me more nervous. He's on their side - it was three against one. Didn't want you getting ambushed,so I waited outside."

She turned to me. "So what'd you score?"

I grinned and pulled out the phone, waving it triumphantly. "Look!"

Astrid squinted at it. When her eyes caught the small dent on the edge.they lit up. "RacheI's phone?"

"Laurel just handed it over?"

I shook my head and explained the mix-up.

"That explains it," Astrid said, not even taking time to celebrate.

She buckled up and hit the gas. "Where to?"

*We're too close to the mansion. If Laurel figures out the mistake, she might come after us. Need to get away fast.*

After thinking for a second, I checked my phone and gave her directions to a small hotel in a quiet area.

"That dinky place?" Astrid frowned."Why there?"

"Ethan Davies is staying there," I sighed.

I'd asked Ethan to play dead and stay out of sight. Not wanting to trouble

his classmnates, he'd checked into the hotel alone.

Now that the Jennifer situation was dealt with, I needed to see him - to tell him he could stop pretending, and to thank him for his help.

But Astrid completely misunderstood.

"That young man? He's got a nice body," she said with a smirk. "Need condoms? Got a box in the glove compartment you can borrow."

"Tell him to pace himself. Should be enough."

It took me a second to catch her meaning. My face went scarlet. "I'm going to see Ethan, not for that! I-"

"No need to explain," Astrid winked. "You and Blake have been split for a while,now you're divorced. Having needs is normal."

Her smile widened. "Isn't he a sports science major? I hear athletes have great stamina..."

"If you can still walk tomorrow, let me know how it was."

I just felt quite embarrassed. "It's really not like that..."

**Blake's POV**

When Laurel came back to the villa from the garden, her mother was still trying to convince me about that property in South City.

"Blake, you just said in front of Miss Sinclair that you and Laurel will eventually get engaged and married..." Scarlett pressed. "Soon my brother will be your family too. Since we'll all be related soon anyway, why not do hím a favor now?"

"Parker Group is huge. Your investment team can find another property in a heartbeat. But my brother? This is his only shot. Help him now,and after you and Laurel are married, he'll remember your kindness..."

I sipped my tea, forcing myself to listen.

"Mom,seriously?"

Laurel walked in and immediately caught my annoyed expression. She jumped in to play mediator.

"Blake darling doesn't mix business with personal stuff. Stop bugging him about Uncle's problems! And our marriage isn't even official yet. Why are you talking like we're already family?"

"I want to marry Blake because I love him, not because he runs Parker Group!" She came closer with a shy smile. "Don't listen to her. And don't let your company back off because of me."

I set down my cup and looked up toward the doorway.

It was empty.

When they'd left earlier, Laurel and Audrey were together.

Now only Laurel stood before me.

I frowned. "Where's Audrey?"